Expect more of the same with Jeff Blashill in charge
Neil Parker
2015-06-09

Red Wings don’t skip a beat with Jeff Blashill hire …
Deemed the “worst kept secret” in Detroit Red Wings history by general manager Ken Holland, Jeff Blashill was named the 27th head coach in team history Tuesday, June 9.
Interestingly, though, Blashill is the team’s first Detroit- and Michigan-born head coach. He spent one season as former head coach Mike Babcock’s assistant during the 2010-11 season, before taking over head duties with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League in the summer of 2011.
Blashill was the only coaching candidate interviewed, and he signed a four-year contract with the team.
It was a logical progression by all parties involved. It is safe to assume Blashill has built a strong rapport with the players and management team in Detroit, and he’ll introduce a similar on-ice system that Babcock installed.
There projects to be minimal transition on the ice, and in fact, for a lot of the younger Red Wings, there may even be more familiarity with Blashill than Babcock for a few.