Entering that segment, the Wings were seven points out of the playoffs. The proverbial iceberg for Detroit’s season was a seven-game stretch in mid-February against seven of the top eight teams in the NHL. You know what? From all accounts, the Titanic was enjoying a lovely voyage until the ship hit the iceberg. There are some people suggesting that based on the progress the Red Wings were showing in the first part of the season, that Bashill deserves another season at the helm of this team. Only Doug Houda has proven to be an ever-present. In fact, including video coaches, the Red Wings have gone through a dozen different assistant coaches under Jeff Blashill. It would be wrong to suggest that there hasn’t been coaching turnover in Detroit during Blashill’s tenure. But those times happen far too rarely to suggest that the plan is progressing.
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“We do have it at times, we just gotta keep building to make it consistent.”īlashill’s had seven years to install a culture, an identity for this team. “I think we’re trying to find kind of the recipe that allows us to have success,” veteran Red Wings forward Sam Gagner said. It is an entirely different matter to be bad and often also appear to be rudderless. It’s a question still without definitive answer. So tell us then, what exactly is the identity of the Red Wings? What is the culture that this team has built over the past six seasons? When a coach takes over a team, among the first buzzwords uttered are culture and identity. Over the past six seasons, the Red Wings rank 31st in the NHL on the power play (15.8%) and on the penalty kill (77.0%). Detroit is 32nd in the NHL on the PK (73.7%). However, that unit has completely bottomed out this season. In was 16th in 2016-17 and 22nd last season. The penalty kill has shown occasional signs of life. Throughout the entirety of Blashill’s reign, special teams performance has proven to be an issue in need of solving.ĭuring the six straight seasons of playoff absences, the Red Wings finished above 20th in the NHL on the power play just once, a 19th-place showing in 2018-19. Red Wings Special Teams Aren’t Very Special The Red Wings are 24th in the NHL in goals scored (222) and 26th in goals for per game (2.74). In 38 of 81 games this season, the Red Wings finished up scoring two or fewer goals. The double-edged sword with Detroit’s lack of defense is that the offense isn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard, either. At the end of the season, coach Jacques Demers was fired. Its only the fifth time in franchise history and the first time since 1989-90 (323 goals against) that the Red Wings are surrendering more than 300 goals.ĭetroit ended up missing the playoffs in 1989-90. With 309 goals against, or 3.79 goals against per game, only the Montreal Canadiens (317, 3.89) have proven to be more porous than Detroit. “Certainly, our chances against were too high throughout the season, probably even when we won,” Blashill acknowledged. Defense is about technique, commitment and positional play. In other words, the Wings were needing to score six or more goals to win in four out of every 10 games they’ve played this season. That’s 39.5 percent of all of their games. They’ve given up five or more goals in 32 of 81 games. The abysmal defensive woes of the Red Wings are well documented. Here’s five reasons why he should replace coach Jeff Blashill. Wings GM Steve Yzerman must certainly be thinking about it. “I’m coaching a game tomorrow and that’s all that’s been my focus.” I haven’t thought about it for one second to be honest with you,” Blashill said. It’s time for a change behind the bench.įor his part, Blashill claims he isn’t even considering his future. The decline and fall of the Red Wings over the past three months leaves only one obvious conclusion. As for the business of winning, business is not good. This season, his Red Wings have not proven very relentless. It’s often also pointed out that they are in the business of winning. “They didn’t keep me around because they liked me,” he finally said.īlashill likes to talk about the relentlessness of the NHL. Phillips looked at his inquistor increduously. Years ago, while covering the Detroit Tigers, another reporter pointed out to Tony Phillips, newly-signed from the AL champion Oakland A’s, that his production numbers were quite impressive. Once the Red Wings take the ice, none of that matters. Likewise, Danny DeKeyser is a salt of the earth type, as decent as the day is long.
Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill is a good guy.
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