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God no.

Are you trying to suggest that the photos in Putin's mother's apartment weren't already of McGrattan?

Did you break into Putin's mother's apartment again and swap out all her photos with pictures of MacGratton?

I wasn't saying blashill will single handedly bring the cup back right away or anything. Just that he seems like an obvious hire. He's worked with/helped develop half the roster, give or take, and from what the players are saying he seems like a relatable guy. Plus, he clearly wants to be here or he would've left last off season. Sure, I think he can find long term success here and I'm sure there will be some bumps in the road but, there's no better option out there imo. That's all I was saying.

I laughed, I cried, then I went and hugged my life sized McGrattan doll.

Datsyuk doesn't like hand me downs, on the other hand, I recently found out that Babcock does; things that are in despair and need a lot of work

You seem to be suggesting that everybody should be wary of expecting too much out of Jeff Blashill as head coach. Because Dave Lewis wasn't a good head coach. So maybe Blash won't be either. If that's not what you're saying, then I have absolutely no idea why you'd bring Lewis up. Other than to try and make some sort of tenuous comparison which isn't grounded in similarity at all. Why did you bring Lewis up again? Edit: Nobody expects Blashill to win the Cup next year. But here's the thing...nobody expected Babcock to win the Cup next year either (had he stayed). So expectations are EXACTLY the same. However, given their relatively similar career trajectories, and the fact that Blashill out performed him in all head to head competition, I don't think it would be a stretch to expect him to be as good as Jon Cooper was in his first season as head coach. Which is a much more realistic comparison than the phony one you keep trying to make with Dave Lewis.

And what the f*** is my argument again? Are you suggesting that I don't think we should hire Blashill, because it isn't even remotely true. I agree with this.

And what exactly did Dave Lewis accomplish again before becoming a coach? He retired after playing with the Wings. He went into an assistant coach behind Bowman and won 3 Stanley Cups behind Bowman. He took over the team and lost two years in the playoffs with great rosters. He then went onto Boston and got fired from them after one year due to inconsistent play. Blash had coached and gained experience for over 10 years. He's won 2008 Clark Cup with Indiana Ice, He coached Western Michigan for a year also and took them to a top-four finish in the CCHA; the best in 15 years. He also won the 2013 Calder Cup. Was the 2011 USCHO Coach of the Year, and was the 2014 AHL coach of the year. Please do not compare them.

Bylsma and Hitchcock are experienced coaches but they arent close to the level Babcock is. I dont want Holland to go out and get a sh*ttier coach now. If that was the plan, I am going to be pissed off because I know the Wings could afford to match the same offer babs took in Toronto. Neither Bylsma or Hitchcock are going to get any more out of the current players we have on the roster than Babs did. Blashill is an up and comer. Just like a lot of the players on this team. They are young guys who have a really bright future, like Blashill. Blashill has the chance to be the next great for the Wings. He has a relationship with more than half of the current players and knows what he has coming up as well. The transition for Blashill may even be quicker than that of a completely different coach with a different style no matter how many years of experience they have. If Blash turns into a top NHL coach, which it looks as though he definitely could, he will never leave the Wings and we will continue to be great for years to come. Bowman came to Detroit and instilled a style of hockey that molded this franchise into one of the best in all of sports. Babcock held the torch for 10 years and kept the Winged Wheel tradition and mentality alive. It is time to hand it to Blashill, not settle for a mediocre coach and continue to tread water for another 5 years.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/05/red_wings_who_played_for_jeff.html Good read.

Mrazek was incredible as well. Next years goalie situation should be interesting.

Just goes to show how impressive detroit was at shutting Tampa down with how much Tampa has been scoring since. Hope that trend continues with Blash!

Has to be a 3rd in one of the next three years chosen buy (name we do not say). Sorry, but I don't get the Deon liking. I really don't want him on the Wings. I heard YFMB is available

A new voice? He sounds exactly like Babs... it'll be like he never left!

At the same time he could give a Stanley Cup conteder roster to Babs and not Playoff contender roster... This team needs ROSTER changes

I really liked that Kenny talked about not being happy about the early playoffs exits the past few years. For that reason he said that's why he didn't want to sign babs to more than 5 years which is an excellent point.

And in this corner... skating out of Canton Michigan... former captain of the once Plymouth Whalers... JAMES "THE WIZ" "WHITE LIGHTNING" WISSSSSSSSSSNIEWWWWWWWWWSKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Blashill knows how loaded this teams pipeline is. I'm sure he'll be chomping at the bit as soon he's done competing for another Calder Cup. It's really almost storybook. He coached them to a championship in the minors and now he'll do it in the pros. Meanwhile Toronto thinks everything is going to turn around (like they think every year) because they got Babs. On their end it's pretty much comical... they finally realize just how bad things are, how that roster needs a complete rebuild and overhaul, and then, just when they're about to actually do just that, they are reinvigorated with false hope with the signing of Babs. My prediciton: Their is some initial success. They augment the roster to win now, and it pays off, but not enough to achieve anything of real significance. They linger is mediocrity, much like Babs did his last few years in Detroit. Kindl, Quincey, Ericsson, Weiss, White, Samuelsson, Tootoo, Cleary, Commodore, Modano, and apparently to some Kronwall, Zetterberg, and Howard as well. PS Bylsma sucks

Franchise players are not req'd to contend for the Cup. Elite players and depth are all you need. I would say LA and Boston didn't have any "franchise" players in their Cup-winning teams. They just had a bunch of awesome players all pulling in the same direction. NYR would also fit into that category for me. Besides, your whole post is just loaded with strangeness. Comparing Pulkkinen to Maltby?? Larkin lives in a dorm? Crosby lived in a basement for years. Who cares???

Dangling to find out its net worth. Wants to see if it's a top-shelf house. Being a bit forward about it, though. Probably has two realtors and is cross-checking the results. Or he could be looking into renting and wants to see if anyone is interested in boarding. I'm gonna shut up now.

It's Blashill. I'd bet the farm on it. It's the reason the Wings were comfortable not offering a max offer to Babcock. They have confidence that Blashill can be the guy or babcock would still be here.

Definitely. I mean, the only thing you can knock him for is playing it too safe sometimes. Could be a hell of a lot worse for sure.

He may have an ego, but he's no fool.