Coaching Search Thread a.k.a. the Jeff Blashill Thread

[amato 3,210]

Holland to speak with Blashill this week, while they are home for a little while

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2015/05/26/detroit-red-wings-jeff-blashill/27979215/

Interesting quote... "I've had some people reach out to me," Holland told the Free Press today, "but as of right now, I haven't expanded the list."

"Sorry Babcock, you've made your decision.. now you have to live with it."

"But keeeennyyy!"

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

@FriedgeHNIC: Sounds like DET's meeting with Jeff Blashill was yesterday...he's the favourite, we'll see where it goes.

[chaps80 1,591]

"Sorry Babcock, you've made your decision.. now you have to live with it."

"But keeeennyyy!"

LOL

[gowings00 545]

I said this before the season ended but the only way we will know how good of a coach Mike Babcock was for this team is if he left. I'm excited that we are going to find out if our lineup is REALLY as bad as most people on this blog think or if perhaps, a guy like Blashill will be able to get more out of the youngsters in a way Babs couldn't.

Another good thing, if we have a very similar or worse year, guess what? That means Holland is going to be forced to significantly upgrade this team.

I hope we go get a top pair defensemen but I'm afraid Holland is going to take a wait and see approach giving Blashill an assessment based on a similar roster.

I'm optimistic and 100% believe Blashill is going to be the right coach.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Blashill is great until the first time he trots out lines people hate.

Assuming he gets the job, he will do good things and bad things. People will disagree with him. In the end I doubt he's better than Babcock even if he gets a bit better results. Even if the players are mostly the same next year, which is likely, young guys will be a year more experienced, older guys will be a year slower, meaning it won't be the same team.

[hillbillywingsfan 792]

Blashill is great until the first time he trots out lines people hate. Assuming he gets the job, he will do good things and bad things. People will disagree with him. In the end I doubt he's better than Babcock even if he gets a bit better results. Even if the players are mostly the same next year, which is likely, young guys will be a year more experienced, older guys will be a year slower, meaning it won't be the same team.

We might as well not even watch next season.

[number9 3,297]

Blashill is great until the first time he trots out lines people hate. Assuming he gets the job, he will do good things and bad things. People will disagree with him. In the end I doubt he's better than Babcock even if he gets a bit better results. Even if the players are mostly the same next year, which is likely, young guys will be a year more experienced, older guys will be a year slower, meaning it won't be the same team.

We might as well not even watch next season.

I get the joke, but he's kind of right.

Babcock was one of the best coaches in the game. To think that Blashill is just as good or better at this point is kind of absurd. Maybe because he coached some of the roster in the minors he'll be better? Maybe.

What if we go out in the first round again next year? The likely excuse will be "well it's his first year as coach, give em a break"

But if Babs went out again the first round next year, people would be pissed. When in reality it might just be the roster and not the coach.

At least we won't have to listen Kips insane anti-babs ranting anymore.

[Helmethead 235]

What's that line from the movie Major League..."a lot of people think we should just go out back and shoot ourselves". Lol

[hillbillywingsfan 792]

I get the joke, but he's kind of right.

Babcock was one of the best coaches in the game. To think that Blashill is just as good or better at this point is kind of absurd. Maybe because he coached some of the roster in the minors he'll be better? Maybe.

What if we go out in the first round again next year? The likely excuse will be "well it's his first year as coach, give em a break"

But if Babs went out again the first round next year, people would be pissed. When in reality it might just be the roster and not the coach.

At least we won't have to listen Kips insane anti-babs ranting anymore.

Nope...now its just the "blash isn't going to be as good as everyone is hoping and everyone is a bunch of idiots if you think he is going to even be good.we are going to suck even worse this next season." rhetoric

Edited May 28, 2015 by hillbillywingsfan

[kipwinger 8,522]

Nope...now its just the "blash isn't going to be as good as everyone is hoping and everyone is a bunch of idiots if you think he is going to even be good.we are going to suck even worse this next season." rhetoric

On the contrary, I predict that we'll be better. Much better. I predict we'll have a better regular season record than last year AND we'll win a playoff series.

Edited May 28, 2015 by haroldsnepsts

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Any improvement the team makes will be mostly the result of the kids improving. And back tracking will be mostly the result of them regressing or stagnating.

And I stand by my belief that most people drooling over Blashill will turn on him when he plays Ericsson with Kronwall and Abdelkader and Helm in scoring line roles, and doesn't give Holy Slapper 4 minutes of PP time a night.

[number9 3,297]

On the contrary, I predict that we'll be better. Much better. I predict we'll have a better regular season record than last year AND we'll win a playoff series.

Lemme guess, cause Babs is gone? How many copies of your manifesto have u sold so far?

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Any improvement the team makes will be mostly the result of the kids improving. And back tracking will be mostly the result of them regressing or stagnating. And I stand by my belief that most people drooling over Blashill will turn on him when he plays Ericsson with Kronwall and Abdelkader and Helm in scoring line roles, and doesn't give Holy Slapper 4 minutes of PP time a night.

I do think that Blashill can inject some new energy, but I agree that improvement will be from prospect coming in (Mrazek, Marchenko, Pulkkinen) and youth improvement. Getting Mule back and the possibly having Weiss make a larger impact could also make us better if either happen.

I also totally agree that those that have railed against Babcock's roster decisions will find that any new coach will do similarly. After Abdelkader's last year he should and probably will be with Datsyuk. Also, the magic man wants him there(or a similar player) so it's been a player decision as much as a coaching decision.

Big E on the top pairing is a result of lack of high end talent on D. As of today, it's probably still the best way to handle the D pairings given the personnel. We'll see if we add someone or if Marchenko or can take a huge step this year. Otherwise, there will be more complaining about E as he plays a role slightly over his skill level.

Helm will be pushed down the roster if we either: get Mule back, have Weiss take a larger role, Pulkkinen finds his NHL scoring touch, Jurco finds his offensive game (though he needs to claim a 3rd line spot first). I love Helm and don't mind him filling in on the 2nd line and like that he is basically able to move up and down the roster an fit in. It's an important aspect to have in the event of injuries or struggling chemistry.

I think Babcock's reputation for unlikely lineup configurations is exaggerated and I think many people ignore the causes for certain decisions.

[kipwinger 8,522]

Tons of coaches have been hired, mid season and with the exact same roster, and dramatically improved the team thereafter. Bylsma did it. Sutter did it. Hitchcock did it. Boudreau did it. Therrien did it. Laviolette did it.

Literally the exact same roster. Better results. I don't know why people think that Blashill can't get better results with the same team. Or why any improvement must be attributed to internal growth. It's not like this is some unheard of thing.

Edited May 28, 2015 by kipwinger

[Helmethead 235]

If the team improves I don't believe it will be because Blash is a better coach than Babs. It will be because right now he's a better coach for the Red Wings.

[kipwinger 8,522]

If the team improves I don't believe it will be because Blash is a better coach than Babs. It will be because right now he's a better coach for the Red Wings.

Who said anything about Blashill being better? Often times, as I've illustrated above, a DIFFERENT coach can get better results. There's a very real possibility (not a guarantee) that Blashill can get more out of this team than Babs did. Not because he's better per se, but because he's different.

Either way, we're about to find out.

[Helmethead 235]

Tad sensitive are we? Lol. I'm looking forward to seeing what Blash can do with this team.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Tons of coaches have been hired, mid season and with the exact same roster, and dramatically improved the team thereafter. Bylsma did it. Sutter did it. Hitchcock did it. Boudreau did it. Therrien did it. Laviolette did it.

Literally the exact same roster. Better results. I don't know why people think that Blashill can't get better results with the same team. Or why any improvement must be attributed to internal growth. It's not like this is some unheard of thing.

These are also always situations where the teams fired previous coaches due to being in a tail spin. That was not the case with Babs and Detroit. The team wasn't s***ting the bed or badly under performing. At worst they played to their potential.

If Blash can have them continue playing to their potential, great! But he isn't gonna suddenly turn them into a cup winning team. It will take more than just coaching to do that. We had a coach that could get the job done before. I also feel like we still will going forward.

With Babs coaching this team, they were never at any point out-coached. Out played? Overmatched? Sure. Come up short? Sure. But never out coached. If anything the Wings at times overachieved with the help of Babs doing the outchoaching. Q had no answers for Babs when we went up 3-1 on Chicago a couple years back. It was Chicago taking their game and deeper roster to that next level that allowed them to come back.

Don't get me wrong. I'm excited for the Blashill era. I'll also miss Babs being around. But I have no doubts Blash can become a great NHL coach. But people just need to keep expectations in check. The team should improve next year based on experience alone. Blash just needs to have them playing the way they can to reach that. Blash vs Babs is something that can only be judged after a few seasons. Not just one. I have no doubt the team will buy in to the new coach. But it's not like they were tuning Babs out. This team worked their asses off for Babs. They made mistakes, they've at times struggled, but they've always played hard. We've been lucky to have Babs for 10 years, and we are lucky to have a guy like Blashill groomed to take the reigns. Reasons like this are just one of many at why Holland is great at what he does.

Edited May 28, 2015 by marcaractac

[number9 3,297]

Tons of coaches have been hired, mid season and with the exact same roster, and dramatically improved the team thereafter. Bylsma did it. Sutter did it. Hitchcock did it. Boudreau did it. Therrien did it. Laviolette did it.

Literally the exact same roster. Better results. I don't know why people think that Blashill can't get better results with the same team. Or why any improvement must be attributed to internal growth. It's not like this is some unheard of thing.

Yeah, but none of those coaches had to replace Godcock

Edited May 28, 2015 by number9

[Mckinley25 677]

Yeah, but none of those coaches had to replace Godcock

Godcock, wow. This place sometimes.

So those of you that watch the Griffins regularly, does Blashill have a discernible coaching style? Does he talk about his methodology? Is he well spoken, intelligent?

[marcaractac 3,963]

Godcock, wow. This place sometimes.

So those of you that watch the Griffins regularly, does Blashill have a discernible coaching style? Does he talk about his methodology? Is he well spoken, intelligent?

His voice is literally identical to Babcock's. Realgud.

[joesuffpaulson 0]

I dont see what's wrong with being excited about having a new coach. I think the youngsters will show some more creativity offensively, something that has been severely lacking on this team. Of course their is going to be some growing pains going with a coach with zero NHL experience, but if Babcock is still the best coach in the NHL after only winning two playoff series since 09 then Blashill can't be considered a failure if he doesn't get us to the second round

So is Number9 trolling or what? Seems like since Babs left you've changed to SimonSin levels of doom and gloom

[LeftWinger 4,953]

We are ALL excited for a new start. I am sure Blash will do things most of us will question or put down. I am not saying that I won't, I probably will, but not right away. Nobody is perfect, but it just seems that with Blash being so familiar with "his" players, that he would be more apt to play them more and keep them together on lines that worked. Face it, he isn't walking into a team with Yzerman, Shanahan, Fedorov, Larionov, Hull, Robitaille, etc...he is walking into a team that has IMO TWO legit superstars on it that he has to put his players around. I fully believe that sooner rather than later (or forced in by injuries) we will see the like of Pulk and Tatar and Nyquist in the top 6 all night every night. I got a feeling that players like Smith, Jurco and even Ferraro are going to get different ice time than under Babs. I even see Dekeyser getting a bigger role with his familiarity from WMU.

[joesuffpaulson 0]

Dont get me wrong though, i think Babs is an incredible coach and i would have been thrilled with him resigning here but it is what it is. I for one am happy and excited about having a new voice and direction even if it may be similar. This team has needed something to reinvigorate them for a while now, i think everybody can agree with that

[number9 3,297]

I dont see what's wrong with being excited about having a new coach. I think the youngsters will show some more creativity offensively, something that has been severely lacking on this team. Of course their is going to be some growing pains going with a coach with zero NHL experience, but if Babcock is still the best coach in the NHL after only winning two playoff series since 09 then Blashill can't be considered a failure if he doesn't get us to the second round

So is Number9 trolling or what? Seems like since Babs left you've changed to SimonSin levels of doom and gloom

SimonSin is the master of doom n gloom, I still have much to learn of his ways.

No, I'm really not. I think it's alarming how happy people are that the best coach in the game jumped ship and is being replaced by an inexperienced question mark.

It'd be like if Datsyuk left for Russia tomorrow, and we decided to replace him in the lineup next season with Mantha. Giving Mantha matching playing time, on the top line, etc, etc. Sure Mantha could be really good in that spot next season, but he could also be really bad, or maybe just mediocre. At the end of the day it's probably just be better to hold onto Datsyuk.

"But Mantha knows the players!" Gimme a break

Let's face it, we got stuck with plan B.

Plan A > Plan B

Edited May 28, 2015 by number9