Jeff Blashill = Dave Lewis 2.0 / Coaching Change

[Richdg 267]

Time to really think if Blashill is the problem.

Really? he is the one on the ice? Could it be, just maybe that our players are as good as some think? is it possible? i mean after all we had the best coach in hockey in babcock and every year we had to fight through the last game of the year just to make the PO's and then get bounced in the 1st round. So with the same group of players and a coach that is not the best coach in hockey, we are supposed to do what? Get better? Or maybe stay the same. BTW the same thing is happening with the Griffins. So changing coaches by itself has an effect and more often than not it is a negative effect. But sonner or later the players have to play. They are the ones that determine if a team wins or loses.

[kliq 3,755]

Really? he is the one on the ice? Could it be, just maybe that our players are as good as some think? is it possible? i mean after all we had the best coach in hockey in babcock and every year we had to fight through the last game of the year just to make the PO's and then get bounced in the 1st round. So with the same group of players and a coach that is not the best coach in hockey, we are supposed to do what? Get better? Or maybe stay the same. BTW the same thing is happening with the Griffins. So changing coaches by itself has an effect and more often than not it is a negative effect. But sonner or later the players have to play. They are the ones that determine if a team wins or loses.

I think you mean aren't as good as people think

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Time to really say (again) no. A coach can only work with the roster given by his GM

Look what Nill's done with Dallas.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

Time to really think if Blashill is the problem.

You've been thinking Blashill's the problem since like four games in, dude. There's a hell of a lot more wrong with this team than the coaching. Stop being so short-sighted. Scotty Bowman could come in with all the strategies and line combos in the world, but if the bodies on the ice aren't able to/are unwilling to put it into practice then it doesn't matter.

[kipwinger 8,492]

I think the problem is coaching actually. Or one of the problems anyway. But not in the way some folks think. I think we have a bunch of skill guys who, after losing hardass Babcock, thought that meant they had the green light to go out and be ultra cute. Half our team wants to play like Datsyuk, but don't have the ability. Babcock demanded that they simply their games, and play more north/south hockey. And for guys like Tatar, Nyquist, etc. it made them better. Tatar is a real threat when he's being fiesty and driving the net. He's got great hands in close. But he's only an ok player when he's out on the perimeter trying to dangle.

Like any young coach, I think Blashill has to enforce some accountability. If he's telling them to play simpler, and they aren't, he needs to make it clear that he's not ******* around. If he's not telling them that, and he thinks these guys are better when they're being cute, he needs to have his head checked. There are plenty of skilled, highly effective, hockey players in the league who don't dipsy doodle like Datsyuk does. He needs to really drive that home.

[kickazz 5,459]

Yeah it could be coaching thing OR it's a player not taking the coach seriously thing. Or both. Something is definitely amiss.

Guys are definitely trying to be a little too cute which may play into the fact that our shots on goal/ quality of shot attempts has suffered this year.

Edited November 15, 2015 by kickazz

[kickazz 5,459]

But thinking that firing Blashill will solve any issue is foolish.

You fire blash and get another guy, it's the same thing.

It's a new system and it's obviously an adjustment issue.

If you fire him and get another guy, you're back to square 1 rather than 17 games in.

Edited November 15, 2015 by kickazz

[kipwinger 8,492]

He'll get it sorted out. He's not a bad coach, he just needs to make sure the guys realize that just because they don't play for Babcock anymore, doesn't mean they don't have to play the game the right way.

[MabusIncarnate 5,344]

I'm not prepared to blame coaching until at minimum the halfway point of the season. It's too early to tell, we just lost a few straight after winning a few straight.

The players are not shooting, and that's the biggest problem contributing to the lack of offense. Alex Ovechkin is a top league leader in shots consistently every single season, and he is a league leader in goals every single season as well. If you are only tossing 15 shots at the opposing goalie per game, you aren't scoring many goals opposed to putting up 30+.

They need to stop playing so technical in the zone and looking for that perfect play and throw more turds at the direction of the net and jump on rebounds or even get lucky tips in front. The puck will bounce around and get past the goalie more often than if they are trying to force pass and turning it over constantly.

It's frustrating to watch, I find myself yelling "Just SHOOT" at the TV more often than I had previous seasons. If I put blame anywhere right now, its the reservations the players have to put rubber on the goaltender.

[Richdg 267]

I think you mean aren't as good as people think

yes-bad typist.......

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Didn't Jon Cooper start extremely bad his first year as well? Let's give it some more time.

[Shaman 713]

Don't blame Blash for the fact this team is lacking center and defensive depth.

Don't blame Blash for 7+ years of Holland Complacency.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Holland is the guy that should be on the hot seat. "We made a good effort at Suter and Parise, but in the end ..."

Bullshyte.

That loss set this franchise back 10 years.

We offer them 10 mil each for 8 years each, and suddenly Detroit isnt that far away from their families.

We cant afford that?

Weiss - 5 mil per

Howard - 5 mil per

Ericsson - 4 mil per

Quincey - 4 mil per

Samuelsson - 3 mil per

Cleary - 2 mil per

Tootoo - 2 mil per

Miller - 1 mil per

Andersson - 1 mil per

We could have afforded it if our GM want such a jackass.

Zetterberg-Larkin-Parise

Tatar-Datsyuk-Jurco

Nyquist-Sheahan-Abdelkader

Glendening-Helm-Athanasiou

Pulkkinen/Mantha

Suter-Kronwall

Smith-DeKeyser

Marchenko-Ouellet

Kindl

Mrazek

McCollum

You think we'd be worse with that lineup? Hell no.

[rick zombo 3,739]

LOL

Wings hit a patch and I have to read this s***. FML.

Edited November 16, 2015 by rick zombo

[Shaman 713]

LOL

Wings hit a patch and I have to read this s***. FML.

It's not a patch. It's the better part of decade of being irrelevant as a team.

[kickazz 5,459]

Holland is the guy that should be on the hot seat. "We made a good effort at Suter and Parise, but in the end ..."

Bullshyte.

That loss set this franchise back 10 years.

We offer them 10 mil each for 8 years each, and suddenly Detroit isnt that far away from their families.

We cant afford that?

Weiss - 5 mil per

Howard - 5 mil per

Ericsson - 4 mil per

Quincey - 4 mil per

Samuelsson - 3 mil per

Cleary - 2 mil per

Tootoo - 2 mil per

Miller - 1 mil per

Andersson - 1 mil per

We could have afforded it if our GM want such a jackass.

Zetterberg-Larkin-Parise

Tatar-Datsyuk-Jurco

Nyquist-Sheahan-Abdelkader

Glendening-Helm-Athanasiou

Pulkkinen/Mantha

Suter-Kronwall

Smith-DeKeyser

Marchenko-Ouellet

Kindl

Mrazek

McCollum

You think we'd be worse with that lineup? Hell no.

No way man. Smith. He ruined this team not Holland. Blame him.

LOL

Wings hit a patch and I have to read this s***. FML.

Zombo I just laughed at your post for a good minute. Seriously. I think the "FML" reaction got me the most.

Edited November 16, 2015 by kickazz

[rick zombo 3,739]

It's not a patch. It's the better part of decade of being irrelevant as a team.

I think Tampa probably thought this team was sort of relevant going into game 7 last year.

But I get it. The Wings aren't one of 3-4 teams dominating the NHL anymore.

Your mentality is infuriating though because the only way this team will ever get better is to really be bad for a while. Like Dallas or Chicago or Washington or everyone. But when they are bad you lose your s***? It's a ******* petulant joke.

Cherish this because it's most likely the only time I bother to explain myself to you with any effort.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Don't blame Blash for the fact this team is lacking center and defensive depth.

Don't blame Blash for 7+ years of Holland Complacency.

Z, Pav,Larkin, Richards, Sheahan, Helm, AA, Glendening is pretty damn good center depth to me.

You'll say that some of those guys aren't playing center.

In that case, Pav, Z, Richards(or Shea) Glendening is pretty damn good.

I really don't think center depth is a problem. Defence is, but we have a great goaltending duo that will cover up somewhat for that.

I think that offensive chemistry is an issue and forchecking/chrashing the net/

I want to try

Ny-Z-A

Tat-Dat-Helm

Shea-Lark-Pulk

[Buppy 1,720]

Holland is the guy that should be on the hot seat. "We made a good effort at Suter and Parise, but in the end ..."

Bullshyte.

That loss set this franchise back 10 years.

We offer them 10 mil each for 8 years each, and suddenly Detroit isnt that far away from their families.

....

10 mil for 13 years you mean. 10 mil is exactly what they average for the first 8 years of the deals they signed. Even if you offer that there's no guarantee they sign. Maybe Minnesota still would've matched or beaten it, or maybe they would've taken less to go there.

[The Secret 304]

Ring ring

Hello I'm looking for a friend. His name is Jeff Blashillblows. He is probably sitting at the bar staring deeply into his mug of beer scratching his head. He is becoming a regular there can you call out his name to see if he is there?!

First name: Jeff, Last name: Blashilblows. Say it! Say it out loud! Jeff Blashillblows

Thank you! Thank you very much... that bit was half my feelings at the moment and half nostalgia. I know you are out there still and havent forgotten.

Dear Jeff Blashill,

Figure this shyte out NOW please. Perhaps you could put up a cardboard cutout on the bench and watch the next few games from from the stands as a spectator to help figure out why the current plan is not working.

Thanks,

Me

[The Secret 304]

Time to really say (again) no. A coach can only work with the roster given by his GM

Frank, This roster has the talent and depth to compete with any team in this league. Coach B needs to figure this out and how to make them work.

On the Holland note... he has pissed me off with some of his decisions (Franzen vs Hossa) but if you step back and look at the big picture this team is what it is because of his mastry as a human GM. Human because noone is perfect but there is NO other team in the league that has done what he has. In fact, there are numerous teams that point outright to him and the Red Wings at the model they are after. Look at our version of a rebuild and compare it say to the Edmonton Oilers version.... its easy to see how we as Wings fans have gotten spoiled over the years of winning. Don't forget that crazy salary caps... is doing what it was intended as teams are far closer matched as a whole and there are alot more teams with a chances to win... A hot goalie, team comes together at the right time and look out. The most dangerous teams from my point of view that past few years are the ones that catch fire in time to make the playoffs just in time, they are then in play off mode when the others are getting in. Holland is not the prpblems here. The problems lies between the coach and the players... both have FAR better in them and they had better figure it out together NOW!

[rick zombo 3,739]

Frank, This roster has the talent and depth to compete with any team in this league. Coach B needs to figure this out and how to make them work.

And some nights they do.

Your hero didn't exactly have this team playing lights out since 2009 either. One 1st round playoff win in the last four tries?

[The Secret 304]

And some nights they do.

Your hero didn't exactly have this team playing lights out since 2009 either. One 1st round playoff win in the last four tries?

You are right, some nights it looks like they are coming together and then others it just looks like they are confused, no confidence... it's frustrating to watch on those nights. Thank God for our Goalie's! I still have faith this can come together but it better start happening fast.

I beg to differ... 2 of those 4 had no reason to even be in the play offs and twice they took the eventual Cups Champs to game 7... Not the desired outcome of never losing and winnning everything all the time but not too shabby considering.

[number9 3,297]

Babcock > Blashill

It's a rookie versus the highest paid coach in the league. Of course Blashill isn't doing as well as we're used to.

I still think Blash can be a good coach for us, but this summer a lot of people around here seriously acted like losing Babs wasn't a big hit to this team and that Blash would do better than he could. I hope it's more obvious that we have a rookie head coach now.

[Shaman 713]

Z, Pav,Larkin, Richards, Sheahan, Helm, AA, Glendening is pretty damn good center depth to me.

You'll say that some of those guys aren't playing center.

In that case, Pav, Z, Richards(or Shea) Glendening is pretty damn good.

I really don't think center depth is a problem. Defence is, but we have a great goaltending duo that will cover up somewhat for that.

I think that offensive chemistry is an issue and forchecking/chrashing the net/

I want to try

Ny-Z-A

Tat-Dat-Helm

Shea-Lark-Pulk

Sheahan is being converted to the wing because he's not showing any ability to be anything but a meh center. Larkin is young and they aren't trusting him to be a center (whenever he takes a draw he has either Z or Glendening out with him, usually the latter which kills any offense the line could produce). That leaves Z-Pav-Helm-Glendening down the middle.Not really a great middle of the offense, especially since Z and Dats play together half of the games (home games) by all indications.

As for prospects, AA looks to be a Helm replacement. His numbers in the AHL/CHL have mirrored Helm's almost perfectly.

Edited November 16, 2015 by Shaman