Jeff Blashill = Dave Lewis 2.0 / Coaching Change

[number9 3,297]

You realize that you can't "steal" a coach that's under contract right? I mean, its against league rules. It's not one of those things people say "can't be done" just because it's hard. In this instance you really CAN'T steal a coach. So Trotz was out of the question.

You'd have to choose between guys like Tortarella, Bylsma, McClellan, and a bunch of guys worse than them. There was only one first rate coach who wasn't under contract, and he was leaving Detroit, not staying.

I see us making a push for McClellan if Blash wasn't around. Although he's not exactly doing well with all the shiny toys over there in "I miss the 80s" land.

Point is though, who out there is better than Babs? Q? I don't buy it, but I can see the case for him. Anyone we hired would've been downgrade when compared to Babs.

[rick zombo 3,739]

I see us making a push for McClellan if Blash wasn't around. Although he's not exactly doing well with all the shiny toys over there in "I miss the 80s" land.

Point is though, who out there is better than Babs? Q? I don't buy it, but I can see the case for him. Anyone we hired would've been downgrade when compared to Babs.

Yeah. I think the genral sentiment pre-season wasn't

Blashill > Babcock

as much as it was

Fresh Voice > Old Stale Voice

but some of us, or at least myself, seriously under-estimated the growing pains of a rookie NHL coach.

[Learn2LuvIt 245]

I think Kenny and Mr. I took a "chance", gut feel, risk, on Blash. And, the reason for this haste in the decision is that i believe this was their "last chance" opportunity to have him within the organization. If we wouldn't have hired Blash, he likely wouldn't have been behind our bench ever, or for a very long time. So, the Blash train was leaving the station and they decided to take a chance on a guy that had cultivated in within our system and organization and had a very high opinion of. No doubt, he would have been gone if he hadn't gotten the Wings job. Maybe not this year, but very soon (I'd bet money that he would have ended up in Toronto with Babs at some point soon). There is too many opportunities for a coach with his track-record elsewhere. So, if we did hire someone besides Blash, and that that lasts for lets just say....three years, Blash is likely with another organization in a major role (assistant coach if not head coach). Then, if Blash turned out to be the coach that many within the organization suspected (a dam good NHL head coach), then we'd likely not see him as our coach at all. Or at least, the foreseeable future. Especially since Blash would have walked away from the Wings thinking he deserved the job, earned a shot, and was looked over.

[number9 3,297]

Yeah. I think the genral sentiment pre-season wasn't

Blashill > Babcock

as much as it was

Fresh Voice > Old Stale Voice

but some of us, or at least myself, seriously under-estimated the growing pains of a rookie NHL coach.

If he really is the coach we hailed him as then he should get better with time.

Problem with that is I think I said the same thing about Brendan Smith a few years ago.

The only thing we know fersure right now is this team ain't cutting it with him at the reigns so far

[joesuffP 1,746]

I think sometimes the wings are too quick to fire the puck right back up ice to move in transition and it rarely works. I'd like to see them slow the game down sometimes and stop forcing pucks. I think some of our truly dreadful performances was just because they were just gassed and needing to get back into full season mode. We've played a lot of back to backs very early in the season with guys moving back into the lineup from injury. These losses don't look like its a system problem, it looked like a slow and dumb problem.

[Bill Berzeench 310]

I think sometimes the wings are too quick to fire the puck right back up ice to move in transition and it rarely works. I'd like to see them slow the game down sometimes and stop forcing pucks. I think some of our truly dreadful performances was just because they were just gassed and needing to get back into full season mode. We've played a lot of back to backs very early in the season with guys moving back into the lineup from injury. These losses don't look like its a system problem, it looked like a slow and dumb problem.

Smith out of the lineup, so i get the slow part.

[wings7 62]

Rick Zombo, you are right. I forgot to quote you correctly, sorry.

But yeah, maybe it's just underestimating the growing pains of a new voice.

Babs had a really good first year, tho he did have a better team I think.

It just sucks to suck ha.

I've gone to like 5 games already and they have been painful at best. Minus opening night of course ha.

[kickazz 5,459]

Babs had a really good first year, tho he did have a better team I think.

He had Shanahan, Yzerman, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Chelios, Legace, Schneider.

4 players with 80+ points.

That was a hell of a roster.

[Learn2LuvIt 245]

He had Shanahan, Yzerman, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Chelios, Legace, Schneider.

4 players with 80+ points.

That was a hell of a roster.

Don't forget Rafalski

[wings7 62]

He had Shanahan, Yzerman, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Chelios, Legace, Schneider.

4 players with 80+ points.

That was a hell of a roster.

Yeah I said he had a better team.

Yeah I said he had a better team.

Maybe Holland deserves some blame here, eh?!

[joesuffP 1,746]

Rafalski replaced Schnieder in 07-08 I believe

[kickazz 5,459]

Yeah I said he had a better team.

You said you thought you did, I was merely confirming it.

[wings7 62]

You said you thought you did, I was merely confirming it.

Just a misunderstanding. Because of being online.

Supposed to read. Though they had a better team I think. Like in my opinion. Because who is to really say.

But hey, that's why online forums aren't perfect.

[kickazz 5,459]

Just a misunderstanding. Because of being online.

Supposed to read. Though they had a better team I think. Like in my opinion. Because who is to really say.

But hey, that's why online forums aren't perfect.

On paper, I'd say that team was far better than this one. Like, faaaaaar better.

But they screwed up in playoffs baaad.

Edited November 16, 2015 by kickazz

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Bobcock left so he could be the saviour of the Leafs and have his ego stroked.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Don't forget Rafalski

plus the dominator, Drapes

god such an awesome roster back then the discussion was who besides the Wings has a chance to win the cup now there is way too much parity which sucks the fun out of hockey

Edited November 16, 2015 by frankgrimes

[joesuffP 1,746]

The cap just needs to rise a lot quickly. With these guys getting paid 10M a year the cap is way too low to be reasonable

[frankgrimes 1,836]

The cap just needs to rise a lot quickly. With these guys getting paid 10M a year the cap is way too low to be reasonable

Everything under 100 is a joke really , Wings had a 74 mill salary in 2002..and still didn't have the highest ones so it would be logical to assume an even higher one by 2015..

[wings7 62]

BLASHILL, BABY!

Although a lot of you said he can't be out there so it's not on him, it's on the players.

Does he get credit then?

HAHA.

Go Wings, baby!

[Learn2LuvIt 245]

Rafalski replaced Schnieder in 07-08 I believe

Yep, Won the cup that year. Raffi had 55 points (tied for 2nd highest point total in his career). 14 Points in the playoff run (highest ever in his career). More points than Lids that year in the playoffs. Man, I loved me some Rafalski. Watching that guy "walk" the blue line to find open shot/pass was a thing of beauty. Wish we could have had him longer, but there is something refreshing about a guy leaving on his own terms, and not watching a slow deterioration.

[Internet.Unknown 422]

He had Shanahan, Yzerman, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Chelios, Legace, Schneider.

4 players with 80+ points.

That was a hell of a roster.

Legace?

[LeftWinger 4,953]

It is my opinon, that given the right tweeks and growth of our yoots, Blashill will win MORE Cups and make more deep playoff runs that our former coach did while he was here...and, BTW, more than he will in Toronto.

Holland needs to tweek the roster though. He needs to give up some to gain better, he also needs to losen the cap a bit with some of these $4M to $5M players that are replaceable with lessor paid players already in our system or via UFA/Trade.

[kickazz 5,459]

Legace?

Hah i know.

But that was one of his best seasons. Playoff flop tho.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

I think you make a lot of fair points.

My plan is one or two things.

If I'm Holland, I'm talking with Blashill. Asking him what's going on. I'm talking to the assistants too.

Personally I'm sick of hearing Blashill's press conferences where he says we need to shoot more. Duh. Why aren't we?

Why do certain players who aren't playing well, get to play? I'd fix that.

Also why are we changing the lines every shift? It's a little too much for my taste.

But a coach didn't have to be available to get him. Babcock left Anaheim to come here. We could've done that again. Barry Trotz for instance might have left. If the price was right. Who knows.

The spoiled thing I get. But we are playing very uninspired. Last few seasons with Babs, most games were entertaining. We didn't just look beat down.

I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me like a human.

The problem with some of these solutions is that they may already be happening (ie. communication between coach & GM) but we don't know because we're not privy to the conversation.

You mention that you don't like the fact that he's changing lines but also mention that you don't like him playing guys who aren't playing well. What happens if that's the exact reason he's changing line combinations? Maybe he realizes guys aren't performing well and is trying to see where he get the best production from.

I'm with you that the main reason could very well be coaching as to why we're a worse team than last year (Although I actually disagree and would say injuries) but I also expected that since we had one of the best coaches in the league and we barely made the playoffs these past few years that I expected us to be in the exact spot that we're in now... struggling to fight for a playoff spot.

Because of those reasons, I want to reserve judgement on Blashill.

[wings7 62]

The problem with some of these solutions is that they may already be happening (ie. communication between coach & GM) but we don't know because we're not privy to the conversation.

You mention that you don't like the fact that he's changing lines but also mention that you don't like him playing guys who aren't playing well. What happens if that's the exact reason he's changing line combinations? Maybe he realizes guys aren't performing well and is trying to see where he get the best production from.

I'm with you that the main reason could very well be coaching as to why we're a worse team than last year (Although I actually disagree and would say injuries) but I also expected that since we had one of the best coaches in the league and we barely made the playoffs these past few years that I expected us to be in the exact spot that we're in now... struggling to fight for a playoff spot.

Because of those reasons, I want to reserve judgement on Blashill.

Fair again. Good talk. To me, last night proves this team has it in them. I'll give Blashill credit if I'm going to take it from him. I think if he can get them to play like most of last night's game all the time, we'll be just fine.