Jeff Blashill = Dave Lewis 2.0 / Coaching Change

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Let's hope it continues tomorrow as well considering I'll be at the game. Looking for a dominate Wings win tomorrow night.

And I'll be watching the game. I'll look for a 250 pound guy with a neckbeard wearing a Wings jersey in the stands.

[kipwinger 8,522]

And I'll be watching the game. I'll look for a 250 pound guy with a neckbeard wearing a Wings jersey in the stands.

Wings coat. I'll be wearing an Alberto Del Rio shirt, with mustard stains.

[Holmstrom96 347]

Besides, I don't agree that he has an upgraded, healthy team. His best player hasn't played a game this season.

Totally agree. Until Franzen comes back, I'm reserving judgement.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Totally agree. Until Franzen comes back, I'm reserving judgement.

LOL. I was talking about Datsyuk at the time.

[Holmstrom96 347]

LOL. I was talking about Datsyuk at the time.

LOL, I knew, but I couldn't resist the opportunity.

[Sockman 1]

If the season ended today, I bet Blashill would be an Adams finalist.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

I wanted to post the hfboards "fireblashill" thread and say, well at least we didn't have a thread dedicated to getting rid of Blash only a few weeks into the season... then I remember what thread I was posting in.

Ha.

The team seems to be coming together, I was worried for a bit that some of our players needed a coach like babs to push them, but as long as we continue trending upward as a team, I think blash has a decent shot at the Jack Adams.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Getting very impatient with Blashill..

[kickazz 5,459]

Getting very impatient with Blashill..

Give it till the end of the season if we fail to make playoffs.

We have a better team than we did last year (on paper at least). We should be able to make the playoffs at the very least. If we don't. Then yeah I guess I'd raise an eyebrow or two at Blash.

In my honest opinion though, this is just another slump that we went through in November (?). We'll find our groove again.

[LeftWinger 4,953]

The one thing I don't get is, why is he so bent on keeping Abby and Helm in the top 6? He has to see it's not working. I thought hiring him was going to be about a new approach and new philosophy to coaching...outside of Larkin, these are the same lines as or former coach played. Maybe our former coach left for a different reason, maybe there is a higher power in the organization "telling" Blash that certain players must play in certain situations according to their contract worth and language....ahem, cough cough, Holland, cough, ahem... We all know that despite the candy coating, Holland and our former coach never saw eye to eye on most things, espcially personel. I am not saying that Holland is controlling the situation, but I would not be surprised. Abby and Helm need OUT of the top 6. They are very ineffective there. A bottom line of Abby - Glenny - Helm would be a great 4th line grinder. I don't get why the powers that be don't see this, unless, like I metioned, becuase of salary and language, these players have to be played in certain roles and situations and if that is the case, I can see why our former coach left and can see why Blash just won't (can't) change it up. Same with Kronner and Erection...

[Echolalia 2,961]

The one thing I don't get is, why is he so bent on keeping Abby and Helm in the top 6? He has to see it's not working. I thought hiring him was going to be about a new approach and new philosophy to coaching...outside of Larkin, these are the same lines as or former coach played. Maybe our former coach left for a different reason, maybe there is a higher power in the organization "telling" Blash that certain players must play in certain situations according to their contract worth and language....ahem, cough cough, Holland, cough, ahem... We all know that despite the candy coating, Holland and our former coach never saw eye to eye on most things, espcially personel. I am not saying that Holland is controlling the situation, but I would not be surprised. Abby and Helm need OUT of the top 6. They are very ineffective there. A bottom line of Abby - Glenny - Helm would be a great 4th line grinder. I don't get why the powers that be don't see this, unless, like I metioned, becuase of salary and language, these players have to be played in certain roles and situations and if that is the case, I can see why our former coach left and can see why Blash just won't (can't) change it up. Same with Kronner and Erection...

I think it's more likely that both Blash and Babcock value having a big body on the top two lines that can retrieve pucks, protect them from pressure in the corners and wreak havoc in front of the net, things that smaller bodies like Tatar, Larkin, Nyquist etc are generally ineffective at. I also disagree that Abby in the top six isn't working. He's presently one of our top goal scorers as well as one of our top point getters. His ppg is top 6 on the team. I'm not sure what else he would have to do to prove his worth in the top six that he hasn't already done.

I think Darren Helm with Datsyuk is an attempt to have another Abby-like player who can effectively do the aforementioned things on his line. He's relatively new to playing in the top six instead of as a grinder role so he's obviously not going to be as good as Abdelkader currently is, but if Helm can fill the role that Abby does to the same degree, the top six should be well rounded for playoffs. The past few years we've been horrible at sustaining pressure in the greasy areas during the playoffs, being forced to play a mostly perimeter game, so having players like Abby and Helm who can fill those roles on the top six will be key. Abby is already there. Helm has the remainder of the season to figure it out, or lose his job to someone else, but it's in our best interest that he figures it out.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

It's Hollands fault that Abby and Helm are in the top 6.

Too funny.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited January 1, 2016 by DatsyukianDekes

[kickazz 5,459]

I just don't see Helm being able to do what Abby does long term. He's either going to get injured, or he'll never be able to do it at the level Abby does it.

I think their best bet is getting a another Abby type player. They tried it with Erik Cole and he was actually pretty good. Unfortunately the injury screwed us.

If the Wing's can snag a guy like Andrew Ladd - he would be the perfect winger/ power forward AND a scorer + penalty killer. He would be a great winger for Datsyuk. He's a legit top 3 player.

Edited January 1, 2016 by kickazz

[Internet.Unknown 422]

I just don't see Helm being able to do what Abby does long term. He's either going to get injured, or he'll never be able to do it at the level Abby does it.

I think their best bet is getting a another Abby type player. They tried it with Erik Cole and he was actually pretty good. Unfortunately the injury screwed us.

If the Wing's can snag a guy like Andrew Ladd - he would be the perfect winger/ power forward AND a scorer + penalty killer. He would be a great winger for Datsyuk. He's a legit top 3 player.

Analysis: Correct.

[Richdg 267]

Coaches can only play they players the are given. We still need some upgrades in the talent level. Until that happens we will continue to be a .500 team that finishes between 6th and 10th in the EC. Same as we have been for about 5 years now.

[Buppy 1,720]

I think it's more likely that both Blash and Babcock value having a big body on the top two lines that can retrieve pucks, protect them from pressure in the corners and wreak havoc in front of the net, things that smaller bodies like Tatar, Larkin, Nyquist etc are generally ineffective at. I also disagree that Abby in the top six isn't working. He's presently one of our top goal scorers as well as one of our top point getters. His ppg is top 6 on the team. I'm not sure what else he would have to do to prove his worth in the top six that he hasn't already done.

I think Darren Helm with Datsyuk is an attempt to have another Abby-like player who can effectively do the aforementioned things on his line. He's relatively new to playing in the top six instead of as a grinder role so he's obviously not going to be as good as Abdelkader currently is, but if Helm can fill the role that Abby does to the same degree, the top six should be well rounded for playoffs. The past few years we've been horrible at sustaining pressure in the greasy areas during the playoffs, being forced to play a mostly perimeter game, so having players like Abby and Helm who can fill those roles on the top six will be key. Abby is already there. Helm has the remainder of the season to figure it out, or lose his job to someone else, but it's in our best interest that he figures it out.

I'm sure that's part of the reason Helm is up there, but I think Blash is also determined to keep Nyquist and Tatar together to try to have 3 dangerous lines. Helm and Richards are just what's left. Before Pulks was hurt, Helm was mostly on the 4th line. In theory, Datsyuk could make a line dangerous by himself, but it's really starting to look like that's not the case. Also looking like Helm just can't be Abby, and Richards can't add much either.

Z-Pav-Abby

Tats-Larkin-Sheahan

Nyq-Richards-Jurco

Helm-Glenny-Nosek/Andy

[sjr2012 439]

I'm sure that's part of the reason Helm is up there, but I think Blash is also determined to keep Nyquist and Tatar together to try to have 3 dangerous lines. Helm and Richards are just what's left. Before Pulks was hurt, Helm was mostly on the 4th line. In theory, Datsyuk could make a line dangerous by himself, but it's really starting to look like that's not the case. Also looking like Helm just can't be Abby, and Richards can't add much either.

Z-Pav-Abby

Tats-Larkin-Sheahan

Nyq-Richards-Jurco

Helm-Glenny-Nosek/Andy

id like to see this when pulks returns

Z PAV TATS

RICHARDS LARKIN PULKS

GOOSE SHEHAN JURCO

ABBY GLEN HELM

MILLER/ANDY

KRONWALL GREEN

Q DD

SMITH MARCHENKO

BIG E

Edited January 2, 2016 by sjr2012

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Helm is neither a big body not as skilled as Abdelkader. He's a check line player, period.

[kliq 3,755]

Coaches can only play they players the are given. We still need some upgrades in the talent level. Until that happens we will continue to be a .500 team that finishes between 6th and 10th in the EC. Same as we have been for about 5 years now.

The problem with your evaluation, is that in 2015 almost every team hovers around .500. You make it sound like this is exclusive to Detroit. This is what you call parity from a salary cap.

Just look at the records of the top teams in the east, and for the sake of winning % throw OTL into the losses category.

Florida - 22-16

Montreal - 22-18

Detroit - 19-20

Boston - 20-17

Ottawa - 18-20

Tampa - 19-20

Washington - 28-10 (obvious outlier)

NYI - 21-18

NYR - 21-18

NJ - 20-19

Pittsburgh - 19-19

Edited January 3, 2016 by kliq

[sjr2012 439]

blashill did good yesterday with the team and lines if he keeps them decent we could easely lead the divison but keeping helm with dats is not going to cut it

[kickazz 5,459]

blashill did good yesterday with the team and lines if he keeps them decent we could easely lead the divison but keeping helm with dats is not going to cut it

It actually might since Tatar was on that line.

Tatar - Datsyuk - Helm was one of our best lines year.

Just that Richards - Datsyuk - Helm didnt work for whatever reason.

If you look at the goal Tatar scored last game. Helm gave him one look and crashed the net, giving Tatar all the space to take the shot and score. I think Blash should try that line for sure.

[sjr2012 439]

It actually might since Tatar was on that line.

Tatar - Datsyuk - Helm was one of our best lines year.

Just that Richards - Datsyuk - Helm didnt work for whatever reason.

If you look at the goal Tatar scored last game. Helm gave him one look and crashed the net, giving Tatar all the space to take the shot and score. I think Blash should try that line for sure.

i guess a couple more games to see if they match up is ok it might have just been richards that didnt mesh well tats and dats is pure gold love those two together if helm helps great if not rather see Z Dats Tats

[Bill Berzeench 310]

Why is Holland still picking his ass? Make a trade already.

[sjr2012 439]

Why is Holland still picking his ass? Make a trade already.

for?

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

for?

His nose?