Doug Houda hired as an assistant coach

[HockeytownRules19 902]

Detroit Red Wings ‏@DetroitRedWings 4m4 minutes ago

UPDATE: #RedWings Name Doug Houda Assistant Coach. Story: http://redwn.gs/1T9dzbN

Awesome!

[krsmith17 7,191]

Wow, good call kickazz. I like this hire a lot. Good stuff!

[kickazz 5,459]

Woot called it!

I love this. Boston was one of the best defensive/possession teams for this half of the decade. Hopefully this pans out!

[krsmith17 7,191]

I'm assuming he's taking over the defense and penalty kill? Now we need to go after Todd Richards or Adam Oates to run the forwards and power-play...

[Wings_Toledo 233]

Good hire. We'll see if he can fix some of the issues we've had defensively.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

God damn Pierre has to be just pissed. Won't know who's who on that bench.

[kickazz 5,459]

For the other assistant role:

"They are expected to talk to Todd Richards when he returns from the World Championship, where he is the head coach for Team USA."

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2016/05/doug_houda_fills_one_of_red_wi.html

[puckloo39 5,686]

God damn Pierre has to be just pissed. Won't know who's who on that bench.

I can't wait. Apparently, the new rule is an all-bald coaching staff?

For the other assistant role:

"They are expected to talk to Todd Richards when he returns from the World Championship, where he is the head coach for Team USA."

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2016/05/doug_houda_fills_one_of_red_wi.html

Semi-hairless.... OK, then

[Jacksoni 418]

Good hire. Looking forward to see what the defensive schemes will look like next season.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Hou dat?

[HockeytownRules19 902]

He will control the Defense and PK

Also Blashill confirms, to no surprise, Jeff Salajko is the leading candidate for the Goalie Coach Job as well.

[kickazz 5,459]

Hou dat?

Boston's defense coach for the last 10 years basically.

Lol I see what you did there.

Edited May 10, 2016 by kickazz

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Hou dat?

He played for some of those fun Wings teams in the late 80's.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

Another player coming full circle. Who's next? *cough cough* Yzerman *cough cough*

[marcaractac 3,962]

I'm assuming he's taking over the defense and penalty kill? Now we need to go after Todd Richards or Adam Oates to run the forwards and power-play...

Don't trust Oates with any form of offensive coaching at all after his stint with the Caps. But Todd Richards would be the dream. With the Houda news today, getting Richards as well would be amazing. Maybe with Babs out of the picture other teams will finally stop poaching our assistants as well.

For the other assistant role:

"They are expected to talk to Todd Richards when he returns from the World Championship, where he is the head coach for Team USA."

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2016/05/doug_houda_fills_one_of_red_wi.html

He will control the Defense and PK

Also Blashill confirms, to no surprise, Jeff Salajko is the leading candidate for the Goalie Coach Job as well.

Definitely seems like they wanna have a guy at the helm (lol puns) that has experience working with Mrazek. I like it.

It is such a relief to have management of the team show that they know where the issues are and making the right moves to fix them. *knock on wood*

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

This is one of the names I hoped they'd consider, this is a great hire.

[Internet.Unknown 422]

He played for some of those fun Wings teams in the late 80's.

I met him and Stevie Y. at a Little Caesars opening near my home in '89 (?). I said "Hello, Mr. Yzerman. Hi, Doug."

[Hack & Whack Rule! 160]

I like it! I'm hoping for Richards, too.

[krsmith17 7,191]

Our penalty kill has been way too passive in recent years, using a smaller box, trying to take away passing and shooting lanes. In Boston, Houda's penalty kill has had a very aggressive setup, using a bigger box, pressuring the puck carrier. I think this is a much better setup, which is well represented by their higher ranked penalty kill every season over the past 5+ years.

Boston are always toward the top of the league in short-handed goals for, while we're always toward the bottom. Using an aggressive setup with speed and skill will create opportunities short handed. Houda's PK TOI leaders were Bergeron, Marchand, Eriksson and Krejci, aka skill and speed. I'd love to see our penalty kill with Glendening and Larkin on one unit, and Helm (Sheahan if Helm walks) and Athanasiou on the other unit. Speed kills.

Boston has also had better defensive numbers over the past 5+ seasons under Houda, with the exception of this past season where both were bad.

Of course personnel is a huge factor in all of this, so if Holland can bring in a top pair defenseman, I think Houda has the ability to turn the defense and penalty kill around in a big way...

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Our penalty kill has been way too passive in recent years, using a smaller box, trying to take away passing and shooting lanes. In Boston, Houda's penalty kill has had a very aggressive setup, using a bigger box, pressuring the puck carrier. I think this is a much better setup, which is well represented by their higher ranked penalty kill every season over the past 5+ years.

Boston are always toward the top of the league in short-handed goals for, while we're always toward the bottom. Using an aggressive setup with speed and skill will create opportunities short handed. Houda's PK TOI leaders were Bergeron, Marchand, Eriksson and Krejci, aka skill and speed. I'd love to see our penalty kill with Glendening and Larkin on one unit, and Helm (Sheahan if Helm walks) and Athanasiou on the other unit. Speed kills.

Boston has also had better defensive numbers over the past 5+ seasons under Houda, with the exception of this past season where both were bad.

Of course personnel is a huge factor in all of this, so if Holland can bring in a top pair defenseman, I think Houda has the ability to turn the defense and penalty kill around in a big way...

I hate it when we collapse on the PK. Especially when we refuse to block shots. We give up too many clean point shots. I'd like to see a more aggressive style of penalty killing. If you're playing the 1984 Oilers, maybe that's not a good idea, but for most opponents, I'd be more aggressive.