Jeff Blashill is the right guy at the right time for the Red Wings
By @StefanKubus –
DETROIT – If you observe Jeff Blashill’s appearance, mannerisms, the way he speaks, it quickly becomes evident he sports an uncanny resemblance to Mike Babcock.
Blashill formerly served as assistant coach to Babcock during the 2011-12 season before taking over as bench boss of the Grand Rapids Griffins the following season. But the new head coach of the Red Wings made one thing perfectly clear regarding his identity.
“I’ll have my own approach, and with my own approach will come change,” Blashill said during his introductory press conference June 9. “I coach similar in a lot of ways to the way Babs had coached here. I’m my own person, how I deal with players, how I deal with things on a daily basis, I’ll be Jeff Blashill, and with that will come change.
After Babcock’s ten-year stint in Detroit, Blashill steps in as the right coach at the right time for the Red Wings.
In fact, he was the only coach for the job in the eyes of general manager Ken Holland.
So why didn’t Holland at least explore the market to get a taste of other options?
“I think he’s a tremendous coach,” Holland assertively said.
Blashill was officially introduced as the 27th head coach in Red Wings history Tuesday morning in what Holland described as the “worst kept secret,” as it had been widely rumored for some time that he was the heir apparent to Babcock.
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Arguably the biggest advantage Blashill possessed over any other potential candidate was his familiarity with the players and staff.
“Outside of the personal reasons, the most important reason was the great people involved in this organization,”Blashill said. “But probably most importantly is the players. You can only win at the highest level with great character and great talent. You can’t have one or the other, you have to have both. When you take a job, you’re hoping the group has great character. I don’t have to hope at all. This group that we have here oozes character. They’re led by three of the best winners in all of sports – Z, Pav and Kronner. They’re extremely competitive, they’re selfless, and they care about team success more than their own success.”
That’s not to mention the loyalty – another characteristic Holland said he cherished – Blashill expressed by choosing to stay in Grand Rapids this past season despite having several suitors come calling for his services in the NHL.
“As I talk to players that come up, the respect that they have for how Jeff makes them accountable, but at the same time, he’s in their corner,”Holland said.
When it comes to mutual respect in the dressing room, Blashill echoed Holland’s sentiments, saying he believes there’s already a sound foundation in place.
“I believe you earn [respect], and you earn it by your example every single day. It’s the same approach I’ve taken in every job I’ve had. You have to earn the respect of the players you coach and the people you’re around.
“For a lot of the guys that are on this team, I’ve coached almost all of them. I think there’s trust, respect on both sides already earned. I think that helps us get the ground running. Certainly you can’t treat every guy the same. You have to motivate people different ways.”
Via NHL.com, former Red Wings captain Nick Lidstrom spoke of Blashill’s qualifications shortly after the announcement was made, showing support for the new bench boss. Blashill’s one year as an assistant coach took place during Lidstrom’s final year of his career.
“He did have some ideas on the power play and looking at different things we can work at, but he came in kind of on the learning curve as well, trying to get familiarized with the team and the NHL, what it’s like to be part of the NHL,” Lidstrom said.
“It was a good learning experience for him to get that one year in before being in charge at Grand Rapids.”
Perhaps a fresh, but familiar voice in the locker room will provide the team with the guidance it needs to continue on a winning path.
Holland ultimately said it best: “I think it’s a perfect time for Blash to take over our team.”