The Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa pulls off a rare feat in praising a coach who he does not believe should coach the team he will be coaching.
Say that three times fast, and then stick around for Krupa’s column regarding Jeff Blashill:
Things are not going well, by almost any measure.
The performance of the Wings, in decline for years, diminished again through the course of the third season of Blashill’s four-year contract.
But Blashill has not let them see him sweat.
That is a bigger deal for the Red Wings than it might seem. Because, as looks nearly certain at this writing, Blashill will be back for the fourth year of his contract.
Owner Chris Ilitch announced Saturday Ken Holland will return for two years, at least. Holland said Blashill’s status will be made public Tuesday. But the 44-year-old coach is expected to return.And that means he will need to tough it out for another season, perhaps more.
The Red Wings’ course for rebuilding the roster seems to navigate somewhere between defying long odds by trying to squeeze into the playoffs and more vigorous tactics that are somewhat short of blowing it all up.
If Blashill turns it around next season i will be the first one to eat crow. I simply do not understand his on ice coaching decisions. Off ice and how he treats players i can not and will not say its right or wrong. Im not in that locker room and i dont see those players daily. He does.
I hate the drop pass power play, i understand its about trying to build speed into the zone but it does not work.
Line combinations make no sense and he is to quick to change them. In a transition year its more important to establish line chemistry. Gretzky had Kurri, Hull had Oates etc. Larkin and Mantha should be together as much as possible.
I have said all season that blash is a coach i simply do not understand. That may end up being a good thing and he may change the entire way i look at hockey. Not expecting it though