DETROIT, MICH — With the Grand Rapids Griffins now eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs, all eyes are now honing in on Jeff Blashill, the heir to the Detroit Red Wings head coaching throne. If you’re like me, you probably want an announcement like yesterday, but that’s not going to be the case in this situation.
Jeff Blashill still has work to do in Grand Rapids, he’ll conduct all of the postseason meetings and interviews in Grand Rapids as any head coach would. With the scouting combine going on in Buffalo, it’s simply not the right time. Detroit and Grand Rapids media has expressed that there will be no announcement made this week, so while we are in Blashill Watch, an actual formal announcement will not be on the horizon for at least a week, maybe a little sooner, hell even a little longer. Keep in mind that it will happen before the 2015 NHL Draft commences.
.@DetroitRedWings GM and soon to be #RedWings coach Jeff Blashill talking outside the locker room. #news8 pic.twitter.com/8QknRNBOpq
— Larry Figurski (@larryfigurski) June 3, 2015
I guess the next question to ask is this: Are we 100% sure that Jeff Blashill is the guy? The answer is yes. With Todd McLellan and Dan Bylsma recently hired by two NHL teams, there are extremely slim pickings in terms of NHL caliber coaches who could take over where Mike Babcock left off. Blashill has one of those valuable intangibles that even the likes of McLellan or Bylsma have: Experience with the Red Wings core of youth. He’s coached all of these players, and he knows them best. Blashill knows what they are capable of and will no doubt put them in a position to succeed. At this point, the status quo is to promote internally. Blashill is expected to take the Red Wings job, and I would imagine that Toledo head coach Derek Lalonde will likely be promoted to the Griffins, and deservedly so.
So, join me. Let’s sit back, twiddle our thumbs, and constantly refresh out Twitter feed in hopes of some news on our new head coach. Either way you look at it, and no matter how long we have to wait, you just have to be excited for what’s on the horizon for the Red Wings organization.
