Some decently big news out of Detroit this morning as our block-happy digger has been working to uncover some changes on the horizon for how things are going to work for the Red Wings going forward. First up, the more-upsetting news:
#RedWings looking for a goaltending coach after opting not to renew Jim Bedard’s contract. He’d been with team for 18 seasons.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) May 9, 2016
As Khan said, Bedard was with the Wings for a very long time and was well-regarded as a goaltending coach. Although Detroit’s goaltending situation hasn’t been the best for a while, I’m not sure most fans would say that’s a fault of the goaltending coach. The Wings won the Jennings Trophy in 2007-08 for the fewest goals allowed and have the eighth-best even-strength save percentage in the entire NHL since the 2004 lockout (per War-on-Ice)
In somewhat happier news for Wings fans, Pat Ferschweiler will no longer be running the Red Wings’ power play, a part of their game with the largest drop-off from the previous season and a culprit of so much of the team’s woes this season:
#RedWings have reassigned assistant coach Pat Ferschweiler, who’ll work from press box. They’re seeking two new bench assistants.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) May 9, 2016
Not only will this help Pierre McGuire identify Jeff Blashill behind the Wings’ bench, but it’s a sign that something drastically wrong is actually being addressed. Nothing against Ferschweiler, but the system he ran simply did not work for Detroit.
As for who’s going to be behind the bench for the Wings next season? That’s still up in the air, as Ken Holland has still declined to indicate any of the candidates. We already know the obvious choices for Bruce Boudreau and Guy Boucher are out, them having taken head coaching jobs in Minnesota and Ottawa, but it also looks like another candidate may be soon to head elsewhere:
A bit of NHL news while awaiting CAN/BLR in St Petersburg. Expect Marc Crawford to be named Guy Boucher’s associate coach today in Ottawa.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 9, 2016
