|
Kindl excited by new chance under Blashill |
|
|
|
|
|
He never mentioned him by name, but it was clear when you read between the lines that Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl is happy to see someone other than Mike Babcock behind the team’s bench.
“When you look around, it’s not just me, I think we’re all on the same page,” Kindl said of the welcoming sense that the team has offered to new coach Jeff Blashill. “New coaching style, he’s got new plans, he’s got new visions.
“I’m just here to … let’s hope I have a bigger chance. I’m just trying to enjoy as much as I can. I’ve been here long enough so I know what position I’m into. It’s a fresh start, it’s a new season for everybody, not just for me.”
Kindl recognizes he’s still in a battle for regular ice time along Detroit’s crowded blue-line, but figures with Blashill he’ll at least be part of the equation.
“I already sat down with Blash at the beginning of the year and I just ask him, all I want is a chance,” Kindl said. “It looks like he's giving me a chance and that's all I can ask for. I'm just going to come here every day and compete every single day and hopefully I can make the lineup.
“Blash knows me since he was here with Detroit so he's familiar with the kind of player I am. He also saw me a couple weeks when I was down in Grand Rapids for the conditioning week (last season). So he knows what kind of player I am.
“Again, I'm not the coach, I don't make the decision but all I can say is it’s just a fresh start and I'm excited.”
It was apparent that Kindl wasn’t always excited about coming to the rink last season, when he spent more time in the press box than on the ice, appearing in just 35 of 82 games.
“I always tried to stay confident, even when I wasn't playing in the past, but again, it's not easy,” Kindl said. “So I know how to deal with those things. But again, I'm even more comfortable this year and coming to the rink even more relaxed than I did in the past and enjoying myself.”
Frustration did set in at times for Kindl and he especially pointed to a March 24 game against Arizona when he produced a goal and an assist, and then was a healthy scratch for the next nine games until the final game of the regular season against Carolina.
“Yeah, I don’t know, you tell me, how often it happens a guy puts up two points or had a good game and the next thing you know he sits for 10 games?” Kindl asked. “But that’s in the past. I don’t want to have that in my mind.
I’m just excited for this new chance.”
Blashill understands what Kindl has been through and likes what he’s seen from the 28-year-old rearguard so far in the pre-season.
“I think every year is different for every player, in both ways,” Blashill said. “Sometimes when it hasn’t gone as well there’s a chance to have a good year and vice versa. You can never rest on your laurels in this league because somebody is always chasing you from behind.
“I think Kindl has good ability, he needs to continue to execute at a high level. He has so far.”
Blashill has deployed the skilled Kindl on the power play and perhaps more surprisingly, has allotted him penalty kill time as well.
The latter development certainly caught Kindl off guard.
“I thought I already retired from the PK but no, it's good,” Kindl joked. “Again, I understand we're not going to have Kronner (Niklas Kronwall) and Big E (Jonathan Ericsson) play both minutes to make sure they don't get hurt.
“It's good that Blash is giving me a chance to play, whether it's the PK or the power play. It seems like he likes to play the players everywhere.”
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»