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While they quickly filled one assistant coaching position and their vacant goaltending coach spot, there’s a reason why the Detroit Red Wings aren’t in any hurry to hire the second assistant coach to work alongside head coach Jeff Blashill on the Detroit bench.
That’s because they guy they most covet is still coaching.
It wasn’t at all shocking that the Wings were given permission to talk to former Columbus coach Todd Richards, because Richards is the name at the top of Blashill’s list.
Two separate NHL sources indicated that the job was Richards’ to lose, if he is indeed interested in filling the position.
The trouble is that currently, Richards is a little busy. An assistant coach with Team USA at the world championship, a team that includes Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, the Americans advanced to the semi-finals Thursday via a 2-1 quarter-final verdict over the Czech Republic.
The Wings are quite content to wait until Richards is done with his international duty to get the chance to speak to him about their vacant position.
“I have no timeline for it other than I want to find the right person that best maximizes our coaching staff,” Blashill said.
Not What He Said
Detroit general manager Ken Holland was quick to point out that he never stated that the team wasn’t going to considering resigning defenseman Kyle Quincey and center Brad Richards, both of whom will be unrestricted free agents July 1, as was reported by a Detroit newspaper.
“Not true,” Holland said. “What I said was I’m not re-signing them before July 1. I want to hit the open market and explore what’s out there and then make a decision.
“I’m not doing anything with them prior to July 1. It doesn’t mean I won’t sign them and it doesn’t mean I will.”
Holland is currently speaking with the agents of two of Detroit’s other impending July 1 UFAs, forwards Darren Helm and Drew Miller.
“I’m talking to them,” Holland acknowledged. “We’ll see where it leads.”
No Surgery
Detroit defensemen Niklas Kronwall (knee) and Jonathan Ericsson (hip) are not expected to require surgery to repair ailments that afflicted them during the 2015-16 season.
Kronwall underwent knee surgery during the season but a further session under the knife is not in the cards to further repair his ailing knee.
“(Kronwall is) not having surgery,” Holland said. “Anybody that’s got lots of miles on him – he’s played lot of games, lots of playoff games, he plays hard. A lot of players 33, 34, 35, they’ve got wear and tear on them. It doesn’t mean they can’t be effective. Sometimes they just have to change their training to give themselves the best opportunity to play their best.
“(Former Red Wings forward) Tomas Holmstrom dealt with knee issues. He figured out a way to manage the summer, deal with the pain and found a way to play 1,000 games.
“Nik Kronwall is going through the summer talking to people and figuring out ways to feel the best he can feel, play the best he can play. Can he adjust his training?
“I’ve been told surgery is not an option.”
Surgery hasn’t been ruled out 100 per cent in Ericsson’s case but it seems unlikely as a corrective option.
“I know during the season his hip was bothering him,” Holland said. “I don’t believe it’s something for surgery.”
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