The Detroit Red Wings will make it official Tuesday morning, when Jeff Blashill is named the new coach of the team at a press conference at 11 a.m. at Joe Louis Arena, and those who’ve hired Blashill before are certain that the Wings will be launching a success story behind their bench.
Ferris State coach Bob Daniels, who coached Blashill in college as a netminder, and then offered him a job as a student assistant coach when his NCAA eligibility was used up, thinks he will make the switch to NHL head coach as smoothly as he moved from the ice to behind the bench.
“He walked out of the locker room as a player and walked back in as an assistant coach,… Daniel said. “That was very challenging.
“He did it seamlessly.…
Daniels saw the qualities in Blashill that would make him a successful coach while he was still stopping pucks for the Bulldogs.
“Jeff was really open, had a really good sense of where the team was at and was very vocal in his thoughts,… Daniels recalled.
“He wasn’t shy in expressing those thoughts. I was impressed by that.
“In his senior year he was very much a leader. The players had a lot of respect for him.…
Daniels convinced Blashill that he had a future in the game as a bench boss and the idea eventually appealed to Blashill as well.
“He was young but had the personality to be a good coach,… Daniel said. “He was detailed. His lack of experience was trumped by my feelings that he would be a good coach.
“What I appreciated was his willingness to share his thoughts. He was very loyal as well. He had all the makings of being a good coach.…
After four years on Daniels’ staff, Blashill made the move to the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, working as an assistant under Enrico Blasi.
“I always had a good feeling about Jeff,… Blasi said. “At the time I felt like he was a young guy who demonstrated a hard-working attitude and I believe he had the same beliefs and core values that we were trying to build at Miami.
“At Miami, we were trying to build a culture of being the best you can be everyday, a process-oriented and relationship-based program. I was looking for someone who believed in the same values of trust, integrity, accountability, selflessness and a passion for the game.
“He helped us build the program at Miami.…
Blashill was reluctant to leave Miami for his first shot as a head coach with the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League, but Ice owner Paul Skjodt was persistent.
“He was the guy I wanted,… Skjodt said. “I liked his personality and his drive.
“What impressed me was the way he handled himself as a professional. I felt we needed a coach to get us over the top. I couldn’t look anywhere else until I gave this guy a shot.…
In 2008-09, Blashill led the Ice to the Clark Cup title.
“His recruiting skills were fantastic,… Skjodt said. “He had a great eye for the game. He was responsible for finding players that turned the program around.…
“Once I saw how he operated I gave him full responsibility for all hockey operations. He did an unbelievable job.
“I didn’t have to do anything. I could focus on my business and sit back and enjoy.…
In 2011, Blashill took over the program at Western Michigan and led the Broncos to an NCAA tournament bid that year. When the following season started, he was an assistant on Mike Babcock’s staff with the Red Wings and a year later, took over the helm of Detroit’s AHL farm club in Grand Rapids, leading the Griffins to a Calder Cup title in 2012-13.
Babcock, the man he will replace, calls Blashill “a serial winner.…
Those who hired him on his way up the hockey ladder expect that the winning will continue for Blashill in Detroit.
“I did think this is a guy who can have a nice career if he stays in coaching,… Daniels said. “You could see he had a passion for it.
“I would have bet money he was going to be a successful coach.…
“Jeff grew into a well-respected coach,… Blasi said. “He has an ability to relate to players and teach the game.
“I’m very excited for him and his family.…
“He’s had so much success and he’s moved up so quickly,… Skjodt said. “He has all the attributes that allow you to be successful.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all that he’s going to have a lot of success in Detroit.…
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