While they expect to make an announcement regarding the staff that will work under new coach Jeff Blashill later this week, the Detroit Red Wings indicated Sunday that no one has been hired for any of the positions at this point.
While the Wings definitely want him back, reports that Tony Granato, an assistant under previous coach Mike Babcock, had agreed to return to the team and work under Blashill are premature.
“I sure hope so, Detroit general manager Ken Holland said of the thought of Granato remaining in the fold. “Jeff Blashill has told me he’s interested in Tony Granato returning. Blashill expressed that to Tony.…
Granato, who declined to exercise a one-year option on his previous contract, is seeking a multi-year extension.
“I’m talking to him, he’s got a representative,… Holland said. “Nothing is official announced.…
Granato has spoken to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres regarding positions on their coaching staffs.
“He does have options,… Holland said. “I’m hopeful. We’ve had good conversations.…
The Wings will meet with other candidates for assistant coaching positions later this week, including former Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios, who has worked at times with the defenseman who play for Detroit’s Grand Rapids AHL farm club where Blashill was the head coach.
“The last two years he’s spent a lot of time in Grand Rapids while Grand Rapids was at home, and went to some road games,… Holland said. “Jeff Blashill has worked a little bit with Chris Chelios.…
Holland suggested it was likely that they would hire two assistant coaches to work under Blashill, although a third isn’t entirely out of the question. They will also hire a video coach, since Andrew Brewer followed Babcock to Toronto.
“We’ve had a lot of people reach out to us that have experience in the NHL,… Holland said. “A lot of people have reached out to me, people who have been in the industry. I told everybody, ‘I’ll see where things go early in the week with Tony Granato.’ I haven’t reached out to anyone. Some people on the list are internal, (from) Detroit or Grand Rapids.
“Tony Granato is the top priority because he’s been on the staff. He meets the resume that Jeff Blashill would like to add to the staff. Jeff Blashill would like someone who has a lot of coaching and playing experience in the NHL, someone who’s been a head coach.
“Maybe tomorrow I’ll find out what’s going on with Tony.…
The Wings won’t announce their assistants until the entire staff is completed.
The team will also need to hire a staff to run their Grand Rapids farm club, and they are working on that matter as well. Among those believed to be candidates for the head coaching job in Grand Rapids are Derek Lalonde, coach of Detroit’s ECHL affiliate in Toledo, Kris Knoblauch, coach of the OHL’s Erie Otters and former Edmonton Oilers coach Todd Nelson, former Boston Bruins coach Mike Sullivan and Grand Rapids assistant Pat Ferschweiler.
“We’ve got the list down to five or six people, (assistant GM) Ryan Martin and I,… Holland said. “We interviewed a couple people last week. Derek Lalonde is one of the candidates.
They may opt to conduct follow-up interviews with some of the candidates this week.
“Ryan Martin and I will sit and compare notes and then we’ll decide if we want to make a decision or double back and maybe meet one or two of them a second time,… Holland said. “I think it’s six (candidates) we’ve got between two last week and four more this week.
“I’m hoping by sometime next week we’re announcing a head coach in Grand Rapids.…
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