Bob Duff: Keeping Blashill - On A Short Leash - Isn't A Terrible Idea The Detroit Red Wings are expected to agree to a new contract by the end of the 2018-19 NHL season.

Imagine trying to credit Blashill for the development of Tatar and Nyquist

Is Larkin developing because of Blashill? Or would he have developed like this under basically anyone?

Mantha has taken a step backwards.

Dekeyser has regressed. Badly.

Everyone will say look at AA. But his production is largely inline with previous years. He's just finally getting more ice-time and more PP time, which fans have been screaming for for a few years now. Same with Bertuzzi. More ice time leads to more points, but the rate hasn't improved significantly.

Tatar improved after he escaped. Mrazek improved. Nosek became an NHL regular.

Blashill is a clown. Holland is the only GM that would give the guy an extension.

Is Larkin developing because of Blashill? Or would he have developed like this under basically anyone?

Mantha has taken a step backwards.

Dekeyser has regressed. Badly.

Everyone will say look at AA. But his production is largely inline with previous years. He's just finally getting more ice-time and more PP time, which fans have been screaming for for a few years now. Same with Bertuzzi. More ice time leads to more points, but the rate hasn't improved significantly.

Tatar improved after he escaped. Mrazek improved. Nosek became an NHL regular.

Blashill is a clown. Holland is the only GM that would give the guy an extension.
- uofcguy

Eh. He’s not the worst. He’s decent with development but isn’t my choice for the future outside of better draft picks.

Blashill was widely regarded as one of the best coaches not in the NHL when Babcock moved on. You can't blame a coach for lack of success when the talent just isn't there.

Im actually fine with sticking with Blash. The team was competing in most games this season, young players are progressing. Given the talent pool we have, that's all we can ask for. What this team needs is patience and this year and next year high draft pick or someone exceeding his expectations. I find some of the complaints against Blash ridiculous. Especially the one about him not giving chance to young players. Except the first year when he was mandated to keep the streak going, rookies are getting their chances. And they are getting them the right way. They play when they have what it takes.
You can't play the rookies just because of their age. Rookies must be NHL ready to jump in and it takes time. Every year new blood is slowly injected into the line up while older guys are making place for them. When the rebuild started our prospect pool was practically empty, it's impossible to turn it around in 2 draft years.

It's not really Blashill's fault for missing the playoffs with the garbage roster he's been given by the GM, but I've still been consistently unimpressed with how he's decided to use the tools he's been given. I don't think he's a particularly good NHL coach.

I don't hate Blashill but I guess my complaint is sort of the same as my complaint about re-signing Howard this early: opportunity cost. Like, if we went into one more season with Blash behind the bench, fine, whatever. Not the worst thing in the world. They'd probably miss the playoffs regardless of who ends up coaching.

But if, say, Minnesota cans Boudreau and all of a sudden there's a genuinely good NHL coach actually on the market, and the Red Wings decide not to pursue him because they think Blash "earned one more year," that would piss me right off.

Also, can't help myself:

Currently, the Wings list 10 players on their 23-player roster who are 25 or younger. That number only figures to increase next season, and that’s why Blashill should stay put.
-The Duffer

Bob, the average age of an NHL player is 27. If your definition of a young player who needs teaching is anyone under age 26 ... that's just absurd. And even despite the relatively recent influx of younger players into the Red Wings system, they're still one of the oldest teams in the entire league overall.

Im actually fine with sticking with Blash. The team was competing in most games this season, young players are progressing. Given the talent pool we have, that's all we can ask for. What this team needs is patience and this year and next year high draft pick or someone exceeding his expectations. I find some of the complaints against Blash ridiculous. Especially the one about him not giving chance to young players. Except the first year when he was mandated to keep the streak going, rookies are getting their chances. And they are getting them the right way. They play when they have what it takes.
You can't play the rookies just because of their age. Rookies must be NHL ready to jump in and it takes time. Every year new blood is slowly injected into the line up while older guys are making place for them. When the rebuild started our prospect pool was practically empty, it's impossible to turn it around in 2 draft years.
- Mozgoid34

Which young players are improving? Mantha? Dekeyser? Frk? Where did Mrazek and Nosek go?

No point dumping Blash until the GM situation is cleared up. I expect a two year deal but just one more season behind the bench. I hope Yzerman does return because he did show in Tampa that he was willing to make moves, take risks and shake up entire units like the scouting department. The Wings aren't very good on offense or defense. We can blame youth all we want, but even our veteran stacked defense often looks lost.

Mantha- he actualy improved his defensive side of game a lot. Will he ever be 40-50 goal scorer guy most of us dreamed about? Most probably not(I want to believe in miracles), but he's going to be solid top six attacker. Which is fine especially when you consider his draft position.
Dekeyser- He's having solid season and created good def pair with Hronek(rookie who's not supposed to play under Blash)
Frk- he was waived twice! I'm surprised, he's still in NHL somehow. Was someone actually expecting any improvent there?
Mrazek-I was rooting for him as nobody else especially since he's my countryman. He was given every opportunity to succeed and failed here, while expressing the very same attitude problems he had in czech U18, U20 teams. Maybe wings trust couldve been more patient with him, but he probably pissed off way too many people there. As he did in Czech junior teams.
Nosek- he's solid 4th liner, but we had to expose someone and that's hardly on Blash anyway.
Ras is given exactly the time he can handle.
Cholowski was playing while he could handle it.
AA-very improved all round game
Bert-his icetime is constantly raising.
Larkin-no credit to coach for his improvement?

Mantha- he actualy improved his defensive side of game a lot. Will he ever be 40-50 goal scorer guy most of us dreamed about? Most probably not(I want to believe in miracles), but he's going to be solid top six attacker. Which is fine especially when you consider his draft position.
Dekeyser- He's having solid season and created good def pair with Hronek(rookie who's not supposed to play under Blash)
Frk- he was waived twice! I'm surprised, he's still in NHL somehow. Was someone actually expecting any improvent there?
Mrazek-I was rooting for him as nobody else especially since he's my countryman. He was given every opportunity to succeed and failed here, while expressing the very same attitude problems he had in czech U18, U20 teams. Maybe wings trust couldve been more patient with him, but he probably pissed off way too many people there. As he did in Czech junior teams.
Nosek- he's solid 4th liner, but we had to expose someone and that's hardly on Blash anyway.
Ras is given exactly the time he can handle.
Cholowski was playing while he could handle it.
AA-very improved all round game
Bert-his icetime is constantly raising.
Larkin-no credit to coach for his improvement?
- Mozgoid34

Man this is bad.