The Wings are waiting to see how the Mike Babcock saga is going to play out.
The head coach of Detroit’s AHL affiliate Jeff Blashill is rumored to be Mike Babcock’s heir apparent, should Babcock opt not to re-sign with the Red Wings. However, he says he's had zero talks with GM Ken Holland about succeeding Babcock behind the bench.
“We have not had one conversation about it since Ken and I sat down last spring to talk about doing a new contract and me being the head coach of the Griffins,” Blashill said, per MLive. “That’s the only conversation we’ve had.”
Toronto, Philadelphia, Buffalo and San Jose all currently have coaching vacancies, and should Babcock become available in the summer, these teams will all be vying for his very sought after services.
Blashill, 41, has been with Detroit since the 2011-12 season, and was signed to a three-year extension last June. He spent a year behind the Red Wings bench as Babcock’s assistant before taking the head coaching gig with the Griffins and many assume the extension is a precursor to him taking over for Babcock.
He has been extremely successful with Grand Rapids. The Griffins won the Calder Cup two years ago and advanced to the Western Conference semis last year; this season, they’ll open the playoffs as the West’s No. 2 seed. He's also overseen the development of many of the Red Wings current mainstays including Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Riley Sheahan, Tomas Jurco, Joakim Andersson, Luke Glendening and Brendan Smith.
Ken Holland has referred to him as "an NHL coach in the making." However, it may not be the right moment.
“As in the past, I honestly don’t even think about it,” Blashill explained. “I have never been in a job and thought about what’s next. I’ve always thought about right now, and that’s a series with Toronto [Marlies, Grand Rapids’ Round 1 opponent], and that’s my sole focus.
“I signed a contract last year because I really enjoy my job and I really enjoy working for the Red Wings.”
What do you fans think? Could he fill Babcock's shoes?
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