Detroit Redwings Head Coach Jeff Blashill speaks to media during the funeral visitation for Gordie Howe, June 14, 2016. (Photo by Maureen Revait) Detroit Redwings Head Coach Jeff Blashill speaks to media during the funeral visitation for Gordie Howe, June 14, 2016. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
Windsor

Red Wings sign Blashill to an extension

The Detroit Red Wings say they have the right man to continue guiding their players amid a rebuild.

The NHL team put an end to the speculation surrounding Head Coach Jeff Blashill, officially announcing Tuesday morning it has signed him to a two-year contract extension to remain behind the Wings' bench.

The 45-year-old Blashill, the first American-born coach in Red Wings history, has been their bench boss since 2015. He guided the team to the playoffs his first year, but the team's 25-year playoff streak ended the following year, and it has missed the postseason every year since.

With the team undergoing a top-to-toe rebuild, Blashill has been praised for his nurturing of younger players, yet criticized for a perceived failure to connect with veteran players. Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland says despite the team's playoff woes, they know they have the right coach in place.

"Our young players have made significant strides during his time as head coach and are playing important minutes in key situations," said Holland in a media release. "As we continue to build towards the future, we have the utmost confidence that Jeff is the coach best suited to help our prospects become impactful NHL players. He has gained valuable experience as an NHL coach in each of his four years in Detroit and has instilled a work ethic in our current team that makes us hard to play against every night and competitive in every game, which is the identity we want our team to have as we move forward."

Born in Detroit, but raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Blashill played college hockey at Ferris State University. He was the head coach for one season at Western Michigan University, leading them back to the CCHA playoffs. He coached several seasons at the Wings' AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffons, compiling a 134-71-12-11 regular-season record with two Midwest Division titles and a Calder Cup championship.

Blashill has also coached Team USA in the 2017 and 2018 IIHF World Championships. In 2018, the Americans finished 6-1 in group play and defeated Canada for the second time in the tournament, clinching a bronze medal.

With Blashill in place behind the bench, question marks remain about the future of Holland, who has been the team's general manager since the 1997-1998 season and was the brains behind the team's four Stanley Cups during that stretch. With former Wings' captain Steve Yzerman leaving his job as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, there has been some talk of Yzerman moving into an executive role with his former team.

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