Jeff Blashill said after the Detroit Red Wings finale that he’d enjoyed every second he’d been a part of the organization.
Whether his tenure behind the bench will extend past six seasons is in the hands of general manager Steve Yzerman. Blashill is in the last year of his contract, and Yzerman said last month he planned to sit down “very quickly” with Blashill after the season ended.
The Wings lost their finale, 5-4 in overtime, Saturday at Columbus. Since being named head coach in 2015, Blashill has coached the Wings to a 172-221-62 record.
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He is well regarded within the organization, recognized for doing a good job despite rosters that have lacked star power and that, especially the past two seasons, have been decimated by injuries. There’s never been chaos in the locker room, and on the whole, the team works hard. Players ranging from Dylan Larkin to Tyler Bertuzzi to Michael Rasmussen and Filip Zadina all have taken steps forward during Blashill’s tenure.
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Still, this offers an opportunity for Yzerman to bring in his own coach.
Two NHL teams announced coaching separations Sunday: The Blue Jackets parted ways with John Tortorella after six seasons, and the Arizona Coyotes parted ways with Rick Tocchet after four years.
Contact Helene St. James at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
