Yzerman Takes Blame, Keeps Blashill

Now that the NHL’s return-to-play plan has been announced, we can finally drink away any memories of the Red Wings’ abomination of a season.

Detroit posted only 17 victories (of which only one game was won by more than a single non-empty net goal) and 39 points over 71 games.

But as the dust settled, GM and Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman announced his commitment to Coach Jeff Blashill.

In typical Yzerman fashion, the Captain took responsibility for the roster that Blashill coached. Yzerman deemed it “unfair to judge him (Blashill) based on our record at this time” due to the constant fire sale of solid players at the past three trade deadlines.

While I agree with the Captain, I have to say I’m a bit disappointed that he kept Blash around. Hard work from a coach doesn’t get the W at the end of the night. A coach needs to have an X-factor that gets them there.

Jacques Demers led the Wings to the third round two times and led the Norris division twice in his late-’80s tenure as bench boss. But he missed the playoffs in his last season and Wings management made the call to bring in Brain Murray, who kept leading the team to the playoffs.

Murray lacked that “it” that makes good teams great and couldn’t get out of the second round, so the Wings brought in Scotty Bowman and, well, the rest is history.

Sometimes coaches can’t win with certain rosters. That’s just how it is. Blashill has proven that he can’t win with a depleted roster. Netting 39 points is abysmal.

Hiring a new coach would give the Wings around six months to integrate a new system assuming hockey will return around December.

That six months can also allow a coach with experience developing players to whip the Red Wings’ highly-touted prospects into shape.

Speaking of getting players into shape, six months allows the Wings’ veterans to heal up and train. It also allows the younger NHLers on the squad to get faster, better, and stronger while 24 other teams slog through a summer playoff.

The Red Wings lost countless position battles and foot races throughout the season. Teaching those fundamental skills over the break could make this team competitive fast.

I don’t hate keeping Blash around. He knows how to win games with the right pieces and he knows a lot of the players’ skill sets.

But when you get an opportunity to make a huge change like replacing a coach — and your team has been in the basement for years — it pays to strike while the iron is still hot.