Red Wings insiders and Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen and Bob Duff answer five questions that range from Jeff Blashill’s job security to how much longer it’ll take for Detroit to make the playoffs.

1. Will Jeff Blashill still be the Red Wings coach next season?

Duff: In a word, no. His time is up. Considering the manner in which this team has sunk like a rock in the second half of the season, combined with their absolutely horrid defensive play and dismal special teams performance, there’s just no way that Blashill will be back behind the Red Wings bench next season.

We’re continually hearing the same message – the team needs to be better defensively, the club must adopt a shot mentality and go to the net with gusto, yet these problems are never solved. Can a new coach with a different message get through to this bunch? It’s time to find out. And if that doesn’t improve matters, then the next step is to begin changing the players.

Allen: No. We’ve been hearing for a while that Yzerman is angered over some of the embarrassing losses. He knows this team isn’t talented enough to be a playoff team. But he does expect his team to be ready to play every night. They weren’t ready on many nights this, especially after the All-Star break.

Blashill will pay the price for that.