from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
That the Detroit Red Wings would endure another tough season was not in doubt outside the locker room. They don’t have the players needed to be competitive, yet.
But one month into the season, the Wings have looked even worse than realistically expected. The joy in the locker room sparked by a 3-1 start that included the first regulation victory in Montreal in 12 years has dissipated, replaced by the misery of explaining one embarrassing loss after another....
How have things gone so badly so quickly, and who is to blame?
Coaching
Steve Yzerman is seven months into his post as general manager of the Wings. He made it clear during training camp he is going to spend as much time as he deems necessary observing. It’s why the previous administration’s plans to name Dylan Larkin captain before the season began were postponed. It’s why Yzerman has made minor changes – additions Valtteri Filppula, Patrik Nemeth, Adam Erne and Brendan Perlini are all short-term contracts. But will all this losing lead Yzerman to make a major change behind the bench?
He will have heard positive comments about Jeff Blashill from colleagues within the Wings organization – Blashill is well liked and respected. Higher-ups are pleased with the job he has done considering the club lacks an elite defenseman and superstar scorer, hallmarks of good teams. Yzerman will also have heard positive comments about Blashill from Jon Cooper, Yzerman’s coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning and a close friend of Blashill’s.
The key will be how the Wings perform, more than the win-loss category. If they compete hard and lose, that’s one thing. If these self-destructive, poor-energy, lazy-defense outings continue, Blashill may pay the price. Assistant coach Dan Bylsma has head coaching experience (Pittsburgh, Buffalo) but he is also the one in charge of the power play, which has been atrocious.
Steven Ellis of The Hockey News on upcoming RFAs...
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