Holland On Hiring Blashill As New Red Wings Coach: 'He Was Really The Only Candidate'
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
DETROIT - Moments before general manager Ken Holland introduced Jeff Blashill as the new head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, Holland joked that the hiring was the worst-kept secret in team history.
That description of the situation was accurate, and the explanation for it was simple: there was never anyone else. Holland only wanted Blashill.
"He was really the only candidate," Holland said Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena. "I didn't talk to anybody [else].
"I made the decision a year ago, when Blash decided that he didn't want to interview for any other jobs, he wanted to kind of continue to grow for a year and spend one more year in the American League to see how things worked out, [that] Jeff Blashill was the guy," Holland added.
Not exploring the options could be perceived as risky by some, but Holland seemed convinced of the choice of Blashill, whom the organization signed to a four-year deal.
"I'm going on my instincts," Holland said. "My instincts are he's a great young coach that's ready for this opportunity."
Blashill spent the last three seasons as the head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Red Wings, and he won a Calder Cup with the Griffins in 2013. His success there spurred interest from five other NHL teams, but Blashill accepted a pay raise from the Red Wings last year in exchange for not talking with other interested parties.
Between Blashill's loyalty to the organization and the organization's familiarity with Blashill, his hiring was all but certain as soon as longtime head coach Mike Babcock decided to leave for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Announcing Blashill as Babcock's successor was delayed only so as not to detract from the recently ended playoff run of the Griffins.
Holland could have used that window of time to talk with other coaches qualified for the job, but the general manager indicated he was so sold on Blashill that it would not have been fair to interview others.
"To go out there and let anybody, someone believe that they had a chance, I don't want to waste anybody else's time," Holland said. "I know the coaches that were available out there, and I believe we've got a great young coach that's ready to be here for a while and have a real positive impact on the Detroit Red Wings."
In addition to finding Blashill's resume impressive, Holland said he liked the idea of hiring someone from within the organization. Many of the young players in the Red Wings locker room played for Blashill in Grand Rapids, and Holland has received plenty of positive feedback about him.
"After spending four years watching Blash ... I don't think there's anybody out there that's any better, more prepared to coach the Red Wings than Jeff Blashill," Holland said. "He's paid his dues, wherever he's gone he's had a positive effect, players have gotten better."
When the 2014-2015 season concluded for the Red Wings, Holland made it clear he wanted Babcock to stay. Holland was comfortable to an extent, however, because he knew that if Babcock left, Blashill would replace him. Holland would not even need to conduct a search. He had his man already.
"It's unique in a sense that he's had a chance to see me firsthand, there doesn't need to be an interview process, I don't think," Blashill said Tuesday. "He's seen what I do. Either it's what he wants or it's not, and in this case it was what he wanted, and I'm thankful for that."