Copyright M Live Michigan
DETROIT – Jeff Blashill guided the Detroit Red Wings to the playoffs in 2016 during his first season as head coach. Then he watched the team lose a lot of games over the next six years at the start of an arduous rebuild that’s seen their postseason drought reach nine seasons. Blashill got a second chance as an NHL head coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, another rebuilding franchise, and is experiencing some early-season success. The Blackhawks (7-5-3, 17 points) held the second wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference heading into Saturday’s games. They visit the Red Wings (9-6-0, 18 points) Sunday at Little Caesars Arena (1 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network). Only four players remain from Blashill’s final season in Detroit (2021-22) – Dylan Larkin, Michael Rasmussen, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. “He’s shown he has some really good touch with young players,” Seider said. “I think Ray and I learned a lot with him, under him. I think he was always honest, very direct, wasn’t afraid to be in a moment and demand that. And I think I really like that. I think guys really appreciated him as a human, and that’s something I really take away. “You could always have a really honest conversation with him. He was never a guy who was holding that on top of your head or against you.” Seider said Blashill was a good communicator. “He made it very clear what he wants from you, what he does not,” Seider said. Blashill spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach in Tampa Bay under Jon Cooper. The Blackhawks have missed the playoffs the past five seasons, accumulating a lot of young talent along the way, led by Connor Bedard, the top overall pick in 2023 who’s off to a tremendous start with eight goals and 22 points in 15 games. Former Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi has five goals in the past two games, including a hat trick Wednesday against Vancouver. “Their overall confidence level is much higher because they’ve earned the right to be confident,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “It starts with Bedard, but they have structure right now that allows them to predict where things are going to go. Their goaltenders have played quite well and given them an opportunity. Special teams perform at a higher level than they have in the past. “I think that whole coaching staff has done a good job of molding that team quickly. They have some very good young players. They’ve stockpiled them for a while and they’re starting to mature. But all that’s done with Blash’s guidance, so I think he’s done a real good job.” Said Seider: “They have a lot of talent up front to score goals, and we just got to match that. Just got to come out with a lot of intensity, authority, and just got to demand a puck on our stick rather than theirs and to just have a little bit of swagger and fun.”
