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New York Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
How Jeff Blashill's battle scars fit Blackhawks' hopes: ‘I know what it's going to take'
CHICAGO — Jeff Blashill was once the premier young and up-and-coming hockey coach. In his 30s, he rose quickly through the coaching ranks. He went from a college assistant to leading the Indiana Ice to a USHL championship, then began turning around Western Michigan's hockey program in just one year. He joined the Detroit Red Wings as an NHL assistant, later took over their AHL affiliate and won a Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins. After three AHL seasons, he was promoted to head coach of the Red Wings. Advertisement Within seven years, Blashill held five different coaching jobs, all of which had been basically promotions. He couldn't do any wrong. He quickly moved up the ladder, and the sky appeared to be the limit as he took over his first NHL head coaching position. There was optimism in Detroit that he would be the coach to maintain and build on the Red Wings' storied tradition. He wasn't. How much of the Red Wings' failures during his seven seasons as head coach fell on him is certainly debatable. Detroit's roster was stripped down within a few years and required much more time to be rebuilt than Blashill was given. Even now, the Red Wings are still searching for their first playoff appearance since 2016. Three seasons have passed since Blashill was let go by the Red Wings. Ten seasons have passed since he was named Red Wings head coach. Seventeen seasons have passed since Blashill was in the USHL. He's no longer that young and up-and-coaching coach who couldn't do any wrong. He's 51. He's been around. He's failed. There isn't that same glow around him. And that's precisely what made him attractive to the Chicago Blackhawks and why he was ultimately introduced as their new head coach at the United Center on Tuesday. The Blackhawks took a swing at the newest young and up-and-coming coach — David Carle — and thought they nearly had him. When Carle declined the Blackhawks' offer and remained at the University of Denver, the search went in another direction. That's when Blashill entered the picture and became a more viable candidate over time. As Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson likes to put it, Blashill checked a lot of boxes. Some of those boxes were his success stories — his teams' winning at other levels and his players' development. But he also brought one thing he didn't have when the Red Wings hired him: NHL experience. He knows what works, but just as important, what doesn't work in the NHL. He can draw from his player development in Grand Rapids, what went wrong with the Red Wings, or the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He's seen and done so much in the past decade and a half. He's been held accountable. He knows how functional NHL coaching staffs, dressing rooms and organizations are supposed to work. He's nearing 1,000 games on an NHL bench in the regular season and playoffs, including 542 as a head coach. He's won and lost in nearly every fashion. Advertisement Right now, that's probably what the Blackhawks need most out of their head coach. Though Davidson pursued Carle and was open to another first-time NHL head coach, the Blackhawks could use someone who isn't fully learning on the job. Blashill brings confidence and understanding that can be acquired only through time and experience. It's debatable how much of the Blackhawks' struggles over the last four seasons can be pinned on their last four head coaches — Jeremy Colliton, Derek King, Luke Richardson and Anders Sörensen — all first-timers. They weren't exactly set up to succeed. But because of their inexperience, they were unable to apply their learnings the way Blashill can. 'I had the opportunities at different levels to come to similar types of situations. … We went in, we were able to implement a culture of accountability, create a championship standard, develop those young players and win,' Blashill said. 'I've gone through seven years of a hard rebuild in Detroit. I know the pain that this group has gone through the last couple years. I also know the pitfalls that are potentially ahead. So, we'll work like crazy to avoid those pitfalls as we go to lead this team into a better tomorrow.' It's not just his experiences. It's what he learned from them, especially the trying ones. He said he believes the Blackhawks are ahead of where he left the Red Wings, but that he can apply knowledge from those tough times. 'One of the big things as a coach, you want to help your team and you want to find answers,' Blashill said. 'So, at times, you're searching for answers — how can we put our guys in the best position to have success? And there are certainly times you go through that you can oversearch for answers. 'Maybe (you) change a system when that's not what needs to be done and sometimes you just have to stay calm, believe in the process and stay the course. I just think going through those times allows me to remain calm and stay focused on the process in the face of the adversity that you face when you're trying to go from a team that's near the bottom to being a team that's at the top.' Advertisement That was one of the things that stood out to Davidson and his staff as they talked with Blashill. He referenced moments with the Red Wings and what he'd do differently now. He reflected on how he managed time, how he managed games, how he managed his staff and how he managed young players and veterans. He also cited lessons from his time on Jon Cooper's Tampa Bay Lightning coaching staff. Davidson hadn't entered the search looking for a specific type of coach, but Blashill's experience became part of what won the Blackhawks over. 'We wanted to talk to a number of different people in our process,' Davidson said, 'but we didn't want to put a box around it with no NHL experience, (or) a lot of NHL experience. … In the end, when we got in the room with Jeff and got to know him a little bit better … it felt like a no-brainer to tap into his experience and tap into what he's lived and what he's been through in the NHL as a head coach. It just made a lot of sense from that perspective, but it wasn't something that was necessarily a deal breaker one way or another. … That time in Detroit as an NHL head coach certainly set him up for approaching this a different way and learning from that first tenure.' Davidson and Blashill were both careful Tuesday not to put any specific timelines on future success. Davidson spoke of it using the words 'in time.' When asked more directly when he expects to win, Blashill said he couldn't answer. Again, though, he framed his lengthy answer around his experience. 'I'll never put a timeline on that; I can't,' Blashill said. 'I have no way of knowing how long or how quick. I didn't know when I went to Indy if it would take us multiple years; honestly, I didn't know if I was going to make it to Christmas. That was my first head coaching job, two of my kids were 1 and 3, and I wasn't sure what to expect. But we ended up winning a championship, and we won it faster than people thought we would. I didn't know when I went to Western how long it would take to get that program back to a level of relevance; in that year, we ended up going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in however (long). I didn't know when I went to Grand Rapids how long, and we ended up winning a championship and had success after that. You just don't know for sure. 'I know what it's going to take, and I know process is the most important piece of that. What I will say is I won't rush the process for a timeline. I believe in the process. I was able to actually to see a pretty unique (example) in a different sport when I was in Detroit and watched (Lions coach) Dan Campbell, his first year, have very very little success, but I watched him continue and stay strong and build a culture. When you see those types of experiences, it's a good reminder to you as a coach: You have to make sure you get that culture in place. Once you get that culture in place, the winning takes care of itself. I don't have an answer how long, and to be honest, that's not really what my worry is. My worry is making sure we do it right from day one, and we continue to do it right on a day-by-day basis.' Blashill understands that better now than he did in his 30s. He was clear on his end goal with the Blackhawks on Tuesday. That goal was undoubtedly the same when he was hired by the Red Wings to be their head coach in June 2015. The difference now is that he has a much clearer understanding of how to achieve it. Advertisement 'All those experiences for me mean this: It means on day one of training camp, I can stand in front of our group and know exactly what it's going to take for us to get to the top. And not guess, not hope, but know,' Blashill said. 'So, I'm extremely excited about that and that opportunity. I don't want to sound like it's going to be easy because it's not. It's going to be hard. It's going to take more sacrifice and more work than most people are willing to give, but for those who are willing to give it, I think the reward's going to be great. In time, this great city of Chicago and our great Blackhawks fans, we can deliver a championship-level team, and I look forward to getting to that moment.'
New York Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What I'm seeing from Red Wings' top prospects in AHL playoffs
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The AHL playoffs are not off to a good start for the Detroit Red Wings' top affiliate. Two games into a best-of-five series against the Texas Stars, the Grand Rapids Griffins find themselves in a 2-0 hole, and it has looked like it sounds. The Stars took Game 1 by way of a 4-0 shutout. Texas raced out to another 4-0 lead in Game 2, as well, before the Griffins found some spark and cut it to a 4-2 final. In other words, it's getting late pretty early for Detroit's top prospects, and they're going to need to dig deep to get back into the series and keep their playoff run alive as the series shifts to Texas. So, what's gone wrong, and what can the series tell us about some of the Red Wings' prospects (including four recent first-round picks)? Here's what I'm seeing so far, after attending Game 2 in person and watching Game 1 on video. The turnovers Three of the eight goals Texas has scored in this series have come on entirely avoidable turnovers. In Game 1, it was Elmer Söderblom bobbling a pass in the neutral zone that quickly went the other way in transition for a goal. With Grand Rapids already down a goal at the time, it put the Griffins down 2-0 less than seven minutes into the game. In Game 2, Amadeus Lombardi made a similar mistake in the same part of the ice, trying to skate the puck into the zone despite back pressure, losing his handle on it, and seeing it go the other way for the first goal of the game. And minutes later, Anton Johansson had an attempted rim pass picked off below the defensive goal line, leading to a scramble at the net and another early 2-0 deficit. 'We cannot give that team the puck,' Griffins coach Dan Watson said. 'They don't need it. And to give it to them for free, we're just playing right into their hands.' Texas has done very well to force those turnovers, both with their forechecking and the pressure they've given on the backcheck, as with Lombardi's goal. The Griffins aren't getting hardly any free ice to skate or pass into, and as a result, Texas has been able to extend possessions and wear them down — which only compounds the problem, as decision-making rarely gets better when players are tired. 'We've got to get out of our zone,' Watson said. 'I mean, we killed a couple plays, we had it, and then we turn it over and now they're spending a minute in our zone. And all of the sudden — you guys can see — (it's) five guys standing around because they're tired. So we have to make sure that pucks get past their pressure, responsibly. With possession, hopefully — but if not, we have to make sure we manage those in our D-zone.' Even accounting for the very significant credit Texas is due here in causing that chaos, the Griffins have to cut back on the mental lapses if they're going to keep their season alive. The top prospects As you can guess by the score lines, there hasn't been a ton of offense to speak of from Detroit's top prospects. The one big exception to that would be 2024 first-round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, who had a goal and an assist in Monday's Game 2, first picking up an assist on Sheldon Dries' power-play goal, and then later adding a goal of his own — his first as a Griffin. He finished the night with three shots on goal in total. Presenting the first North American goal for Michael Brandsegg-Nygård.@griffinshockey | @DetroitRedWings — American Hockey League (@TheAHL) May 6, 2025 The goal was encouraging because of how repeatable it was. With his linemates battling for the puck down low, Brandsegg-Nygård got himself open just above the crease and then ripped home the goal on his first touch. His shot is his bread and butter, and it'll be particularly effective on exactly that kind of play, where the goalie has minimal time to prepare for it, and even less time to stop it from in tight. It's easy to imagine him scoring a lot of goals just like that. 'I thought he was more comfortable in his play tonight,' Watson said. 'I thought he played really well. Obviously moved him up the lineup as the game went along. Just thought he was physical, thought he had some good shots on net — which obviously that's a weapon for him.' Keep in mind, Brandsegg-Nygård has only played four AHL games to this point (two regular season, and two playoffs). His ice time has steadily ticked up each game, though, starting out at 13 minutes in his debut and reaching 17 minutes on Monday. He said he's talked a lot with the Grand Rapids coaches and development staff to figure out what he needs to do to be successful in this new league, and said he feels like he's getting better and has the 'American mindset.' 'Just get the puck North and get it to the net,' he said. That's a great place to start, and as Watson alluded, his physicality is certainly going to fit right in, too. He's certainly not shy to use his body to win a battle. It will take him time, like it does all players, to fully adjust. But he's a player who only needs an instant to make his impact felt. Fellow recent addition Axel Sandin Pellikka hasn't had a real signature moment in the series yet, though Watson did say Monday was 'one of his better games, for sure.' Certainly, Sandin Pellikka is a natural puck-mover who looks very fluid transitioning a first pass up ice, and Watson noted that he 'walks the blue line with confidence.' I've also felt he's competed hard, which is crucial for a smaller defenseman. But it will probably take him some time to really get a feel for the AHL game, where there's simply less time and space than in Sweden. He's a good skater, but more so with his edges and change of direction than pure speed, so a lot of his damage will be done with his brain, as he learns to dissect AHL penalty kills and defensive coverages. That's a process, and it's why these late-season games in Grand Rapids are important for him. He's on the top power play, and he's been over 21 minutes in both playoff games so far. He's got more playoff games ahead, plus a big offseason, so a lot can change between now and September. But from what I've seen so far, I think starting in Grand Rapids next year could be good for him as he continues to make those adjustments. I am more curious about Nate Danielson when it comes to the Detroit roster conversation. Danielson hasn't been on the board in the series so far, but I did notice him making slick, mature plays in the defensive zone late in the game, and the way he finds the middle with passes after using his speed outside is usually a good recipe for offense. It's a familiar story with Danielson, though, whose tools — skating, size, smarts — tend to stand out, but you're still left wanting to see it lead to actual goals. Now, this has not been a high-scoring Griffins team all year (their leading scorer, AHL veteran Joe Snively, had 47 points in 72 games). That obviously affects how many points there are to go around, and in this series, the turnovers and breakout issues have only compounded that. You can't go play in the offensive end if you're hemmed in your own. There is one school of thought that for a player like Danielson, simply playing with NHL teammates — who can be more predictable in their actions — could lead to more production. But if Danielson were to be on the NHL roster next fall, it's also true that he'd likely be in a third-line role. I'm not sure if the Red Wings will be inclined to do that, or if they'll prefer for him to play a top-line, top power-play role to try and coax out more of that offense. What's up with Sebastian Cossa? There was one notable absence from the Griffins' lineup Monday: 2021 first-round pick goaltender Sebastian Cossa, who was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots in the first 29 minutes of Game 1, and then sat in favor of veteran Jack Campbell in Game 2. 'I thought (Campbell) played well when he came in (in Game 1),' Watson said. 'I know he only had 11 shots, but still, I thought he was solid, played well. He played well for us (in) our last game (of the regular season) in Iowa, that we had to win, kind of stole that game for us. So that was basically the decision.' That comes on the heels of Steve Yzerman's end-of-season press conference, when he said of Cossa, 'We're looking for him to take another step. I'm not prepared today to put him in the NHL. He had a very good first two-thirds of the season, his play dipped a little bit after the (AHL) All-Star break, and this is a big playoff for him.' It's a tricky balance for Watson to walk, between giving Cossa — a key piece of the organization's future in goal — the chance to work things out and have that 'big playoff' Yzerman spoke of, and needing to make the game-to-game decisions that give Grand Rapids the best chance to stay alive in those playoffs. And clearly, he leaned Campbell's way in that regard in Game 2. After Campbell also gave up four goals on Monday — two off those turnovers, one on the power play, and one on a rush chance — we'll see which way the Griffins go for Game 3 on Friday. But frankly, given Cossa's significance to the future, it's a bit concerning that it's a legitimate debate right now. The surprise bright spot The Griffins player who might have caught my eye most often Monday night was not one of the first-round picks, nor one of the longtime AHL veterans in the lineup. It was 2022 fourth-round pick Anton Johansson, a right-shot defenseman who played North of 20 minutes for the Griffins. He had one of those turnovers that led to a goal in Game 2, so it wasn't all pretty, but Johansson's skating really pops — especially at 6-foot-4. He plays hard and sometimes mean, he has a big shot, and he can cover a lot of ground. That's a very appealing package for a 20-year-old defenseman, even if he's still raw. 'He's got that snarl to his game when he wants it,' Watson said. 'He plays long, he's got a good stick. I've liked everything I've seen about him, to be honest with you. He's a mature kid, but in this locker room, he does bring the spirits high. He likes to have fun. He enjoys coming to the rink and he loves the game. So he's going to continue to develop, and he's a really good prospect.' (Photo of Nate Danielson: Courtesy of Nicolas Carrillo / Griffins)
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Wings Prospect Shaking Off The Rust
It's not about what you have. It's about what you do with it. This saying rings true for the Detroit Red Wings this season. What they have (the players) wasn't the issue. What the Red Wings head coach was doing with them was the problem. Now that they have that sorted out, they can better understand what upgrades they need to make a difference in the long run. Meanwhile, the Grand Rapids Griffins continue to progress. They recently got back one of their top players from injury, Amadeus Lombardi. He was deployed in a third-line center role in his first game back. However, he started the game last night as the team's first-line center. That's quite the jump. The Hockey News - 4 Red Wings Who Could Be Traded To New Teams The Detroit Red Wings will need to make decisions on these players. Red Wings Must Decide Fate Of These Prospects Red Wings Prospect Makes Big Return Kane Opens Up on Watching 4 Nations: "You Definitely Want to Be There and You Feel Like You're Missing out on Some Great Hockey" Red Wings Star Envy Of The League The Hockey News - Red Wings' Dylan Larkin Makes Big Statement You can't win them all. After last night's win, head coach Dan Watson spoke to the media. He was asked about Lombardi and what he thought of his play. 'He's been out for so long,' Watson said. 'It takes a while. (You can't) just expect him to be like he was before the injury. Tonight, there was some puck management issues, maybe skating (issues).' 'You're so energized, and you're so amped up for that first game that maybe the second one you drop off a little.' Watson believes that Lombardi can shake off the rust sooner rather than later. 'Not worried about him,' Watson revealed. 'He's (an) extremely hard worker. He's doing all the right things to make sure that he feels the best he possibly can for these games.' Switch it up 🔁 @Acrisure | #GoGRG — Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) February 21, 2025 'He'll get back at it. We're excited for that. There's another day of rest for him before we play Iowa on Sunday.' Lombardi only has one assist in his two games since returning. But if the coach feels good about how he's coming along, that should be music to the ears of Red Wings fans everywhere. He has all the tools; he just needs to get used to using them again. Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Wings Prospect Makes Big Return
Everyone loves a feel-good story. It appears that Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins fans will get to celebrate a feel-good story today. According to the Griffins' social media page on X (formerly known as Twitter), a promising young forward prospect will return to the lineup tonight. Run it back tonight? 😉 #GoGRG — Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) February 19, 2025 Amadeus Lombardi has been injured since December 1st, but he looks ready to return now. The social media team posted a hype video. It mostly plays highlights of Lombardi, mixed with some X comments and a text conversation with Lombardi himself. 4 Red Wings Who Could Be Traded To New Teams Detroit Red Wings Prospect Breaks Through Kane Opens Up on Watching 4 Nations: "You Definitely Want to Be There and You Feel Like You're Missing out on Some Great Hockey" Red Wings Star Envy Of The League 'That Was One of the Best Experiences of my Life": Larkin Nets Winner as USA Tops Canada "It Feels Like a New Season": On Todd McLellan & the Power of the Red Wings' ForgettingIn his first 20 games of the season, he recorded 15 points, nine of which were goals. Impressively, four of those nine were game-winning tallys. He has also scored on both of his shootout attempts. Lombardi is 11 points away from matching his AHL career-high from last season. In 70 games, he collected five goals and 21 assists for 26 points. It's been two months since Griffins head coach Dan Watson told the media that Lombardi would be out for a, "little while." Tonight, the Griffins play the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Van Andel Arena. This will be their third meeting this season. Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Griffins to honor heart transplant recipient
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Grand Rapids Griffins game on Feb. 19 will be a memorable one for one West Michigan woman as the team raises awareness about heart health. Tracy Meier has been a huge Griffins fan for the last 15 years. 'I saw both Calder Cup wins,' she said. She even won a 'flyaway fan' experience in the spring of 2024. 'They were going to fly me to Chicago for a couple games there for the weekend,' Meier explained. Sadly, that never happened. 'In June of 2023, I went into the doctor's office with shortness of breath. I couldn't walk from here to there without having to stop,' Meier said. 'They did an EKG in the doctor's office and immediately sent me to the hospital.' Blood test may detect heart disease risk in women decades earlier After being transferred to the Corewell Health Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center in downtown Grand Rapids and undergoing lots of tests, doctors determined Meier had heart failure. 'It had to do with my radiation and chemo that I had years ago,' she said. After spending 42 days in the hospital that summer, Meier left with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), which helps the heart pump blood more effectively. 'I had that for eight months,' Meier explained. 'I had (prior) problems with blood clots and stuff, so I couldn't go directly onto the heart transplant list. I had to get approval through my neurosurgeon that the clots were stable and once I got that, they put me immediately on the heart transplant list.' It was right around this time she won the flyaway fan experience. 'I had to get (doctor) approval and they're like, 'Yeah, you can go, but you're going to have to be off the heart transplant list,' which I had just gotten on and I said, 'Well, I can't go then.' And the clinic said, 'No, you need to go in and still live your life.' So I said 'OK, I'm going to go, but in the meantime, if it's meant to be, I'll get the call.' It came about a week before she was supposed to go to Chicago. 'I think I just emailed them and said, 'I hate to cancel, but I'm going in for my heart,'' Meier laughed. Go Red for Women urges 'life-savers, not bystanders' Two weeks after her surgery, Meier couldn't believe who walked through the door of her hospital room: two Griffins players and — who himself had after a the previous year. 'They signed the heart pillow for me. They signed me a jersey,' Meier said. Now, 10 months later, they're surprising her again. 'Are you going to be at the game next Wednesday? Like the 19th?' Griffins center Amadeus Lombardi asked Meier in the Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals Care Center. 'Oh yeah,' she responded. 'Well… You might be dropping the puck,' Lombardi told her. Meier and her care team erupted with applause. 'As hockey players and just in general, as people, we're so blessed. We're in such a good opportunity again in a great city, but just to be able to be able to do the thing that we genuinely love every day, it means so much to us and we want to give back to the community that helps us,' Lombardi told News 8. 'I've had family members in the past with cancer and it's a big cause and just everything she's been through. So we're excited for that.' 'The whole community has kind of brought us in with open arms,' Griffins left wing Cross Hanas said. 'The least we could do is give back as much as we can and doing a lot of stuff with the hospital is it's always something I kind of want to be a part of.' Meier's story brings awareness to an important issue. 'Women over the age of 20, about 45% of them will have some risk factor for cardiovascular disease. So what I tell women is that you know your body, so when it feels different, you ask for help,' said Dr. Milena Jani, heart failure and transplantation cardiologist for Corewell Health. She added that women often present different signs and symptoms of heart disease than men. Instead of having chest pain, they may have stomach pain, be more tired than usual or experience unusual sweating. 'Generally, those symptoms have to be taken seriously. It doesn't mean that always somebody is having a heart attack, but get evaluated by a doctor, because many times, we can control your risk factors to make heart disease much more preventable and treatable and manageable, rather than ending up needing a heart transplantation, for example,' Jani said. Corewell Health event to help you understand heart health Though Meier said there's no way she could have prevented her outcome, she does wish she would have gone in to see her doctor sooner. 'Be aware of your body. Don't ignore symptoms,' she urged. More than 160 seats in the Van Andel will be dedicated to the Corewell Health transplant team and several patients during the Feb. 19 Griffins game. Meier will drop the puck at 7 p.m. and hopes to help raise awareness about heart health and organ donation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
