As you have certainly heard by now, Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has decided to give head coach Jeff Blashill a contract extension.
Though Yzerman has not released details about the contract, as it is his personal policy to not report coaches’ contract details, it has been reported that it is a two-year deal.
Following the news that Blashill was returning, many Red Wings fans took to social media to give their opinion on Yzerman’s decision, some saying the move was the wrong one and others reiterating that they trust the “Yzerplan.”
One local writer (you can probably guess who) just put out a column where he takes a stance that Yzerman’s decision to keep Blashill was a missed opportunity.
The writer, of course, is Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
Monarrez, who I am convinced is paid to come up with hot takes, embarrassed himself again with this column by saying the Red Wings have not improved since Yzerman took over as GM.
From Detroit Free Press:
The Captain? Not necessarily perfect?
I thought about that night on Tuesday when Yzerman discussed his decision to retain Jeff Blashill, who will enter his seventh season as the Wings’coach with a 172-221-62 record. Not necessarily perfect. I think that’s what we have here.
As the Wings slog through at least Year 4 of their rebuild, and Year 2 under Yzerman’s general manager tenure, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of hope because there doesn’t seem to be much improvement that anyone without an advanced degree in hockey scouting can see.
“…there doesn’t seem to be much improvement that anyone without an advanced degree in hockey can see.”
Wait, what?!?!
Sure, the Red Wings were bad again during this past season but to actually believe they were not improved over the season before is just lying to yourself.
And, to say that you need an “advanced degree” to see the improvement is flat-out embarrassing.
Let me make this easy for you, Carlos.
During the 2019-20 season, the Red Wings were outscored by an average of 1.72 goals per game! During this past season, the Red Wings were outscored by 0.79 goals per game.
Carlos, that was the most basic stat I could find to show that the Red Wings absolutely did improve from a season ago.
I get that you probably do not watch much hockey, but come on, man!
I 100% respect your opinion (and actually agree with it) that Yzerman should have moved on from Blashill, but to say the team did not improve since Yzerman took over is ignorant.
You can thank the goaltending for the reduction in goals against. There are still way too many turnovers in the defensive zone. I do feel, there is some improvement in the quality of defensemen, but the system sucks. Let’s not forget about the wonderful power play! It has become worse every year!! Detroit needs to beef up, with size & talent. Too much advantage is being taken of our smaller forwards and no response is given. Love Stevey but, come on man