Maple Leafs Job Fair: Jeff Blashill’s Resume
By Shawn Reis
8 years agoThought we were done with the resumes? Think again. Today’s topic of discussion is the heavily sought after and hotly rumored Jeff Blashill, who is looking to become the latest star coach to come out of the Detroit Red Wings organization.
JEFF BLASHILL
Looking to become the head coach of whichever NHL team Mike Babcock decides not to go to.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Head Coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins (2012-Present) (AHL)
We won the Calder Cup in my rookie season with the Red Wing’s baby club, won 46 games and lost in the 2nd round the following year, and this past season we totaled 46 wins again and are one playoff win away from a trip to the Western Conference Finals. I’ve coached plenty of players that have gone on to have important roles for the Wings during my brief but efficient stint as the bench boss here. Some of the names I’ve had the pleasure of coaching here include Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Riler Sheahan, Tomas Jurco, Brendan Smith, Calle Jarnkrok, Teemu Pulkinnen, and Petr Mrazek. But don’t forget Landon Ferraro, Joakim Andersson, Luke Glendening, Andrej Nestrasil, Corey Emmerton, Ryan Sproul, Alexey Marchenko, Xavier Ouellet, and Brian Lashoff. Am I a good coach or are the Red Wings just incredibly good at scouting? Can it be both?
Assistant Coach for the Detroit Red Wings (2011-2012) (NHL)
Got to spend the season learning from Mike Babcock as well as current Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters. Spent a lot of time assisting with things and helping with matters and such. Yep. Good times.
Head Coach for Western Michigan University (2010-2011) (CCHA)
19 wins and 13 losses. Pretty solid. I won a bunch of Coach of the Year awards and led WMU to their best finish in 15 seasons. Here I got to coach the likes of current Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser as well as San Jose Sharks blueliner Matt Tennyson. I must have really impressed the Red Wings in this role, because I spent one season under their nose here in Michigan and then they scooped me right up.
Head Coach and General Manager for the Indiana Ice (2008-2010) (USHL)
Apparently I’m really good at developing undrafted American defensemen, because here I got to coach Torey Krug before he went on to take an important role for a very good Boston Bruins team. Oh yeah, and we won a lot of playoff games or something. A championship in my first season and then we made it to the 2nd round the following year. Yep, all I do is win.
Assistant Coach for Miami University (Ohio) (2002-2008) (CCHA)
Remember that thing I said about undrafted American defensemen? Yeah, I got to take part in coaching a young Andy Greene here. I also worked with the likes of Ryan Jones, Alec Martinez, and Tommy Wingels. I also got to spend 6 years working alongside one of the finest coaches in college hockey, Enrico Blasi. That was pretty cool too.
Assistant Coach for Ferris State University (1999-2002)
Bob Daniels is another great college hockey coach. He’s been with Ferris State since 1989 and still kicking around. Getting to learn from Bob was great for my hockey career. One of the players I got to work with here was that guy who gets to play with Sidney Crosby Canadian Gold Medalist Chris Kunitz.
ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2014 AHL Most Outstanding Coach
- 2013 Calder Cup champion
- 2011 USCHO Coach of the Year
- 2011 Inside College Hockey Coach of the Year
- 2011 College Hockey News Coach of the Year
- 2009 Clark Cup champion
- Time Magazine’s 2006 Person of the Year
PERSONAL INTERESTS
- Sounding exactly like Mike Babcock
HIRING MANAGER’S NOTES
Jeff Blashill has the best resume of any candidate that has no head coaching experience in the NHL. He’s an up-and-coming young coach similar to people like Jon Cooper, Dallas Eakins, and Guy Boucher that came before him. You’d have to say that hiring Blashill wields significant upside, but you are taking a risk since he’s relatively unproven in the sense that he has very little NHL experience. I’ll say this though, the only other coaches to come out of the Detroit Red Wings organization under Mike Babcock are Todd McLellan, Paul MacLean, and the underrated Bill Peters. That’s some pretty good company. Indications also seem to be that if Mike Babcock moves on from Detroit, Blashill will become the head coach there. That’s a pretty strong testament of Blashill’s abilities as well. As far as I’m concerned, Blashill belongs on the shortlist of top priority coaches alongside the likes of Babcock, McLellan, and Dan Bylsma.
Other Resumes We’ve Received:
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