The Detroit Red Wings re-signed general manager Ken Holland to a two-year deal on Saturday, bringing back the longstanding face of the franchise’s front office.
According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, all indications point to head coach Jeff Blashill also returning for at least another season.
“Ken Holland indicated that he would address the future of his head coach, Jeff Blashill, on Tuesday. Everything pointing in the direction that he will get the same opportunity Ken Holland has of continuing the rebuild,” Kypreos said during Saturday’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada. “There is a feeling of understanding that he didn’t have the most in terms of skill—particularly at centre, which makes the Red Wings’ position that much more interesting come July 1 when John Tavares may become available.”
Blashill replaced Mike Babcock behind Detroit’s bench in 2015 after three years of coaching the club’s AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.
Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, there’s hope that captain Henrik Zetterberg will return next season, too.
“When the Sedins retired this week, Henrik Zetterberg was asked about his situation and he said, ‘As long as I’m healthy, I’m going to play,’” Friedman said of the 37-year-old. “And there were some people wondering about that, because even though he’s playing 82 games for his third consecutive season, a number of the Red Wings players say what he goes through on a daily basis with his back to get in there is simply extraordinary.”
Zetterberg, who is under contract for three more years, tallied 11 goals and 45 assists this season. He has registered 337 goals and 623 assists for 960 career NHL points over 15 seasons, all with the Red Wings.
“He’s 40 points from 1,000, and I think the feeling is he will be back,” Friedman said.
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