Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings announced Tuesday they have agreed to a contract extension with head coach Jeff Blashill.

Detroit finished the season with 48 points in 56 games, tied for the worst mark in the Central division. It represents the organization's fifth straight year with a losing record and no playoff appearances after reaching the postseason in each of the previous 25 seasons.

Blashill just completed his sixth year as head coach of the Red Wings and is the third-longest tenured coach in the NHL.

The 47-year-old has a 172-221-62 mark in his career, plus just a 1-4 mark in the playoffs.

It's been an extensive rebuild for the Red Wings, although there were significant improvements this year compared to the 17-49-5 mark from 2019-20.

The team has several promising young players including Filip Hronek and Filip Zadina while Lucas Raymond should make an impact before too long. It could be enough to provide optimism for 2021-22, although there will be plenty of pressure on Blashill to improve in a hurry. 

The Detroit Red Wings have moved their leading goal-scorer at the trade deadline.

Anthony Mantha was dealt to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Richard Panik, Jakub Vrana and a pair of draft picks, the Capitals announced. 

NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings for forwards Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik, a 2021 first round pick and a 2022 second round pick.

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 12, 2021

Mantha, the team's No. 20 pick in 2013, has amassed 21 points through 42 games for the Red Wings this season, by way of 11 goals and 10 assists. 

The 26-year-old signed a four-year, $22.8 million deal with Detroit in November. At the time, the Quebec native didn't rule out signing another multi-year deal with the team at the end of his newest deal, per Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News. 

"Everyone knows we’re in a rebuild phase, and him signing me to a four-year deal tells me he sees me as a part of the future of the team, part of the guys that are going to help this team win,” Mantha said. “That’s pressure that comes with it."

The Red Wings are holding on to last place in the Central Division standings, at 14-23-6 this season. Their newest acquisitions should at least factor in to give the Red Wings the energy to get through the end of the season, though it's unlikely they can fill in to replace the hole left by Mantha.

Vrana, who has spent all five seasons of his career with the Capitals, has posted 25 points through 11 goals and 14 assists through 39 games this season. Panik, a nine-year veteran who is headed to his sixth team, has posted nine points (three goals, six assists) through 36 appearances this year. 

Mantha was a rare bright spot for the Red Wings, who will now have to look for Roddy Fabbri and Adam Erne (10 goals each) to keep it going. 

Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard, who spent all of his NHL career with the team, announced his retirement in an Instagram post Thursday.

Congrats on a great career, Howie! 🙌

📱: https://t.co/JXG1Rw8yqP pic.twitter.com/nV7Cb5EQ4x

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 28, 2021

"It has been the honor of a lifetime to play and I'm forever thankful to the fans, everyone within the Red Wings organization, my teammates and my family for their ongoing support, loyalty and dedication," he wrote.

Howard was drafted by Detroit in the second round (No. 64 overall) in 2003 and emerged as the Red Wings' starter in 2009, four seasons after he made his NHL debut. He was named runner-up for the Calder Trophy as the league's rookie of the year that season after tallying a .924 save percentage and 2.26 goals-against average with a 37-15-10 record.

He earned three All-Star selections throughout his career in 2012, 2015 and 2019. His 246 victories through 543 games rank fourth among the 2003 draft class, behind Marc-Andre Fleury, Jaroslav Halak and Corey Crawford, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

The Red Wings struggled in last year's pandemic-shortened season, going 17-49-5.

Through 27 starts, Howard posted a 4.20 goals-against average with an .882 save percentage, going 2-23-2. His last win was Oct. 29, 2019, and he did not start again after the NHL season resumed from its shutdown. Instead, the Red Wings turned to Jonathan Bernier, who has split time in net with Thomas Greiss this season.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman told reporters in October the franchise would not re-sign Howard. According to Ansar Kahn of MLive.com, the Edmonton Oilers "had some interest" in Howard, who wanted to continue playing but was not interested in leaving Detroit.

The 36-year-old concludes his NHL career with a 246-196-70 record through 523 starts and 543 appearances, with a 2.62 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and 24 shutouts. In his post, he said he will coach his son's hockey team and spend time with his family in "this new chapter in my life."

Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios went on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast (h/t Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News) and said ex-Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock "verbally assaulted" forward Johan Franzen in 2012 to the point where the left wing had a nervous breakdown.

Chelios said:

“Some of the things he (Babcock) said to him (Franzen) on the bench, I don’t know what he said to him behind closed doors one-on-one, but he blatantly verbally assaulted him during the game on the bench.

“It got to the point where poor Johan, no one really knowing he was suffering with the concussion thing and the depression thing, he just broke down and had nervous breakdown, not only on the bench but after the game in one of the rooms in Nashville."

Chelios was with the Red Wings front office at the time two years after his retirement.

Per Kulfan, Franzen has suffered from numerous concussions and had post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. He retired in 2015 after an 11-year NHL career with the Red Wings.

Per Ansar Khan of MLive.com, Chelios was asked on the podcast whether anyone confronted Babcock about the alleged behavior:

“Not really, no; guys talked amongst each other, when some things happened and there was some second guessing and it got to (former general manager) Kenny Holland, Kenny Holland came down to the room and had this speech and supported Mike Babcock. It was a great speech, but (he told) everybody in the room, ‘If you don’t like it, come up and see me and be traded.’ So that was the way it kind of ended.”

Babcock, who led the Red Wings to the 2007-08 Stanley Cup, coached in Detroit through the 2014-15 season before heading to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was fired Nov. 20 after a six-game losing streak dropped the Leafs to 9-10-4.

His tenure in Toronto wasn't without controversy, according to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun, with one story standing out in particular from the 2016-17 season:

"Babcock was alleged to have asked one of the Leafs’ rookies to list the players on the team from hardest-working to those who, in the eyes of the rookie, didn’t have a strong work ethic. The rookie did so, not wanting to upset his coach, but was taken aback when Babcock told the players who had been listed at the bottom."

Mitch Marner, the then-rookie in the story, confirmed it on the record, per Adam Gretz of NBC Sports. Gretz also referenced other players who had problems with the former NHL coach:

"Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Commodore has been Babcock’s most vocal critic on social media, while former Maple Leafs defender Mark Fraser offered a little more insight in the wake of Toronto’s coaching change this past week. Fraser said, among other things, that Babcock is a coach that '95 percent of his former players can’t say a good thing about.'"

As for Franzen, the Swede enjoyed a successful NHL career that included a key role on that 2007-08 team, and he finished his tenure with 187 goals and 183 assists. He posted a high of 34 goals and 59 points in 2008-09.

Chelios left the Red Wings front office in 2018. He played in 26 NHL seasons, made 11 All-Star Games and won three Stanley Cups.

After three straight losing seasons, the Detroit Red Wings are nearing the first season to expect reasonable improvement and doing so with a new general manager in Steve Yzerman.

The franchise legend and former Tampa Bay Lightning executive is tasked with continuing a rebuild in a critical moment. With the right additions, the Wings have a fighting chance at a playoff spot. Upgrading the defense is of utmost importance this offseason.

Detroit recently chose 11 players in the NHL draft, and the next priority is some house-cleaning with restricted free agents.

Ansar Khan of MLive reported the Wings extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Joe Hicketts, Patrik Rybar and Dominic Turgeon to retain their rights. However, they didn't qualify Martin Frk, Dylan Sadowy, Libor Sulak or Axel Holmstrom.

That, so far, is settled. The rumor mill is where uncertainty begins.

           

Hockeytown Homecoming for Krug?

Torey Krug had a superb year for the Stanley Cup runner-up Boston Bruins, totaling eight goals and 63 assists in 88 combined regular-season and playoff appearances.

His future is unsettled, though.

Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now says the Wings—and Vancouver Canucks—have expressed considerable interest in Krug.

Now, the connection to Detroit makes sense because of his position, the need to upgrade defensively and his relationship with Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill. Plus, Krug is a native of nearby Livonia and a well-documented fan of the franchise.

But it's also reasonable to raise an eyebrow.

Krug will be an unrestricted free agent in 2020. Unless the Wings are able to unload a bad contract on Boston—and that's unlikely—a trade probably won't materialize. There's little sense in parting with draft capital during a rebuild for an impending free agent.

Besides, the Bruins aren't desperate to trade the 28-year-old.

"It would take a pretty unique opportunity for us to part with Torey," said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, per Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston.

At this point of Detroit's rebuild, the organization isn't in a position to provide that "unique opportunity."

          

Kronwall Mulling Retirement

After 15 years and 953 games—all with the Red Wings—Niklas Kronwall is nearing the end of a successful career.

But it might not be finished quite yet.

According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Yzerman said if the 38-year-old decides to return, he'll be a member of the Red Wings.

"We're going to go about our business," Yzerman said before the NHL draft. "Nothing really changes. If Nik wants to come back and play, he'll have a spot on the team. I don't anticipate giving you anything really until the end of the summer."

An unrestricted free agent, Kronwall is likely headed for a one-year contract worth $2 million or so. That would protect the Red Wings against future cap hits and is a reasonable price for someone they expect to hold a nightly role.

Last season, the Swede provided three goals and 24 assists while trailing only Dylan Larkin for ice time among skaters.

Yes, promoting a promising young player in Dennis Cholowski is appealing. But that, per Yzerman, won't be at Kronwall's expense.

             

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

A Hall of Famer and Detroit Red Wings legend is reportedly coming back to the only NHL team he ever played for during his illustrious career.

After the Red Wings announced they would hold a press conference at 3 p.m. ET Friday with Christopher Ilitch, Steve Yzerman and Ken Holland, Gord Miller of TSN reported they will use it to introduce Yzerman as their new general manager.

Holland, who was the general manager, will remain with the team as the senior vice president.

Detroit selected Yzerman fourth overall in the 1983 NHL entry draft, and he played 22 seasons and won three Stanley Cups with the team. Two of those Stanley Cups came in back-to-back years in 1997 and 1998.

The nine-time All-Star won the Ted Lindsay Award as the league's Most Outstanding Player, the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship.

He also scored more than 100 points in six straight seasons.

Yzerman was the general manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2010 until just before the 2018-19 campaign, when he stepped down. Ansar Khan of MLive noted he did so to spend more time with his family but remained a consultant for the team.

The Columbus Blue Jackets swept the Lightning in the first round of the playoffs after Tampa Bay tied the NHL record with 62 wins during the regular season. Yzerman will have a challenging job in front of him with Detroit, as the Red Wings have missed the playoffs in each of the past three years.

The Detroit Red Wings announced Tuesday that Jeff Blashill has agreed to a two-year contract extension to remain the team's head coach. 

Blashill has spent the past four seasons as Detroit's head coach, going 135-143-47 for a winning percentage of .488 with one playoff appearance.

This season, the Red Wings are sixth in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division with a 31-38-10 mark over 79 games for 72 points, meaning they will miss the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said the following regarding the decision to extend Blashill:

"Jeff has done a tremendous job developing our young talent as we continue to rebuild our organization. Our young players have made significant strides during his time as head coach and are playing important minutes in key situations. As we continue to build towards the future, we have the utmost confidence that Jeff is the coach best suited to help our prospects become impactful NHL players. He has gained valuable experience as an NHL coach in each of his four years in Detroit and has instilled a work ethic in our current team that makes us hard to play against every night and competitive in every game, which is the identity we want our team to have as we move forward."

The 45-year-old Blashill is a Detroit native who took over as head coach of the Red Wings in 2015 when Mike Babcock left to become head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Before becoming head coach of the Red Wings, Blashill served as an assistant under Babcock and then head coach of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. He made the playoffs in all three seasons as the Griffins' head coach and won the Calder Cup on one occasion.

In his first year at the helm for the Red Wings, Blashill led Detroit to the playoffs, which extended its postseason streak to 25 consecutive years. That tied the Red Wings for the third-longest streak in NHL history, but it ended there.

Since losing in the first round of the playoffs in 2016, Blashill and the Red Wings have resided near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

With one point over the final three games of the season, Detroit can match its point total from last season, or it can exceed it with two points or more.

Also, there is some reason for optimism entering 2019-20. Three of the Red Wings' top four scorers (Dylan Larkin, Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Bertuzzi) have enjoyed career years in terms of goals and points, which gives Detroit a good launching pad.

Detroit is also in the midst of a five-game winning streak, and young players like Filip Zadina, Filip Hronek and Taro Hirose could be full-time players next season.

The Red Wings likely still have a long way to go with regard to their rebuild, but Blashill will be given every opportunity to turn things around after previously showing his acumen for developing young players in the AHL.

Hall of Fame left winger Ted Lindsay died Monday at the age of 93, according to the Associated Press (via USA Today).

Lindsay spent 14 years with the Detroit Red Wings (1944-57, 1964-65) and three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks (1957-60), and he was a nine-time All-Star and four-time Stanley Cup winner. He scored 335 goals, 393 assists and 728 total points in his Hall of Fame career.

One of Lindsay's most important accomplishments was helping to form the original players' union and serving as its president. The league's MVP award, as voted on by the players, is also named after Lindsay.

"I've never had a greater day in my life," he said in April 2010 when the award was named after him, per NHLPA.com. "It's a wonderful honor. ... To have something like this happen, it's not something you ever really think of."

Many people in the NHL community paid their respects to Lindsay on Monday, honoring his legacy:

A gentleman, a multiple Stanley Cup winner, an honoured member of the HHOF, a fan of the game, and a dedicated member of the #NHLAlumni- Ted Lindsay has passed away at the age of 93. A great loss for the entire hockey community. Our thoughts are with the Lindsay family. pic.twitter.com/WWDmZeDqR3

— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) March 4, 2019

The face and spirit of hockey has left us. RIP Ted Lindsay. pic.twitter.com/AhkBdKtJkF

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 4, 2019

The players and NHLPA staff are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ted Lindsay – a player, a trailblazer, and a gentleman. "Terrible Ted" was loved across the hockey world and beyond for his play, dedication to fellow players and charitable work. https://t.co/jpDcnWZ68l pic.twitter.com/0QBECLqmva

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) March 4, 2019

So sad to hear of Ted Lindsay’s passing. This is the last time I saw him at Joe Louis Arena. He’ll be remembered for many things but I’ll remember “Terrible Ted” most for how much of a gentleman he was & how much he adored his wife Joanne. They are together again. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/OKkwrcOe7f

— Christine Simpson (@MsChrisSimpson) March 4, 2019

The Penguins join the hockey world in mourning the loss of Hall-of-Famer Ted Lindsay. His contributions changed the game and built some of the long-standing traditions we still practice today. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/6kxvFOBirs

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 4, 2019

Courageous, hard-working and kind. An icon on and off the ice.

The Maple Leafs join the hockey world in mourning the loss of Ted Lindsay. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/v7vHcyjmCg

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 4, 2019

Rest in peace, Ted Lindsay. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/s5MeD6udgW

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 4, 2019

https://twitter.com/Dave_Stubbs/status/1102582691076210688

His family released a statement, writing: "Ted was a persistent, courageous and determined man both on and off the ice. He was a man of many firsts. We are comforted in knowing that the Ted Lindsay legacy will forever be a part of history and are so proud of the many lives he helped change for the better through his tireless humanitarian work."