The Detroit Red Wings are in the process of searching for an assistant coach whose mandate is clear: Help fix the power play.
The Red Wings’ power play this past season was the worst it has been in recent memory, converting at 11.4 percent and ranking second from last in the NHL. It was one of the main reasons the team struggled to score (2.23 goals per game, 30th in the league).
It prompted the club to part with assistant coach Dan Bylsma, who worked with the forwards and was responsible for the power play the past three seasons, during which time Detroit’s conversion rate of 15.2 percent ranked 30th.
But the problem goes back further. Previous assistant coaches Pat Ferschweiler and John Torchetti were replaced in large part due to an ineffective power play.
During Jeff Blashill’s six seasons as head coach, the Red Wings’ power play ranks last in the NHL at 16.3 percent.
“The power play’s an area that needs to be better and that’s not on any particular coach or any particular person,” Blashill said last month. “The guys on the ice have to do a better job and we’ve got to do as good a job as possible preparing them and giving them a plan that works.”
It has been a combination of issues, the most glaring of which has been entries. Too often they are denied at the opponent’s blue line and wind up chasing the puck down the ice. Even after many clean entries, they have lacked a shooting mentality and either failed to get pucks on net or the opposition cleared the zone after one shot.
Blashill said he is looking for different ideas.
“I would probably use the word tactician, especially a guy with an offensive kind of mindset, somebody that brings some different, potentially unique ideas,” Blashill said. “It’s hard to come up with things that are real different or unique in the game. That’s not necessarily how you win, but ultimately if there’s some fresh ideas, a different thought process from an offensive standpoint is something that we’d look at.”
This isn’t all about coaching. They also need better players, and they need the players they have to execute better.
Dylan Larkin had only goal and six points on the power play. Filip Hronek had 11 assists on the power play, but no goals. Anthony Mantha picked up only two power-play points (both goals) in 42 games before being traded, and his replacement, Jakub Vrana, while excelling at even-strength, managed only one point on the power play in 11 games. Other power-play regulars also struggled (two points in 30 games for Robby Fabbri, no points in 16 games for Dennis Cholowski).
“We have to do something different with our power play for sure,” general manager Steve Yzerman said after announcing Blashill’s extension last month.
“We need to add to our personnel to get the right fit, so our power play has a chance to be more successful, and also we need to do things a little bit differently than we’ve done -- the way we played, the spots players are put at, the way we bring the puck up the ice, it needs to be addressed.”
Blashill said it would take time to find the right assistant coach.
“Let’s do our due diligence to see what people might be the best fit, who’s interested in the job,” Blashill said. “There’s a number of really good coaches out there. We’ll go through a process. It’s not going to be anything quick. There’s nobody there that is ready to hire, and on their side, people have to decide if this position’s the right one for them.”
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The Link LonkJune 16, 2021 at 05:05PM
https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2021/06/red-wings-searching-for-assistant-coach-with-unique-power-play-ideas.html
Red Wings searching for assistant coach with ‘unique’ power play ideas - MLive.com
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