Yzerman, Red Wings Pick Up Option To Retain Jeff Blashill As Head Coach

Detroit, Michigan - Detroit Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman elected to pick up the option on Ferris State alum Jeff Blashill's contract as Head Coach of the National Hockey League's (NHL) Detroit Red Wings for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

The Legendary former Red Wing captain and three-time Stanley Cup Champion, Yzerman has been outspoken in his support of Blashill as bench boss of the 11-time Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings.

"I think Jeff has done a good job," the former NHL GM of the Year (2015) Yzerman said. "I think it's been a difficult position in his tenure here. The Red Wings are in a rebuild for a while and for the last two, three trade deadlines, the team has traded valuable players, good players, for future assets and Jeff has, with his head held high, diligently worked hard, done a good job in coaching this team in a difficult situation throughout that."

Red Wing players, some of whom developed under Blashill during his tenure as head coach of the American Hockey League's (AHL) Grand Rapids Griffins, have also been vocal in their support of Blashill as Head Coach of the Red Wings.

"We've grown together in this league and I have a lot of respect for him," Red Wing forward and alternate captain Dylan Larkin told the Detroit News. "He's a great guy, a great dad, and great coach and he's well respected in the room."

Prior to his tenure in Detroit, Blashill was named by the Red Wings as the ninth head coach in Griffins history on June 25, 2012 after serving as an assistant coach for the Wings in 2011-12, when he helped the team to its 12th consecutive 100-point season and 21st consecutive postseason appearance under Babcock's direction.

The Bulldog alum led the Griffins to a 134-71-23 overall record over three seasons, which included the AHL Calder Cup Championship in 2013. He was named AHL Coach of the Year in 2014 and led the Griffins back to the conference finals in his final year in Grand Rapids.

Prior to joining the organization, he served as the head coach of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's (CCHA) Western Michigan Broncos in 2010-11, earning several national coach of the year honors.

Born in Southfield and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Blashill was a goaltender at FSU from 1994-98 and began his coaching career as an assistant under current Bulldog head coach Bob Daniels after graduating from Ferris State with a degree in finance

Blashill rapidly ascended hockey's coaching ladder, joining his fourth team in four seasons when he took the Grand Rapids helm, which was capped with yet another championship effort in his distinguished career during his initial campaign. He began his head coaching career with the USHL's Indiana Ice in 2008-09, capturing a franchise-record 39 wins and a Clark Cup championship. He compiled a 72-43-5 mark in two seasons as the Ice's head coach and general manager before departing for Western Michigan in 2010.

While in Kalamazoo in 2010-11, Blashill led the Broncos to a 19-13-10 record, doubling the team's win total from the previous season and leading the team to its best conference finish (4th) since 1995-96. Additionally, the Broncos played in the CCHA championship game for the first time since 1986 and earned their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996. Blashill was named a finalist for CCHA Coach of the Year and was named National Coach of the Year by College Hockey News, Inside College Hockey and USCHO.com.

Blashill began his coaching career by spending three seasons (1999-02) as an assistant under Daniels at Ferris State, his alma mater. He also spent six seasons (2002-08) with Miami University, helping the CCHA's RedHawks qualify for the NCAA Tournament four times while recruiting three Hobey Baker Finalists, four CCHA All-Rookie Team members, 11 first or second team All-CCHA players and six All-Americans. Blashill has also been a member of Team USA's coaching staff four times – at the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation World Cup, the 2009 World Junior 'A' Challenge, the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2006 U-18 Junior World Cup.

The former goaltender spent four seasons between the pipes for Ferris State, earning the Bulldogs' Rookie of the Year award in 1994-95 and a spot on the CCHA's All-Academic Team for 1996-97. He also garnered the Ferris State University President's Award for three straight years for having the highest grade point average on the Bulldogs.

Blashill continues to support Bulldog Hockey and annually makes the trek back to Big Rapids each August for the annual alumni golf outing.