Red Wings wanted Jeff Blashill all along

The moment Mike Babcock left the Detroit Red Wings, Jeff Blashill was the obvious candidate to replace him. In fact, this coaching hire seemed more like a succession plan that was in place for about a year before Babcock’s departure. The 41-year-old Blashill was introduced Tuesday as Detroit’s new coach, an announcement that felt almost inevitable ever since Babcock, the former Spokane Chiefs coach, left last month to take over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Blashill has coached Detroit’s minor league affiliate in Grand Rapids for the past three seasons. “He was really the only candidate,” general manager Ken Holland said. Blashill led Grand Rapids to the Calder Cup in 2013. The Griffins made it to the conference finals in the AHL playoffs this year. – Associated Press