commentary...

normally,i do not mention the Red Wings over the off-season too often,but i have something to say about next season's team,their makeup,their new head coach,and the way that they intend to extend their current 24 season playoff streak... even though,i respect Mike Babcock,it was time for him to go on to another team(hated to see him to go to the Toronto Maple Leafs,because of history,and team nastiness),because it appeared to me that he was losing the locker room,and the fact that the last two teams that he coached for the Red Wings did make the Stanley Cup playoffs,but exited in five games,in a bulldozing by the Boston Bruins(scoring six goals,in five games-winning one game 1-0,and then getting bulldozed,by a(i hate to say it)better team,in 2013-2014,and then letting the Tampa Bay Lightning off the proverbial hook,in losing in seven games,and scoring only two goals in game six and seven,last season)... both series losses were in first round... the hiring of Jeff Blashill may be the best hiring of a new head coach(not including Babcock),in the NHL,this off-season,because of pure pedigree:college(NCAA tournament team,at Western Michigan),junior hockey(titles,in two different leagues(USHL,and AHL),and being a NHL assistant coach,under Babcock,for a season-priceless)... the signing of Mike Green,and Brad Richards strengthened the blue line defense,on a team that may be a little tougher to play next season... Blashill knows the young core of players having coached most of the players to an American Hockey League championship,two seasons ago... the one weakness may be in goal,but honestly,it also could be a strength,depending on Jimmy Howard's play,next season,but to tell you the truth,Howard's play,after recovering from an injury,was very sub-par,in the last half of the season... i hope he returns to his All-Star form(he was an All-Star,before he injured his groin),but having Petr Mrazek did help,and will help,if Howard does recover his All-Star form... General Manager Ken Holland has said that there will be more changes coming up for the Red Wings,before training camp,or the season... it should be very interesting,next season,in Motown...