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Why Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is keeping Jeff Blashill as coach: 'We play hard'

Steve Yzerman chose to stick with what he knew when an opportunity arose to make a change behind the Detroit Red Wings bench.

Yzerman extended Jeff Blashill’s tenure as head coach into a seventh season, 10 days after the end of the 2021 season.

“I feel our team is collectively very competitive,” Yzerman said. “Whether we play well or not every night is different, but we play hard. Our players play hard and I think that’s a reflection of the coaching staff, that they have the respect of the players.”

The Wings have gone 172-221-62 during Blashil’s time, making the playoffs once, in his first year.