Griffins out of playoffs; Blashill headed to Detroit now?

Griffins coach is top candidate for Red Wings job

DETROIT – Jeff Blashill could be named head coach of the Detroit Red Wings any time now.

His Grand Rapids Griffins have been knocked out of the AHL's Calder Cup playoffs. The Griffins fell to the Utica Comets, 2-0, Tuesday night in Game 6 of the semi-finals. Utica moves on to the Calder Cup Finals.

Blashill most likely is moving on to a job in the NHL. Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland has named the AHL coach on his shortlist after Mike Babcock left for Toronto. Speculation on Blashill's future as Detroit's head coach has been going on for more than a year now, well before Babcock's departure. Now we wait for confirmation.

Blashill, 41, has been behind the Griffins' bench since 2012. The team won the Calder Cup in his first season. They followed that with back-to-back semi-finals appearances.

Before his three-year stint in Grand Rapids, Blashill spent a season as Babcock's assistant in Detroit. Babcock said he reached out to Blashill after seeing what he did with Western Michigan in the CCHA. He was behind the Broncos' bench for one season, helping them reach the NCAA Tournament. Before that he won a USHL Clark Cup with the Indiana Ice.

Whether he's headed to Hockeytown or not, Blashill appears ready for a head coaching job in the NHL. He's had success at every other level.