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Red Wings hire Jeff Blashill as the club’s 27th head coach

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The Detroit Red Wings named Jeff Blashill the club’s 27th head coach in franchise history on Tuesday morning.

Blashill’s contract with the Red Wings is for four years.

The 41-year-old becomes the fourth Grand Rapids Griffins coach to be promoted to the NHL in 19 seasons and the first to take over the head coaching duties in Detroit.

Prior to being named the head coach of the Griffins in in June 2012, Blashill spent the 2011-12 season as an assistant coach with the Red Wings on Mike Babcock’s staff.

During his three seasons with the Griffins Blashill led Grand Rapids to a 134-71-12-11 record and a Calder Cup victory in 2013. He won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL Coach of the Year in 2013-14.

Blashill sent 24 players on to the NHL during his time in Grand Rapids. Fourteen of those players made their NHL debuts after first playing for Blashill.

He told reporters during his introductory press conference that he intends on filling out his coaching staff within the next week.

Expect Detroit Red Wings to include #HHOF Chris Chelios on coaching staff when they announce Jeff Blashill as their new Head Coach. #TSN

— Aaron Ward (@TSNAaronWard) June 9, 2015

Detroit is also reportedly working on a new deal with assistant coach Tony Granato.

(Related) Report: Leafs won’t send 2015 pick to Wings for Babcock

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