Blashill Receiving Second Interview for Sharks Job

Former Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, now an assistant for the Tampa Lightning, is scheduled for a second interview for the San Jose Sharks vacant head coaching job.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Blashill update on his 32 Thoughts podcast.Friedman also said San Jose Sharks assistant coach Ryan Warsofsky has had two interviews. Marco Sturm has been interviewed, but Friedman didn’t offer an update of whether he has a second interview in the works.

REPORT: Sharks Progressing to 2nd Interviews With Head Coach Candidates https://t.co/XDqeUhbWgs

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) May 27, 2024

Although the Sharks are in a complete rebuild, the Sharks job is enticing because they will draft No. 1 next month and land Boston University Macklin Celebrini. Plus, the team drafted Boston College’s Will Smith (at No. 4) last season. Both of those players are foundation block centers. Celebrini posted 32 goals and 64 points this season in 38 games. Meanwhile, Smith registered 25 goals and 71 points in 41 games.

Blashill qualified for the NHL playoffs only once in his 2015-2022 stint as the Red Wings head coach. GM Steve Yzerman fired Blashill on April 30, 2022, even though he said he respected the work he did. Blashill is considered an excellent communicator. It was almost as if he and Derek Lalonde traded places.

Yzerman hired then-Lightning assistant coach Derek Lalonde as Blashill’s replacement. The Lightning hired him to take Lalonde’s spot on the Tampa Bay coaching team.  Lightning coach Jon Cooper, Blashill and Lalonde are good friends.

Prior to landing his Detroit head coaching job, Blashill had taken the Grand Rapids Griffins to the American Hockey League championship in 2013. In 2019, he coached Team USA to the bronze medal at the World Championship.