Is this Red Wings season the most difficult season of Jeff Blashill's coaching career?
"Yeah. For sure," he said on Thursday morning. "When you lose as much as we've lost, there's certain challenges."
The Red Wings entered Thursday with a 7-22-3 record in their 32 games this season. Their 17 points are worst in the league. New Jersey is 30th with 23 points.
"There's challenges no matter what type of team you're coaching. I've coached really, really good teams. There's unique challenges in that," Blashill added.
The Red Wings aren't good. They're set up to compete not for a postseason run, but for a draft lottery spot.
So far, Steve Yzerman's patient vision is going according to plan.
The losses are piling up in lopsided fashion, though.
"Honestly, we talked as a group. At the end of the day, you work through these things. You survive moments like this, and you're better for it," Blashill said.
Detroit has dropped 12 straight games, getting outscored 54-21 over that stretch.
