The upcoming IIHF World Championship will feature a USA Hockey squad led by GM Chris Drury and a very experienced coaching staff. The team announced today that Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill will serve in that role at the upcoming tournament, while John Hynes (New Jersey Devils), Dan Bylsma (Red Wings) and Kevin Reiter (USNTDP). Blashill will be leading the team for the third consecutive year.
Team USA will have quite a few outstanding options for the tournament, and have already started contacting players to see if they would be willing to suit up. Colin White and Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, Alec Martinez of the Los Angeles Kings and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks have already all been invited, though some are still taking time to make a decision. It seems likely that Blashill will try to convince Red Wings star forward Dylan Larkin, who has played in the last four tournaments and wore an “A” as alternate captain in the most recent.
The team was able to capture a bronze medal last year but will be looking for a different color this time around. The tournament kicks off on May 10th for the USA squad, with a matchup against Slovakia.
Blashill for president
Easy there
Bylsma is riding that cup ring for all it’s worth. Guy couldn’t do a thing in games that mattered after that cup year. That’s both NHL and Olympics
Blash for president? No – Blash for Team USA Head Coach. See, all of that brutal campaigning really did pay off. Remember, he’s always going to be available when the rest of the candidates are screwing around in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s there for Team USA when the rest of those guys are “busy.”