News update: Blashill coach named AHL Coach of the Year

Former Indiana Ice coach Jeff Blashill was named the American Hockey League's Coach of the Year on Tuesday.

Jeff Blashill

Blashill is the head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, and has his team two points away from a division title. Grand Rapids is the top affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, where Blashill had previously served as an assistant coach.



He led Grand Rapids to the AHL's Calder Cup title a year ago. Several players from that team have helped the Red Wings clinch a playoff appearance in an injury-ravaged season this year.

In 2009, Blashill led the Ice to the USHL's Clark Cup title in his rookie year as a USHL coach. He coached the Ice for two seasons before leaving in 2010 for Western Michigan University. He coached seven NHL draft picks and current Boston Bruins mainstay Torey Krug in two years with the Ice. There, he took the Broncos to an NCAA tournament appearance in one season, and joined the Red Wings' staff the following year.

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You'll have to scroll down a bit to catch it, but Torey Krug's 40-point season with the Bruins nets him a pretty healthy $425K bonus.