Someone who will help young players get better.
Since Blash got here:
Jurco - Declined - traded.
Pulkkinen - declined and traded
Sheahan - declined and traded
Nyquist - declined (talked about being traded)
Tatar - Declined (talked about being traded)
Mrazek - Declined and traded
Dekeyser - Declined.
How about the players who just didn't live up to expectations:
Ryan Sproul
Xavier Ouellet
These guys were never going to be the next Datsyuks and Zetterbergs.
But they were a very good group of young players who won a cup in the AHL together. And now they're wiped out.
Also - it's not like the veterans have been much better.
Helm's numbers have declined
Abby's numbers have declined.
Nielsen's numbers have declined.
Daley's numbers have declined.
So who are the players who've improved under Blash?
This is funny.
Jurco had serious back injury - and declined after that.
Pulkkinen did get injured - and declined after that.
Sheahan declined - yeah after his drunk driving savior police officer died and he did get mentally lost.
Nyquist declined - because Pavel Datsyuk retired and Gus started to face tougher quality of competition.
Tatar declined - because Pavel Datsyuk retired and Tats started to face tougher quality of competition.
Mrazek declined - because guy is a headcase.
DeKeyser declined - because Pavel Datsyuk retired and DeKeyser started to face tougher quality of competition without a Selke Trophy center in front of him.
Ryan Sproul - one of the best (TOP15) defencemen from a bad defencemen class of 2011.
Xavier Ouellet - one of the best (TOP15) defencemen from a bad defencemen class of 2011.
Helm's numbers have declined - less icetime with Datsyuk and on the PP.
Abby's numbers have declined - less icetime with Datsyuk and on the PP.
Nielsen's numbers have declined - less icetime with John Tavares, obviously.
Daley's numbers have declined - 2017 Detroit is not 2017 Pittsburgh.