DETROIT -- No matter what challenges the Red Wings have faced in the past quarter century, there has been one constant: making the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Detroit reached the playoffs for the 24th consecutive season in 2014-15, but was eliminated in seven games in the Eastern Conference first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Mike Babcock was Red Wings coach for the past 10 seasons but left for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jeff Blashill, who coached the Red Wings' American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids the past three seasons, was hired to replace him.