from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
Blashill has been the Wings' head coach since 2015-16, his arrival coming as the franchise was headed for a downswing after 25 consecutive playoff berths. (The Wings made the playoffs in his first season; they have not made it since.) He is the NHL's second-longest tenured coach, trailing only the Lightning's Jon Cooper (who was hired in Tampa Bay by Yzerman). Saturday's contest against the Leafs marked Blashill's 500th game.
Yzerman knows well the growing pains of turning a team into a contender — and from there, into a champion.