Red Wings name Jeff Blashill 27th head coach in franchise history

The Detroit Red Wings have officially named Jeff Blashill their new head coach.

Blashill becomes the 27th head coach in the franchise's history, succeeding Mike Babcock, who was lured away by the Toronto Maple Leafs last month after 10 years in Detroit.

Blashill signed a four-year contract.

"I realize this is one of the most coveted jobs in the National Hockey League and I certainly feel fortunate to be sitting here today," Blashill told reporters at a press conference Tuesday.

He served as a Red Wings assistant under Babcock in 2011-12 before being named head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, the team's AHL affiliate, for the following season. He coached the Griffins for three years, leading them to a Calder Cup championship in 2013.

"I thank him for ... the last four years of friendship and mentorship, and it's certainly meant a lot to me," Blashill said of Babcock on Tuesday. "(It's) a big reason why I'm sitting here today."

Blashill, 41, is the second-youngest head coach in the NHL after 40-year-old New Jersey Devils bench boss John Hynes.

The new Red Wings head coach heaped praise on the team's core of veteran players.

"This group that we have here oozes character," Blashill said. "They're led by three of the best winners, in my opinion, in all of sports, in Z (Henrik Zetterberg), Pav (Pavel Datsyuk) and Kronner (Niklas Kronwall)."

Blashill said he expressed his interest to general manager Ken Holland last season.

"I told Ken a year ago with Mike's uncertainty, if Mike were to leave Detroit, that the Red Wing job was the job that I wanted most of any in the NHL."

Holland believes the timing is right for Blashill to get his first NHL head-coaching job.

"It's a perfect time for him to take over our team," Holland said. "We've had a fabulous run with Mike Babcock over the last 10 years. I hope this decision today is a decision that is going to last for a long time."

Blashill said the organization is still in the process of hiring assistant coaches, but expects to finalize his staff next week.