DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings will hit the ice for their season opener Friday as the Mike Babcock-led Toronto Maple Leafs visit Joe Louis Arena.
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Babcock, who won 458 games during a 10-year run as Detroit's head coach, returns to the city wearing the Toronto blue and white after signing an eight-year, $50 million deal in May.
Friday will not be the opener for Babcock's squad, as the Maple Leafs already dropped their home opener to the Montreal Canadiens, 3-1, on Wednesday. Toronto won just 30 games last season and finished seventh in the Atlantic Division with 68 points.
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Blashill era begins in Detroit
For Babcock's replacement, Jeff Blashill, Friday will mark his NHL head coaching debut. The 41-year-old spent the 2011 season as an assistant to Babcock on the Wings' bench before taking over the team's AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. Blashill led the Griffins to a Calder Cup in 2013 and a conference semifinals appearance last season.
He signed a three-year deal with the Red Wings on June 4.
Blashill couldn't be inheriting a more different job than Babcock has taken. He takes over a team that won 43 games last season and nearly knocked off eventual Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs. The Red Wings are on a 24-year playoff streak and are expected to extend that to 25 under Blashill in 2015.
Rookie Dylan Larkin makes Red Wings roster
Friday's lineup will offer at least one stark difference between the two coaching styles as 19-year-old Dylan Larkin will play on the top line. Though the Wings often preferred to let their young players mature in Grand Rapids under Babcock, Larkin will likely get plenty of ice time on Friday, just months after tearing up the Big Ten at the University of Michigan.
The Waterford, Mich. native said he never thought he'd be playing for the Red Wings this early in his career.
Injuries to Darren Helm and Pavel Datsyuk also helped make room for the talented rookie.
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Howard gets start in net
The Red Wings will not, however, go with a young player in net. Veteran goalie Jimmy Howard will get the start Friday after losing his job to Petr Mrazak late last season. Howard was excellent in the preseason, allowing two goals per game and saving 94.2 percent of the shots he faced.
Howard went 23-13-11 last season, allowing 121 goals in 53 games and finishing with a save percentage of 91 percent. He was right on his career numbers: 91.6 save percentage and 2.42 goals allowed per game (2.44 in 2014-2015).
Mrazek is expected to start Saturday against Carolina after allowing fewer than two goals per game in three preseason starts.
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