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Red Wings name Grand Haven-native Dan Bylsma as assistant coach

Dan Bylsma will be the new assistant head coach for the Red Wings.
Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 18: Head coach Dan Bylsma of the Buffalo Sabres watches from the bench during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on January 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sabres defeated the Coyotes 2-1.

DETROIT - Dan Bylsma, 47, has been named the new assistant coach for the Red Wings.

The 47-year-old is a Grand Haven native who has been coaching since 2004 when he started as an assistant coach for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. He then went on to be the assistant coach for the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bylsma was promoted to head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the start of the 2008-09 season. During that season, he helped the team to an 18-3-4 regular-season and defeated the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final.

He then stayed with the Penguins until 2014 before he started as the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres fired Bylsma and the general manager, Tim Murray, in 2017 after the team missed the playoffs for six seasons in a row.

The newly hired assistant coach also recently worked alongside Red Wings current head coach, Jeff Blashill. They helped the United States get its fifth medal in the 2018 IHF World Championship in Copenhagen.

The 47-year-old takes the place of John Torchetti, whose contract was not renewed after last season.

Bylsma attended Muskegon Western Michigan Christian High School before he was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 1989.

The Detroit Free Press Contributed to this reporting.

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