Jeff Blashill joins Lightning as assistant coach

Former Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill has joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant coach.

The Lightning hired Blashill on Tuesday to replace Derek Lalonde on head coach Jon Cooper's staff. Lalonde was hired by the Red Wings late last month to replace Blashill.

Blashill, 48, did not have his contract renewed after seven seasons behind the bench in Detroit. He had been the second-longest tenured NHL head