Report: Red Wings' Holland plans to meet with Jeff Blashill this week

The coaching heir apparent could soon arrive in the Motor City.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland plans to meet with Jeff Blashill this week about the team's vacant head coaching position, reports Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

With the departure of Mike Babcock to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Red Wings are currently without a head coach.

Blashill, the current bench boss of the Red Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, has been rumored as the leading candidate to take over for Babcock after winning a Calder Cup in 2012-13 and amassing 134 victories in three seasons with the Griffins.

Holland admitted that other parties have contacted him about the position.

"I've had some people reach out to me," Holland said. "But as of right now, I haven't expanded the list."

Blashill's Grand Rapids squad is currently in the midst of a playoff race, squaring off against the Utica Comets in the AHL's Western Conference Final.