Upshot: The Sox WARs for Konerko (29.3, 16 years) and Abreu (31.1, nine years) apparently mean nothing. Thomas’ own (68.3, 16 years) puts a big hurt on the rest of the field regardless.

Blashill, 51, spent the past three seasons as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Before that, he spent seven seasons as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings from 2015-22.

It started in 2015 when Bertuzzi joined the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins for their postseason run after finishing his OHL career. Blashill was behind the bench then, too. Bertuzzi made an immediate impact, finishing second on the team with seven goals and third with 12 points in 14 playoff games. Now, a decade later, the two are reunited in Chicago.