Some shocking news has taken place on this Wednesday. News emerged that Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman steps down from the role. Yzerman also served as the club’s executive vice president. He’ll still stay with the club as senior adviser to CEO Chris Ilitch.
The team failed to reach the playoffs during Yzerman's seven years on the job.
Steve Yzerman Steps Down as Detroit Red Wings GM, EVP
Yzerman has been connected to the Red Wings for most of his hockey career. The Hall of Fame forward served as the team’s general manager since June 2019. However, he was a decorated player who played for the club for 22 seasons. He also won three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Bill Masterton Trophy, and Selke Trophy during his tenure in Hockeytown.
His success translated to an executive with the Tampa Bay Lightning, as he helped draft most of the core that won two Stanley Cups and has been a perennial contender. Players like Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Brayden Point, Ondřej Palát, and Anthony Cirelli were taken by Yzerman. He also signed undrafted players like Yanni Gourde and Tyler Johnson.
However, that success has not followed him to the Red Wings. Detroit has failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the seven seasons that Yzerman has been at the general manager’s post. His drafting has been hit-and-miss while Yzerman has struggled to find the right mix with his free agent signings.
(Credit Image: © Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press via ZUMA Press Wire)
What It Means
Yzerman’s move suddenly leaves plenty of things in doubt. Team captain Dylan Larkin made a request to be traded away from the organization. One of the first things the new GM will have to do is sort out that trade request. There are many suitors for Larkin, but maybe the new general manager can get Larkin to withdraw that request.
There’s also the pressure of trying to get back to the postseason. Detroit had a two-decade long streak of making the playoffs. However, times have been tough for the Original Six franchise in the last decade. Fans want one of the cornerstone franchises in the league to finally bring playoff hockey to Little Caesar’s Arena.
This move is a shocker, but one that a segment of Red Wings fans has wanted for quite a while. We’ll see how things shake out in the search for a new GM in Detroit. Keep up with the fallout after Steve Yzerman steps down from the Red Wings.
Main photo by: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
