Yzerman out as Red Wings GM
The Detroit Red Wings have announced that Steve Yzerman is stepping down as general manager and executive vice president. Yzerman will transition into a senior adviser role.
Yzerman out as Red Wings GM
The Detroit Red Wings announced that Steve Yzerman is stepping down from his role as general manager and executive vice president. Yzerman will continue to serve the organization as a senior adviser to CEO Chris Ilitch. The team has started a search to find its next leader of hockey operations, considering both internal and external candidates.
Yzerman expressed his gratitude to the Ilitch family and the organization, stating that he has appreciated every experience throughout the years and is proud to remain part of the franchise. Ilitch praised Yzerman's contributions to the Red Wings, saying that his lifetime of contributions has meant more to the franchise than words can express.
The move comes after the Red Wings missed the playoffs for a 10th straight year, with the past seven years under Yzerman's leadership. The team's decade-long playoff drought is the longest active drought in the NHL and in the organization's storied history. This offseason has been marred by the team's captain, Dylan Larkin, requesting a trade, adding to the pressure on the organization to make changes.
Yzerman's resignation is seen as a stunning but not entirely surprising development, given the team's struggles to restore its elite status. Yzerman spent his entire 22-year Hall of Fame NHL playing career with Detroit, captaining the team to three Stanley Cup championships. He later became an accomplished general manager with the Tampa Bay Lightning, building the core that eventually won back-to-back championships, before taking over in Detroit in 2019.
Ilitch stated that the team is not where they and their fans expect to be as an organization, and he is looking forward to bringing in new leadership to build a championship-caliber organization. Yzerman will remain in his current role to facilitate the day-to-day operations of the hockey team until a replacement is named.
Kris Draper and Sean Horcoff have been Yzerman's assistant general managers for the past couple of years. The team's search for a new head of hockey operations is already underway, and Yzerman will continue to be involved in the organization, albeit in a different capacity.
Yzerman's commitment to the Red Wings and the community will never waver, and he looks forward to supporting the organization in whatever role is needed to achieve their collective goals. The team's fans have been loyal and passionate, and Yzerman acknowledged their support, saying that they are what make Detroit and the entire state of Michigan a special place in the hockey world.
