Word came out yesterday that Steve Yzerman is transitioning out of the Executive Vice-President and General Manager roles for the Detroit Red Wings. For Red Wings fans, it has come about 4 to 5 years too late. I agree with that sentiment. The Red Wings are one of those franchises that you expect to be one of those teams on top of the standings. That hasn’t happened in a long time.
Make no mistake about this, this wasn’t Yzerman walking away, he was fired. The past 4 seasons in the month of March, the Red Wings have a combined record of 17-35-5. Holy smokes. They have averaged 10 points in the final month of the regular season during those 4 years. the best year was 2026 with a 5-7-2 record. The failing of those teams in the month of March falls on the General Manager. One or two years, that might be the coach, players, injuries. All of the excuses that people use. But 4 years of futility in the last month of the season? That points directly to the GM. The team doesn’t have the horses to finish the season.
Another problem was the influx or lack of influx of new blood from the draft. The past couple of years, the draft picks haven’t played in the NHL. The lower draft picks have not been real good through the tenure of Yzerman. To compound that problem is the lack of veterans that have come here and played a big part of their team.
Finally, the biggest thing that probably did Yzerman in was the problems between him and star player Dylan Larkin. Larkin has asked to betraded and the reason that everyone has pointed to is the relationship between the Red Wings captain and Yzerman. Basically the organization had to choose between the Executive VP and GM, Yzerman or the Captain and Michigan native, Larkin. After 7 years, the organization decided to stop following Yzerman.
The Red Wings are going in a different direction. I don’t blame them. Makes you look at Yzerman’s tenure in Tampa Bay and wonder why he couldn’t turn the Red Wings around. Just another momnet to make you go, hum. Let’s see who the new person running the organization and what changes they make.
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