Yesterday was an important day in the history of the Detroit Red Wings; they welcomed home a legend. Yesterday will be one of those days we will look back too in the future remembering the day our hero returned!
Steve Yzerman is recognized as one of the classiest human beings on earth; he’s regarded as if not the most, one of the greatest sports figures in the city of Detroit’s rich history. You can take any sport, for example, say it out loud and who comes to your mind first? Detroit Red Wings; Steve Yzerman, Gordie Howe. Detroit Lions; Barry Sanders, Detroit Tigers; Al Kaline, Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Pistons; Isiah Thomas, perhaps Chancey Billups.
The Red Wings legend transitioned from his Hall of Fame playing career into a front office role with his hometown Detroit Red Wings for four years, learning the details of being a General Manager from his mentor Ken Holland.
Yzerman took over the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010 when they were in a bit of a flux. He took his time and built himself a bully yet the franchise has been unable to get the job done in the postseason. One thing I’ve admired the most about Steve Yzerman is his audacity, he moved a Vezina caliber goaltender in Ben Bishop out of town and replaced him with another, one he drafted.
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Vasilevskiy was highly touted as a backup to Bishop but had yet to prove his worth grinding an entire season as a starting goaltender, and Steve Yzerman needed to get the team under the cap and was not afraid to pull the trigger handing the cage to the youngster. Yzerman drafted Kucherov in the second round, Point in the third round, signed Johnson as an undrafted free agent all significant choices.
Sure Stamkos and Hedman were in place when Yzerman arrived in Tampa, but he sure surrounded them with spectacular talent. Yzerman made the decision to buy out Vincent Lecavalier who had 7 years remaining on his 11-year deal, the face of the franchise because it was best for the team. It seemed Holland has recently gravitated to the safe move rather than making a hard decision and sticking with it.
The Detroit Red Wings were in dire need of a culture change; in sports, you build a strong foundation from the top unlike building a structure from the ground up. The Wings need to rebuild the franchise from the top down, and yesterday they started to pour the concrete. Ken Holland will help with Yzerman’s transition back into the franchise and serve as a senior advisor. He signed an extension but will be able to talk to other teams seeking a General Manager. Holland could wind up in Edmonton or Seattle.
I promise this won’t be a Holland rant — hate is a strong word, I don’t “hate” Ken Holland, but I agree it was time for a change. The Wings organization need to hold everyone accountable including the ownership, the general manager, head coach, assistant coaches, veteran players and young up and comers. Ken Holland seemed to be stuck in cruise control allowing veteran players to do what they want and never pay the price for underachieving.
We will continue to celebrate the return of the captain; we need to thank Chris Ilitch for recognizing the opportunity and not being afraid to act on it by bringing our hero home! Over the next few days we will get to work and start to put an agenda together and an offseason plan with a wish list we hope the new GM will accomplish over the summer. Welcome home Steve, let’s get to work and to use your own words “let’s get it done.”