The longer time passes for the Detroit Red Wings, the more information comes out about former general manager Steve Yzerman. The recent interview with CEO and owner Chris Ilitch revealed that Yzerman is able to stay with the organization for as long as he likes. An article from the Detroit Free Press suggested that Ilitch hamstrung Yzerman's efforts to improve the team by refusing to sign 40 goal-scorer Steven Stamkos.
This time around, it's a former player (and Yzerman signee) who had something to say.
In an interview with Jim Biringer of Full Press NHL, former Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson shared his thoughts on the differentiation between Yzerman's time in Tampa vs. Detroit.
Johnson suggests difference in philosophy in Detroit
"He did an unbelievable job," said Johnson when asked about Yzerman's tenure in Tampa. "The guys loved him. He was a guy that he told you exactly how it was. it didn't matter who you were. He just spoke his mind. He allowed people to talk and figure things out, and he gave kind of a long leash to a lot of different guys."
Already this sounds like a far cry from Yzerman's time in Hockeytown. The disparity only goes on as Johnson continues:
"I can't speak why it's happening in Detroit that way. I don't know what's going on behind closed doors, but Steve is such a great hockey mind. He's a great person, and I wish it would have worked a little bit better for him, especially being the icon he is in Detroit Red Wings lore. "
The worst part comes during the last part of Biringer's interview,
Johnson confirms what most heard was that Yzerman in Detroit was different than the Yzerman in Tampa Bay. It felt like the Red Wings way of over developing guys in the AHL instead of seeing who they could be at the NHL level.
From what I heard not everyone got to speak their… https://t.co/8cH5iMMTp6
Obviously, it goes without saying to take Biringer's opinion on the matter with a grain of salt. Johnson's comments, on the other hand, carry much more weight and have withstood the test of time. In Tampa, the leading philosophy with prospects was giving each player an earnest chance to beat a veteran out of a roster spot. In Detroit, prospect development has always centered on over-ripening young players to ensure their success.
Red Wings prospect philosophy a relic of the past
This isn't just an Yzerman-specific mentality, either: former GM Ken Holland also employed this approach throughout his tenure in Detroit. While over-ripening may have worked well during the heyday of the Red Wings, it isn't an effective tactic anymore in today's NHL. Nowadays, the best approach is to allow young players to sink or swim (within reason, of course).
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Lucas Raymond made the roster at 19 years of age. Moritz Seider joined the NHL at 20. But they're outliers to this philosophy.
Last year saw glimpses of what could've been with Emmitt Finnie, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard all making the roster out of camp. While Finnie was the only player to stay with the Red Wings throughout the season, the approach the Red Wings took with Sandin-Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygard ranged from understandable to downright baffling.
Before heading down to Grand Rapids, Sandin-Pellikka spent nearly two weeks on the bench. He could have (and certainly should have) been playing games in the AHL by then. Brandsegg-Nygard, on the other hand, earned a call-up at the end of the season, but he was so underutilized that it felt like a waste of time.
Why bring up a first round prospect when you're well out of the playoffs if you aren't goign to give him a legitimate opportunity?
Hopefully, Horcoff gives his young players more opportunity as the interim GM.
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