It’s amusing.
The number of opinions that are floating around hockey. Even funnier how little of an impact it has on the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, Steve Yzerman. While I’m sure he empathizes with everyone’s frustrations, he’s not wavering on his decisions.
In his media availability from March 7, 2025, he received his toughest question.
Some fans rolled their eyes. Louder fans, though, applauded the uncomfortable questions. They are justified. Fans had another underwhelming trade deadline. I suppose these people thought Yzerman had a magic wand to speed the rebuild process up. Maybe they forgot how long it took the last rebuild to bear fruit. I’m not quite sure, but lots of fans are getting a shorter fuse for Yzerman—among other people in general.
Steve Yzerman had a message worth a thousand angry tweets for Detroit Red Wings rebuild, but not everyone listened
Before we swan dive into the deep end, let’s take a step back.
Yzerman meticulously built the Tampa Bay Lightning. Eight painstakingly thorough seasons that navigated as a green general manager. He learned countless lessons, I’m sure.
He could have easily chosen to remain with the Lightning. Tampa was well positioned for their dynasty run (and still are) thanks in part to Yzerman. Everyone from here to Pluto knew the Tampa Bay Lightning were going to win a Stanley Cup (or many), the question was when.
Instead of following the yellow brick road to Lord Stanley with the Lightning, he elected to come to the remnants of Detroit. A bruised, shattered shell of a team he once knew.
Although it seems like a silly comparison, I liken it to Simba returning to Pride Rock in The Lion King (the 1994 edition, of course). Timon had to ask Simba and confirm that it was in fact his home. That it was worth fighting for as it was a dying landscape.
Of course, it’s everything to Simba. I haven’t seen that movie in years, yet I still get chills thinking of the ending scene. Seeing Simba taking his place on Pride Rock is the equivalent of Yzerman returning to Detroit—making the Moritz Seider selection.
He didn’t have to return to the Wings, but that’s who Yzerman is, what he breathes.
Also, I want to admire how refreshingly honest Yzerman is in his discussions with the media. Considered a vault of secrets, Yzerman is fairly open (especially after major events like the trade deadline or draft). As an example, he talks about what type of player the Wings were in the market for at the trade deadline. He even explained the general landscape of the trade market.
Letting listeners know that the big ticket trade pieces were the pending unrestricted free agents (meaning they may not be with the team past this current season) and that he wasn’t prepared to surrender any futures for those types of deals.
Then, he was asked if he felt an urgency due to the playoff drought. Yzerman’s response is as follows:
“It’s a very fair question. I’m gonna always do what I think is best for the organization. Things change throughout the course of a season. Short term your plan can change depending on where you’re at at the deadline. I’m gonna, again, I’m gonna make what I think is the best decision.
I’m not gonna sit here and go, oh my god, I’m gonna do this because I feel I have to save my job. I’m gonna continue doing what I think is right, and here at the deadline, over the course of the summer, at the draft…I want to make the playoffs, and I want to win a Stanley Cup as much as you or anybody in this city, and I take full responsibility for where we’re at today…I’m gonna make the best decisions for us I can short term and long term and not feel like I’m doing anything that is right for me. It’s gonna be right for the team.”
For those people who don’t find this to be a unique answer or meaningful, I implore you. Name one general manager, coach, or player who goes down with the ship, making the best decisions for the team. Most individuals, when their backs are up against the wall, will do everything that they can to save their own skin.
Many fans, myself included, have wondered if that’s why former Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland made the decisions he made at the end of his tenure—trying to save his job. We have witnessed numerous coaches attempting to save their jobs by any means necessary. Line combination blender dances, veterans being overplayed, or young players misused.
We see other teams where general managers are frantic when their superstar players don’t want to sign in the middle of the season. Or they are trying to pressure their coach to sign an extension even though they don’t really want to midseason?
Yzerman doesn’t care about any of those concerns. If he does, he doesn’t show it or pay much mind to it. Call him Elphaba if you must, but he’s on a mission.
It’s odd to me when people reference his playing days as the reason he still has a job or why he’s not in a hot seat.
Twenty-two.
How long have you worked at the same company? Maybe been married? Had a friendship? Even worked in your career field?
Yzerman has dedicated 22 agonizing, exhilarating, incredible years with Hockeytown as a player.
He carried this team out of the Dead Wings, Dead Things era on his back. Got the scars and a bum knee to prove his worth. Despite the hall of famers surrounding the team, it took until his 14th season to win the Cup. Then, he brought another two Cups back to Detroit (one where he had only one functioning knee, mind you). Known as The Captain for a reason, he’s the lifeblood of the Red Wings organization.
Yet, those accolades and Cups have nothing to do with his status as general manager now.
It’s his dedication. His commitment to his team.
He’s confident in what he brings to the table. Patience to rebuild the right way. No shortcuts, quick fixes, or cure-alls.
The detours he takes, while frustrating at times, will make his team better in the long run. As much as anyone else cares about a playoff drought or superficial markers of a successful (or unsuccessful season) based on their own expectations, Yzerman knows the end game. He’s got the roadmap in his hand.
If he can find a quicker path to get where he’s going, he’ll take it. Not at the expense of his team’s long-term outlook.
In a day and age where we’re spoonfed on a silver platter, patience is non-existent, and people find megaphones without ever leaving the house, Yzerman is as laser-focused as always.
Maybe that yoga he’s talked about helps keep him grounded. If so, think us fans might need to try it while we wait for the Yzerplan to come to fruition. Or just take a deep breath—in through your nose, out through your mouth, as my dad loves to remind me. Repeat as long as you’d like.
Regardless of how anyone feels about Yzerman, he will continue to put his team first. Above your opinions, my opinions, or any media opinions. That’s how it should be.
Outside pressures be darned.
Why would you want anyone else to rebuild the Detroit Red Wings dynasty?