Guess who’s back? The Detroit Red Wings, Steve Yzerman is creating a monster. Part 2

If you haven't already, part one is available.

Eleven Stanley Cups. The most of any US-based National Hockey League (NHL) team. Twenty-five consecutive playoff appearances. An original six franchise. Hockeytown. 

I would think it means something to the NHL and its fans outside of the Detroit Red Wings fandom, but I guess they’re too green with envy to care. 

After a historic run, the Detroit Red Wings unceremoniously crash landed. Hard, close the core of Earth, I’m pretty sure. Much like the Pikachu voiced by Ryan Reynolds in the Detective Pikachu movie described Mr. Mime when he fell off his motorcycle:

The Detroit Red Wing, too, should have worn a helmet.

Our powerhouse team left a gaping hole that wasn’t easily filled in the NHL.

The Florida teams have tried, as have the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, but just like rap music isn’t the same without Eminem, the NHL playoffs aren’t the same without the Detroit Red Wings in it. 

Rather than help one of their most successful franchises regain their footing, the cards stacked continuously against the Detroit Red Wings. It seemed like everywhere they could get a break, it went the opposite way than we’d hoped it would.

With an exception. A big one.

The Detroit Red Wings have started their climb upwards, and, in part, we have Steve Yzerman, to thank.

In April 2019, “The Captain” returned to his home. 

All I can see is Rafiki in the Lion King saying, “it is time” to Simba as Simba walked up Pride Rock at the end of the movie when I think of Steve Yzerman’s return to the Detroit Red Wings.

Sometimes I feel like the rest of the NHL world is like Timon and Pumba, asking why Simba wanted to return to Pride Rock so badly after Scar turned it into a wasteland. Both Yzerman and Simba are dedicated to their people (or lions).

Meticulously, Yzerman has rebuilt the Detroit Red Wings with the players he’s chosen to wear his Winged Wheel being the tip of the iceberg. He’s revamped almost every part of the Detroit Red Wings’ management and coaching staff. From scouting to player development to both the NHL and American Hockey League (AHL) coaches, Yzerman chose specific personnel that he saw as the best candidates.

They may not be cheap or the typical options (or ones that I wholeheartedly agree with), but he always gets his guy it seems. 

Of course, his perspective and expectations are also realistic. He understands the parameters that he’s given. While they can be frustrating, at least in the public eye, he only focuses on what he can control–his reaction to the cards he’s dealt.

He doesn’t mourn the loss of the cards he didn’t get. 

It’s a trait that he honed in some of the darkest days as he led the way out of the Dead Things era of hockey, I reckon. I can imagine that dropping in the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery to fourth overall stung, but on his thick skin he might not have even felt it. 

It pales in comparison to getting swept by the New Jersey Devils or beaten by Igor Larionov and his San Jose Sharks, I’m sure just to name a couple of examples.

These minor inconveniences along the way are things today’s Detroit Red Wings fans, myself included, see as travesties. 

Rolling with the punches, Yzerman and company have made interesting, sometimes questionable choices. 

Something that I really appreciate about Yzerman is his ability to recognize when he’s knowledgeable enough to make a decision and when to lay off, letting his staff shine in their respective areas. 

An example of where Yzerman took the wheel was the first pick as the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings at the 2019 NHL Entry Level Draft.

Although he seems to leave the draft to his experts in the amaetur scouting department, he had a bit more time on his hands as the sun set on his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the extra time in a lesser role, Yzerman was able to learn more about the draft-eligible prospects than ever before (and possibly since).

Yzerman took the time to travel to a specific prospect’s homeland. Even taking time to meet the player’s parents, Yzerman traveled far and had a challenging language barrier but it must have been a meeting that helped cement things. (I can see why his parents helped solidify any decision Yzerman made as his parents seem like true gems.)

His choice was no slam dunk and must have weighed heavily being the first big decision that Yzerman had to make upon returning to the organization. Literally, could have set the rebuild back two-to-three more years if things didn’t work out.

Without hesitation it seemed, Yzerman liked the player and felt comfortable taking him at sixth overall even if the rest of the NHL wasn’t so ready.  

The crowd was left in audible gasps and jaws were on the floor as Yzerman spoke. Fans almost unanimously were left perplexed to put things mildly. While a common reaction was, “Who is that?”

Becoming the Calder Trophy winner for the 2021-22 season, Moritz Seider has done nothing but prove Yzerman right in his choice. 

Of course, there will always be people ready to rain on a parade, but I chalk those people up to having counterproductive perspectives, unreasonable expectations, they haven’t watched him (or the team) enough, or people who simply value other things in a player.

More important than any statistics or awards, Seider is dedicated to his game, teammates, and winning. 

He’s a player that every team wishes they had (and that might be why Seider catches so much flack or is devalued outside of the Detroit Red Wings fandom). He’s everything that we could ask for in a defenseman and the first prospect to join the organization in Yzerman’s return.

I’m not sure that Seider will ever know how much of an impact he has made and continues to make–for the Detroit Red Wings, German ice hockey, and everywhere in between. 

It might be part of his charm. To anyone questioning his progression or his impact on the Detroit Red Wings, I ask you to picture this team and its future without him. Yzerman took a shot at the dartboard and he stumbled upon a pillar of the rebuild. Without Seider, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Shifting gears to the 2021 NHL Entry Level Draft, Yzerman demonstrated his faith in his scouting staff. Primarily, his confidence in Kris Draper, assistant general manager and director of amaetur scouting, allowed Draper the leeway of selecting Carter Mazur.

Although there are plenty of examples where Yzerman gave his scouting department the long leash and it didn’t work out well, this is an instance where Yzerman’s confidence paid off. 

Mazur is having a great professional career thus far. He is even posturing for a spot in the opening night lineup in Detroit. It remains to be seen if he will get a spot in the NHL right away, but the fact that we can have a conversation about it speaks volumes about how far Mazur has come.

Mazur was an overager in his draft year. 

Draper knew Mazur well, as Draper helped coach his son who was in the same draft eligibility range as Mazur, so there was familiarity. 

Seemingly an easy decision to take Mazur, his personality is second to none as far as character goes. He’s a respectful and hard-working young man both on and off the ice. 

On the ice, he’s a player you hate to face off against, but love to have on your team. He loves standing up for his teammates, lives for the dirty areas of the ice, and enjoys nothing more than pissing opponents off, then scoring a goal. 

Similar to a Vlad Namestnikov, Mazur creates a bit of havoc wherever he is on the ice, but has the surprising skill to play anywhere or at any time on the ice. A great compliment to any line or situation, Mazur is well on his way to an impactful NHL career.

I appreciate Yzerman stepping back and even if the pick isn’t the usual or expected pick, he lets his scouting staff do their thing. 

His scouting staff has worked seemingly as hard as Yzerman to choose the best players available for the needs of the Detroit Red Wings. These drafted prospects align with Yzerman’s vision for the team in the long run, but still allows the scouting staff the freedom to choose guys who break the mold when the time is right. 

Some people like blondes, while others have eye color preferences. The Detroit Red Wings? It seems like the Detroit Red Wings have a favored type in terms of defensemen. 

They like lanky, big bodied defensemen. 

We’re not just talking tall or big, but reach seems to be just important to the team as anything else. I swear most defensemen in our system could be classified as a new subspecies of albatross. Their wingspans are ridiculous. 

Of course, there are exceptions to these rules. The most recent example being Axel Sandin-Pellikka. 

Standing at a skyhigh 5 feet 11 inches, Sandin-Pellikka is the oddest selection on defense that the Detroit Red Wings have made since 2019. If we had to guess, it's likely legendary scout Håkan Andersson pounded the table for Sandin-Pellikka.

Fans also seemed to be the most collectively excited with his addition to the Detroit Red Wings since Lucas Raymond was chosen with that fourth overall selection. I didn’t see one negative comment, which is an impressive feat.

A talented, crafty defenseman who has an unexpected bite to his game. When I see him play it reminds me of Alex DeBrincat when he goes after guys in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He bites back, not just accepting being pushed around or shoved, which is necessary if he wants to go the distance (join the Detroit Red Wings someday, full-time).

Also, he doesn’t seem to shy away from physicality or hard areas. I’m not sure that he particularly seeks it out, but he’s not afraid of going to retrieve the puck. Although, he seems to have the puck more often than not, so fetching the puck may not be so prevalent while watching his highlights. He’s a wheeler and dealer who makes things happen for his team.

With all the flash in his game, Sandin-Pellikka could easily get away with cheating for offense and within his game. However, he doesn’t and is pretty well-rounded defensively.

As much as I would love to see Sandin-Pellikka compete for a spot in Detroit’s lineup this season, he’s planning to return to his championship winning team in Skellefteå, Sweden. Repeat championship perhaps? 

Maybe Sandin-Pellikka wouldn’t have been picked had the Detroit Red Wings not had two picks in the first round, but luckily we won’t know.

Yzerman is showing that he knows exactly what he’s doing. Confidently making decisions and while there may be some hesitation every so often, Yzerman keeps taking steps forward.

By picking his players and staff members, he is making a monster of an organization that is setup for the long game, not just a short-term hope for a playoff chase. I wouldn't want to face this team next season, or any of the next few seasons. The level of skill from practically every player, to the albatrosses, to the little guys who pack a punch, the Detroit Red Wings are poised for their comeback.

It’s incredible to sit back and watch Yzerman as the architect.

I’m hoping fans can be a little more patient as he builds the next Detroit Red Wings dynasty as it will be worth it. The NHL will be better off for his efforts, too, whether it likes the team or not.