Steve Yzerman named TB's new GM

[Dominator2005 558]

Very sad day... Yzerman deserved to be GM... I wanted him in Detroit... Sad, very sad day...

Good luck captain!!!

Guess we all have new second favorite team now...

[Broken 16 381]

I really can't understand why anybody would be sad to see him go. It would be more sad to see him rot in Kenny's shadow for the next X amount of years.

Good luck Steve.

[Barrie 900]

All the best Stevie, I'm happy for you!

Stevie needs to get some experience as a GM before he takes over for Holland right? I agree with BUHdactyl, he'll be back.

[Z and D for the C 712]

OU SHUT UP FAT GUY WHO TALKED DURING YZERMAN'S PRESS CONFERENCE AND HOPED YZERMAN WOULD SPEND AS LONG IN THE LIGHTNING ORGANIZATION AS HE HAS IN THE RED WINGS'S ORGANIZATION

[VM1138 1,921]

I understand he has to leave, but that organization is a cluster-you-know-what and a career killer.

[titanium2 867]

I wonder if there's any ill will between Ilitch and Kenny. We all know how Ilitch feels about Stevie. And Kenny rightfully so did not want to step aside.

[Reds4Life 51]

I wonder if there's any ill will between Ilitch and Kenny. We all know how Ilitch feels about Stevie. And Kenny rightfully so did not want to step aside.

Illitch could have easily fired Holland if he wanted to.

Edited May 25, 2010 by Reds4Life

[titanium2 867]

Illitch could have easily fired Holland if he wanted to.

Holland is one of the best GMs in the league. I don't think it's as easy as it might sound.

[Puckpossession 3]

Im proud of stevie Y, made an excellent decision for his family and for him self. We dont know what type of GM hes going to be, so this can be a test to see if we actually want him as a GM of our team based on how good he is at managing a team, not merely because his name is Steve Yzerman.

Im proud of stevie Y, made an excellent decision for his family and for him self. We dont know what type of GM hes going to be, so this can be a test to see if we actually want him as a GM of our team based on how good he is at managing a team, not merely because his name is Steve Yzerman. What he did with Canada is great, but you have a large talent pool of talent, its merely if the players want it the most.

Lets see if stevie y can do something good for the tampa bay lightning because they had a bad season, but they have stamkos, st louis, lecavailler, they just need get extra parts to be a playoff contender.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I did see a news story that Illitch asked Kenny to step down so Stevie could be the new GM but he didn't want to.

I just hope that after this contract is up Illitch will hire Stevie has the new GM.

Edited May 25, 2010 by Z and D for the C

[Broken 16 381]

I wonder if there's any ill will between Ilitch and Kenny. We all know how Ilitch feels about Stevie. And Kenny rightfully so did not want to step aside.

Anybody that would prefer Yzerman over Holland as a GM at this point is truly on crack. That includes Ilitch.

Edited May 25, 2010 by Broken 16

[Buppy 1,720]

Only girls cry.

And yeah when the way you got your job was because of someone taking that promotion, you should also take that promotion to keep that guy who you just said did so much for this organization here.

Its not like he wasn't going to be involved in the organization, he was going to be president for gods sake.

I tried to tell you the last time you mentioned this, your version of the facts is inaccurate.

Devallano became Senior VP in 1990. 7 years prior to Holland taking over as GM. When Jimmy D was promoted, it was Bryan Murray who became GM.

After Murray left, Devallano did come back to the GM role, but he was still Senior VP, and to my understanding it was mostly Bowman's show at that time. Then, after 3 years as assistant GM (and 5 more as director of amatuer scouting, and 7 more in various scouting roles) Holland took over.

Moreover, I don't think the Wings right now are in the best position to put in a rookie GM. Yzerman has only been in management for four years. Just because he was a great player, and did so much for the organization as a player , does not mean he is ready or qualified to be our GM, even with Kenny helping him.

In the next few years we need to replace Lidstrom somehow, and most likely Rafalski. We also don't have too long before we need to find our next generation stars to take the torch from Pav and Hank. Then we have quite a few other players close to or over 30. Quite a few younger guys that we need to make decisions on and get locked into good deals if want to keep them. We have to do all this while wedged against the salary cap and trying to maintain the highest (and probably unrealistic) standard in the league. That's a little much to ask of someone whose GM experience consists entirely of assembling an all-star team from a huge captive talent pool without a cap to contend with.

Tampa is a great fit for Steve. Basically on the ground floor of a rebuilding project. Expectations should be easily managed. Hardly any forwards already signed, so a lot of lattitude to put the team together. Not sure how the ownership down there will be, but I don't think money will be a problem (at least not immediately). It's a great opportunity for him to learn, and for us to see what he can do.

I would have liked to see Steve take an Assistant GM role, but maybe he wasn't interested. But I still expect him to be our GM at some point. Devallano is 67, so I expect he'll retire before too long, and I'd expect Kenny to take over his spot. Maybe Steve would be ready by then, or maybe Nill can be GM for a while. I know Steve said the TB thing is a long-term project, but in GM terms that means like 5-6 years. Like the article on NHL.com says, this is kind of like going away to college for Steve. It doesn't necessarily mean he's gone for good.

I wish him nothing but the best (unless he's playing us, that is).

[wings1110 184]

I know i shouldnt hold a grudge against stevie..... but i cant help but be disappointed in him, and the wings organization for not finding a way to keep him

[Red Wings 2010 9]

YAY!! Tampa is back on my list of favorites!

1. Red wings

2. Lightening!

[teebo 22]

good luck stevie, and good luck tampa. it will be nice having another team to root for.

[Datsyerberger 279]

As someone who grew up in Florida and enjoyed watching the Bolts (when they didn't suck), I'm glad to see Stevie Y go there. Hopefully he'll straighten that org out, and get some good GM experience in the process.

Why would we want to keep him here when he can get better experience elsewhere, anyhow?

[Yzermania19 1]

After initially feeling like I got punched in the chest, I realize this is the best thing for Stevie. Of course I am like everyone else who would have loved to see him stay in Detroit and just bide his time until he got the Wings GM job, but I think deep down most of us knew that with the best GM in the NHL at the helm in Ken Holland, that just wasn't going to happen any time soon. And Stevie knew it, too.

I am very very very happy for Stevie! It saddens me to see Stevie leave the Wings organization, but I am comforted by the fact that this is something he has always wanted to do. He is realizing a dream! How cool is that? He's shown he can put together a winning team for a tournament, but managing a team is a whole different animal and Stevie has learned from the best. Will he be a good NHL GM? Who knows, but he has certainly earned the right to try.

I may just be paying more attention to what the Tampa Bay Lightning do this season...I've already friended them on Facebook. LOL

I wish him all the best in Tampa Bay! Just not so much when they play the Wings...I love Stevie, but I will always be a Red Wings fan (and somehow I suspect Stevie is, too).

[evilmrt 636]

Oh man! Now I am automatically a Tampa Bay Lightning fan! ARGH!!!!!!

[Broken 16 381]

I know i shouldnt hold a grudge against stevie..... but i cant help but be disappointed in him, and the wings organization for not finding a way to keep him

Keep him to do what? Top off Kenny's coffee? Don't be so insecure. The team will be fine. Jeez.

[Z and D for the C 712]

How long until "Illitch you suck!"

[Dave 324]

Stevie's interview with the local tv announcer here.

Sounds like Tampa is heading in the right direction.

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

I always wanted him to be Detroit GM.

I wouldn't dare question anything he ever did as GM. With Holland, as you know, I feel free to criticize whenever I see fit. It'd be hard for me to criticize my favorite athlete ever, though.

Oh well.

[Electrophile 3,554]

I've been horribly ill the last 3 days, and this certainly doesn't make me feel any better. Allow me to say......f***.

[Wing Fanatic 3]

I hate to see you go Stevie but I wish you all the best! Thanks for everything you have done for this team over the years. Hope to see you back here someday soon!

Edited May 26, 2010 by Wing Fanatic

[tdinc 45]

good luck to you Stevie Y .....you'll need it