MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Red Wings executive Jimmy Devellano regarding the news that Steve Yzerman is stepping down as the GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning to spend more time with his Metro Detroit-based family:
“I had no heads up,” Devellano said. “I was told about it today.”
Yzerman was hired by Lightning owner Jeff Vinik in 2010 and has had tremendous success building the team into a championship contender. He was named GM of the year in 2014-15, when Tampa Bay lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Cup finals.
Many Red Wings fans have been clamoring for the captain to return home.
“I know how the fans feel and I can understand their feelings,” Devellano said. “They are questions we don’t have answers for and don’t have control over. What can I say, what can Kenny say? Other than (Yzerman) has done a heck of a job in Tampa and just as he was as a player he turned out to be a good GM.”
Devellano said there doesn’t appear to be anything imminent regarding Yzerman and the Red Wings.
“It’s not like something is going to happen when we open the season with Columbus (on Oct. 4),” Devellano said. “But what about next July 1, for instance? People will clamor and speculate. I understand that.”
When I read the news earlier today I texted “OMG OMG OMG” to like everyone I know. Not even hockey fans, literally everyone.
I wasn’t disillusioned in assuming tomorrow he’d be GM of the Wings, obviously he is still under contract and will be consulting for TB, but it really does mean next summer he’ll likely join and Holland’s last year will be a transitional one. Stoked.