The Detroit News’s Mark Falkner took note of the ties between the Red Wings and the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning:
►[Steve] Yzerman’s former teammates Stacey Roest (the 17th ex-member of the Grand Rapids Griffins to win the Cup) and Jamie Pushor are assistant general managers and directors of player development.
►Head coach Jon Cooper was a Michigan attorney who also coached the high school hockey team at Lansing Catholic.
►Executive vice president of communications Bill Wickett is a graduate of the University of Michigan and handled public relations duties with the Detroit Pistons.
“Steve (Yzerman) laid the foundation, for sure,” Wickett said in a text while the team celebrated on the ice in Edmonton on Monday.
►Caley Chelios, who grew up in Detroit while her father Chris Chelios played for the Red Wings, is a Lightning radio color analyst and reporter.
►Pat Verbeek was Yzerman’s first hire in Detroit as assistant general manager after spending nine years as Tampa Bay’s assistant GM and director of player personnel.
