ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski wrote a lengthy article for ESPN+ which discusses the Red Wings’ rebuilding effort, which is slow, but steady. Some blogger got quoted in the article, but that part isn’t important:
In April 2019, the team announced that franchise legend [Steve] Yzerman, who stepped down as Tampa Bay GM in September 2018 to spend more time with his family, would become the new general manager. [GM Ken] Holland was kicked upstairs, before leaving for the Oilers one month later.
“I started the rebuild. It was a philosophical direction change that Ken Holland started somewhere in 2017-18. Steve came back, and he’s done a fabulous job,” Holland said.
Remember that line from Yzerman: “This is going to take time.”
The biggest virtue of the “Yzerplan” is patience.
“Our philosophy isn’t to rush anyone. Slowly challenge them in better leagues and harder situations. Let them feel their way through it. They’ll tell us when they’re ready, from their play, when they’re ready to step into the NHL,” Horcoff said. “And not just step in. We don’t just want to give them games. They need to come in and play meaningful roles.”
What rebuilding teams want to avoid is the toxicity that can come with losing. That stench festers. Horcoff got a whiff of it when he was the captain of the Edmonton Oilers from 2010 to ’13.
“It’s not easy for any player, even the veterans,” he said. “These young guys were coming in — Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov — and we had some down years. It was tough on them. It’s hard to learn to win when you’re not.”
Continued, with more quotes Ken Holland, Shawn Horcoff, from Jeff Blashill, and me…
Pretty cool to see your quotes there. Congrats George.