Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff revisits Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s comments made during his pre-training camp press conference this morning.
Duff notes that Yzerman’s plans to build a perennial contending team continue to develop, despite fans’ impatience with the so-called “Yzerplan”:
“I see progress in the organization,” Yzerman said. “I look at the young players coming into the organization, and I look at the young players playing on the Detroit Red Wings today. As we continue to build a young core that is here for a long time, I’m hopeful that we will eventually compete on a regular basis to make the playoffs. So that’s what we’re trying to do.”
We get it. That’s not what you want to hear. You want proclamations, you want guarantees that after nine years in the wilderness, the playoffs and the Red Wings are about to become reacquainted. Believe it or not, Yzerman gets that, too.
“We’re not completely tone deaf,” Yzerman said. “I understand the frustration or maybe the lack of … I don’t want to say patience, because I think everybody’s been pretty patient. But the sense of urgency within the fan base, I understand it.”
At the same time, what he is seeking to achieve probably isn’t on the same timeframe as what you want to see, which is playoff hockey as soon as possible.
“I look at it differently than you look at it,” Yzerman said, essentially speaking to Red Wings fans. “You just want us to make the playoffs, which is fine. I’m not going to argue with you about that. We’re trying to build a team that competes for a Stanley Cup and can win a Stanley Cup. So, how many years is it supposed to take? I don’t know? Is it four? Is it five? Is it 10?”
Continued; Duff also suggests what I have regarding Yzerman’s status as not being on the “hot seat” under the Red Wings’ ownership.
