As the Wings and national media pondered what exactly to make of Steve Yzerman’s decision to step down as the Tampa Bay Lightning’s GM, ostensibly to spend more time with his family in Metro Detroit, I gravitated toward the video Sportsnet posted of the Lightning’s announcement, preferring to listen and pay attention for myself:
Post-game audio from the Red Wings’ 7-3 loss in the prospect tournament championship game: Smith, Zadina, Rasmussen, Veleno and coach Simon
The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects had a hellish third period in a championship game they led 3-2 1:35 into the period, surrendering 5 straight goals en route to a 7-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Wings’ record in prospect tournament championships is now 1-and-2.
While Givani Smith scored 2 goals, Dennis Cholowski scored another, and Filip Zadina escaped serious injury when smoked in the head and stung in the wrist while cutting across the blueline…
Kaden Fulcher did not have a good night in goal, and his teammates in front of him were equally willing to surrender time, space and puck control to a Blue Jackets team that made the most of its 18 shots.
After the game, Givani Smith wasn’t quite sure where everything went wrong, though he was at least comforted by the fact that he gave his all…
Khan speaks with Jimmy Devellano regarding Yzerman’s decision to step down in Tampa Bay
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.”
Red Wings, Wakiji set up tonight’s prospect tournament championship game
As the Detroit Red Wings’ prospects prepare for tonight’s championship game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Red Wings posted a morning skate report on Twitter…
Getting you set for tonight’s final game of the 2018 NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City! ? | #DRWPT #LGRW pic.twitter.com/uHDelFjVLG
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 11, 2018
And DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji set up tonight’s game:
“It’s good, it means progress,” said Shawn Horcoff, Red Wings director of player development. “We felt coming in here we were going to have a good team on paper. I think guys, they’ve put a lot of hard work in over the summer and I think you’re starting to see that. (Dennis) Cholowski and Ras (Michael Rasmussen) and Gio (Givani Smith). I think a big difference for us is our 18-year-olds. Our young guys have come in and in a very hard tournament, done very well. You see (Joe) Veleno, (Jared) McIsaac, (Alec) Regula, and obviously (Filip) Zadina, speaks for himself.
“I’m happy. It’s a good step forward for us. But I’ll be even happier if we can win tonight.”
Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon, in his first year as the head coach of the team, knows that a victory would be significant.
“It’s great to be in the championship game to have a chance to win something,” Simon said. “No matter what it is, if you’re on the golf course and you’re playing a buddy, you want to beat him. You want to win. If you’re playing in your backyard, you want to win. If you’re playing pickup basketball, you want to beat the other guy you’re playing against. I don’t think the philosophy or the mentality changes. If we win this tournament, I think it’s great for the organization. All these young prospects that everyone’s excited to see have success and hopefully feed off that going into camp, I think is a great thing.”
The Yzerman press conference call leaves room for speculation, but a family decision is made
FYI from the press conference in which Steve Yzerman announced that he’s stepping down as the Tampa Bay Lightning’s GM, and will stay on as an advisor:
Asked if he wants to be in Tampa Bay long term, Yzerman said he’s 100-percent committed to this season and declines to discuss it further. BriseBois said he would like Yzerman to stay beyond this season.
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) September 11, 2018
Yzerman said at this point, he had to make a decision to sign another contract. With some time to reflect, it was hard to be with his family and do the job the way he feels it needs to be done.
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) September 11, 2018
Steve Yzerman on future beyond this season: Says he’s 100% committed to his role as advisor with TBL. “After that, I don’t know.”
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) September 11, 2018
So Yzerman had to decide whether to sign an extension with Tampa Bay. He wasn’t willing to sign. He’ll spend this season as a senior advisor, run out his contract and see what happens. The speculation from there is obvious.
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) September 11, 2018
“Beyond this year I don’t have an answer for you.” – Yzerman, on whether he’ll stay in Tampa beyond this season
— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) September 11, 2018
Update: Here’s the full press conference, from Sportsnet. Watch and decide for yourself:
HSJ delivers a bombshell
Well, this changes things…
Pertaining to @JoeSmithTB report of Steve Yzerman stepping down as GM in Tampa Bay, source tells Free Press Yzerman told Lightning players he was going home to Detroit. Has maintained area home while GM of Tampa Bay Lightning.
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) September 11, 2018
But does “going home” mean to spend time with his family, or something else?
Update: FYI:
Yzerman told #TBLightning players he was heading back to Detroit but it was unclear if that meant to live (he has a family and home there) or to eventually work.
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) September 11, 2018
Before we all go crazy about Yzerman…
On Twitter…
BREAKING: Steve Yzerman told #TBLightning players in a meeting today he’s stepping aside as GM to be in advisory role, per source. BriseBois taking over as GM.
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) September 11, 2018
Yzerman is in the last year of his contract. No confirmation from #tblightning, which is holding a presser at 4 p.m. with Vinik, Yzerman and BriseBois for a “major announcement.” https://t.co/cgtnysJd7F
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) September 11, 2018
#tblightning owner Jeff Vinik had been hopeful + optimistic early in the summer to sign Yzerman to an extension. I asked Yzerman during playoffs and he said “Working for Jeff has been fantastic. It’s a tremendous position and I’m grateful to have it.”
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) September 11, 2018
However, per the Athletic’s Craig Custance…
For those speculating about Detroit, here’s what we know:
– Holland signed 2-year extension with the Red Wings in April
– per @JoeSmithTB, Yzerman has one year left on his deal w/TB
– There’s an internal appetite to sort out future roles for current Detroit management group— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) September 11, 2018
For obvious reasons, Yzerman has always been reticent about talking about any future job in Detroit always deferring to his current position and focus in TB.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) September 11, 2018
I’m one of those, “He’s never coming home” folks. As far as I’m concerned, it makes little sense for Yzerman to come back to a rebuilding Red Wings team and face a Joe Dumars-level of scrutiny for every damn little move he makes, from injury call-ups to Toledo Walleye signings, when Yzerman can continue to live in relative anonymity in Tampa Bay while working with a team that has a strong chance of winning a Cup over the next 5-8 years. I don’t see him coming back, but again, that’s just me.
Quick impressions from the Red Wings’ morning skate ahead of the championship game at the prospect tournament ’18
The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects took part in an “optional” morning skate ahead of tonight’s prospect tournament championship game against the Columbus Blue Jackets (7:00 PM on Fox Sports GO and DetroitRedWings.com), and 15 skaters and 3 goaltenders took part in the “optional.”
The mood was light-hearted and the players were “loose” in the good sense of the term, but the players and abundance of coaches made sure to get a good sweat on over the course of a half-hour skate.
I’ve already posted my audio from the morning skate, in which Zach Gallant, Filip Zadina, Alec Regula, Givani Smith and coach Ben Simon are interviewed, and here are some brief player impressions going into tonight’s game.
Wings practice firefighter training, make $3,500 donation as part of community tour
According to MLive’s Ryan Zuke, the Red Wings took part in a charitable outreach event with the Ann Arbor Fire Department this morning:
Detroit Red Wings Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi are professional hockey players, but they might have found a backup career on Tuesday.
On their way to training camp in Traverse City, the Red Wings forwards made a stop at the Ann Arbor Fire Department, visiting with firefighters and first responders.
After the fire department’s Sept. 11 memorial service, the Red Wings trio faced off against local firefighters in a friendly competition. Wearing full gear, they went through three basic components of a firefighter fitness test before ending with a hockey competition, attempting to shoot pucks into all four corners of the net.
Although the Red Wings’ time of 1 minute, 18 seconds was 2 seconds slower than the firefighters’, the Ann Arbor Fire Department took a 5-second penalty for not hitting any targets during the shooting competition.
“The Red Wings beat us, so I think if the hockey thing doesn’t work out, a couple of these guys could have a career in the fire service,” Ann Arbor Fire Chief Mike Kennedy said. “We could easily get them riding the truck this afternoon if they wanted to. It was really fun. We really appreciate it. I know on most evenings, our firefighters are watching the Red Wings, so it is really cool for them to be able to see some of the people that they watch.”
Zuke continues, noting that the Wings made a $3,500 donation to the Great Lakes Burn Camp, and he posted a video of the Wings engaging in firefighter training:
Continue reading Wings practice firefighter training, make $3,500 donation as part of community tour
Audio from the morning skate ahead of the championship game at the Red Wings’ prospect tournament ’18: Gallant, Zadina, Regula, Smith, coach Simon
The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects were supposed to hold an optional skate ahead of tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Instead, 15 skaters took part, including starter Kaden Fulcher. Jared McIsaac won’t be available tonight due to a shoulder issue, so Marcus Crawford will step in on defense.
I believe that Michael Rasmussen, David Pope, Reilly Webb, Jordan Topping and the injured McIsaac and Lane Zablocki were the only players absent from the skate, and the Wings only skated for about half an hour, but their drills were crisp and intense.
After the skate, I spoke with Zach Gallant, albeit briefly, regarding his goal last night and his status as more of an offensive threat on the wing…
Continue reading Audio from the morning skate ahead of the championship game at the Red Wings’ prospect tournament ’18: Gallant, Zadina, Regula, Smith, coach Simon