Steve Yzerman's time as the Detroit Red Wings’ general manager has come to an unexpected end. The Hockey Hall of Famer is leaving his role as GM and executive vice president, and the team is now looking for new leadership.

The Red Wings announced on Wednesday that Yzerman will no longer run hockey operations. However, he will stay with the organization as a senior adviser to CEO Chris Ilitch.

His six-year run with Detroit focused on rebuilding the team, but the Red Wings could not make the playoffs during that time.

The NHL confirmed that Steve Yzerman will continue helping the franchise in his new position. The Red Wings have already started searching for his replacement. CEO Chris Ilitch will lead the search, which will consider both team members and outside candidates.

“I am sincerely grateful to Chris and the entire Ilitch family,” Yzerman said, as quoted in the NHL release. “This organization has given me incredible opportunities, from my time as a player to the privilege of returning as general manager. I've appreciated every experience throughout the years, and I'm extremely proud to remain part of this great franchise.”

As per the report by NHL Media, Yzerman became Detroit’s general manager in 2019 after the team finished the season with a 32-40-10 record.

His first year ended with one of the worst records in NHL history, but the Red Wings slowly improved under his leadership. Detroit won 41 games twice during his time as GM but still failed to reach the playoffs.

The NHL reported that the Red Wings had a 224-251-9 record during Yzerman’s six seasons as GM. The team missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs every year under him.

Detroit’s playoff drought has now reached 10 straight seasons after the franchise previously made the postseason for 25 consecutive years.

Red Wings face major decisions after Yzerman’s exit

With Steve Yzerman moving into an advisory role, Detroit’s new general manager will face several big decisions. The biggest one is about captain Dylan Larkin and whether he will remain part of the team’s plans.

The NHL reported that Larkin asked for a trade after last season. However, Yzerman said he was willing to keep the captain if the team did not receive a good offer.

The 29-year-old center had the best season of his career last year, scoring 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games. He remains one of Detroit’s key players.

The Red Wings also need to improve their offense after finishing 22nd in the NHL with 2.91 goals per game last season. The team added forward Viktor Arvidsson on July 1 with a two-year, $10 million contract to bring more scoring ability to the lineup.

Chris Ilitch admitted that the Red Wings have not reached expectations under Yzerman’s leadership. He said the team is focused on finding new leadership to build a championship-level roster.

Yzerman’s impact in Detroit remains important despite missing the playoffs as GM. He spent 22 seasons as a player, won three Stanley Cups, and helped Tampa Bay win two championships as GM. Now, Detroit hopes a new leader can end its playoff drought.

What do you think? Could the Red Wings’ next GM choice shape the future of Hockeytown for many years ahead? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason