Close associates of Yzerman comment on his possible return to Detroit.

A lot of uncertainty surrounding Yzerman.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Close associates of Yzerman comment on his possible return to Detroit.
Detroit Free Press

If the Detroit Red Wings fan base had one collective wish list I think it is safe to say that we would see the hiring of former Detroit Red Wings superstar Steve Yzerman, as an executive or management role, either at or near the top of the list.

The problem of course is that for years now Yzerman has been at the helm of another National Hockey League franchise, the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that he has built into a perennial Stanley Cup contender. Yzerman has done all of this while maintaining a team first culture in the locker room, a culture that has seen superstar players like Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman leave big money on the table to sign team friendly deals that have allow Yzerman and the Lughtning maintain a competitive core group of players. It would be an understatement to suggest he has been extremely successful in his role, but it is perhaps that last fact, his tremendous run of success, that made his decision to step down as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to the 2018 - 2019 National Hockey League regular season so stunning.

Since that decision the rumors linking Yzerman to a potential return to Detroit, Michigan have been rampant, and with Yzerman currently in the final year of his deal with the Lightning you can certainly understand why that would be the case. That being said current Lightning general manager Julien Brisebois has made it clear that the organization would like to retain Yzerman, although he admits he is not sure in which direction he will go.

“He has the luxury of being able to wait a little later,” BriseBois said as per The Athletic. “But we’ve discussed it. I think he’s happy right now. He’s found some balance that he’s happy with. But I can’t speak for him. I know I’ve enjoyed working with him. I’m trying to make it so it’s a good experience for him. But that’s all I can say right now.”

That balance of course is what prompted Yzerman to step down from his role as general manager. Yzerman desired to be closer to his three daughters and his wife and when you consider that the family has roots in Michigan it is not difficult to imagine why the Red Wings would appeal to Yzerman. However his new role with the Lightning has allowed him more balance for his family in that regard and another former Red Wing, one who has been in Yzerman's shoes, thinks that it could be enough to entice him to stay in Tampa. That man is former Red Wings Jimmy Devellano, who also admitted that the Yzerman family really enjoyed living in Detroit. 

“I trained Kenny Holland, and he trained Julien BriseBois. It’s the same thing. Steve is a family man. They like Detroit. Forget about the Red Wings. They like living in Detroit. We’ll see how it plays out. He may fit into this role and say, ‘Holy cow, this is not bad. I can have my cake and eat it too.'”

If living in Detroit is indeed a big factor, you have to believe that the Red Wings have a big leg up on the competition.

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