Red Wings owner nixed Steven Stamkos deal

Things are an absolute mess in Detroit this offseason...

The team is without a GM after the "promotion" of former GM and franchise legend Steve Yzerman and they're without a captain due to Dylan Larkin's trade demands.

Now there are reports that owner Chris Ilitch may have interjected himself into things the past couple years, which, if true, exposes a very dysfunctional situation.

Carlos Monarrez of The Detroit Free Press reported last week that Ilitch scrapped a free agent deal this offseason that would have seen forward Anthony Mantha return to Detroit, but the bigger news is that Ilitch reportedly prevented Yzerman from signing top free agent Steven Stamkos back in 2024.

If true, this report highlights the lack of authority that Yzerman likely had while serving as the GM of the team. If you're a Red Wings fan, you have to be nervous with this development.

NHL history is littered with stories of micromanaging owners and... well... there aren't many successes within those stories. Add in the fact that Ilitch is reportedly the one in charge of hiring Yzerman's replacement and, again, you have to be nervous if you're a Red Wings fan.