The “Yzerplan” Officially Ends in Detroit in What Could Be the End of a New Era
It was announced on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, that Steve Yzerman would be stepping down as President and General Manager. This brings an end to a seven-year era that began on April 19, 2019. After building up the loaded Tampa Bay Lightning and leaving the keys in Julien BriseBois’ lap, the seasoned executive decided to return to the city where he became a hockey legend as a player in an effort to bring playoff hockey back to Detroit.
When he joined the team, the Red Wings had already missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. They were unable to make the playoffs during his tenure as General Manager. With the Buffalo Sabres breaking their 14-year playoff drought this year, the Detroit Red Wings now hold the longest active playoff drought in the NHL at 10 seasons. They have also yet to play a playoff game at their “new” home, Little Caesars Arena, which opened in the 2017-18 season. Little Caesars Arena replaced Joe Louis Arena, a building synonymous with the Red Wings’ success throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
The move comes after star player and captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade this offseason. The trade request became public knowledge a few weeks ago. It has been widely rumoured, based on his public comments, that Larkin was unhappy with the Red Wings’ lack of trade activity. He believed that inactivity was a major reason why the team failed to make the playoffs during his time there.
One main question here is: Should the team look for a combined President and General Manager, or separate church and state?
There are four cases in the NHL where the President is also the General Manager:
Chris MacFarland: President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Nashville Predators.
He was recently hired this offseason, so determining whether this arrangement is successful or not would be premature.
Kyle Dubas: President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In the first two years of his tenure, the Penguins missed the playoffs both seasons and then lost to the Flyers this year in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in six games.
Don Waddell: President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Blue Jackets have missed the playoffs in both years since Waddell left Carolina for the combined role.
He is now dealing with his star defenceman and several highly productive forwards wanting out of town.
Bill Zito: President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Florida Panthers.
The Panthers made the playoffs in each of his first five seasons, with this year being the first time Florida has missed. During that stretch, they reached three Stanley Cup Finals and won two Stanley Cups.
So, when you include Steve Yzerman in this group, the only anomaly when it comes to sustained playoff success is Bill Zito. It really makes you wonder whether, with just a 20% success rate among this group, having the dual role does more harm than good.
It was a no-brainer that ownership could not simply fire Steve Yzerman because of his popularity as a Red Wings legend. I wouldn’t be surprised if, behind closed doors, Mr. Ilitch tapped him on the shoulder and said it was time. Eventually, when Steve moves on from his role as Senior Advisor, I’m sure there will be jobs available for him. Clearly, based on his track record in Detroit, a dual-position job may not be one of them.
All of this heightens the focus on the will-he, won’t-he saga surrounding Dylan Larkin’s trade request, which I mentioned earlier. With no General Manager in place, you really put the incoming executive in a difficult position if his first major move has to be trading the captain. Additionally, with Larkin reportedly having a limited list of preferred destinations and Yzerman still remaining as a Senior Advisor, who is to say Yzerman won’t be nudging the new regime to play hardball until Larkin expands that list?
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