This:
Detroit -- Kris Draper put it best.
"It's going to be so weird seeing the name Steve Yzerman attached to anything other than the Detroit Red Wings. You just never thought that would ever happen."
It's happened. After more than a quarter century of service, the Captain is changing ships. Senior vice president Jim Devellano confirmed to The Detroit News on Tuesday that Yzerman had accepted a long-term contract offer to be the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Drapes has it right. There's been speculation about Stevie Y and that team in Florida for weeks now, but the general consensus was he wouldn't leave Detroit. I mean... how could he? He's been with the Wings since he was 18, and he's 45 years old now.
But I... like everyone else... understand. Stevie will make an excellent GM and I'm not just sayin' that: look what he did with Team Canada at the Olympics. It ain't beyond the pale to think the Lightning will be Cup contenders in five or six years... but Stevie REALLY has his work cut out for him. It remains to be seen if the Lightning's owners are as enlightened as the Ilitch family.
Anyway. Good Luck, 19.
In other hockey news... we predict Chicago in six. We're not the only one.
Update, 1755 hrs: The Ilitches are a class act (from mlive.com):
Update, 1755 hrs: The Ilitches are a class act (from mlive.com):
DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch issued the following statement regarding Steve Yzerman's hiring by the Tampa Bay Lightning:Class.
“Today is a difficult day for us, just as we know it is for Red Wings fans everywhere. It’s hard to imagine Steve Yzerman in anything other than the red and white Winged Wheel as he has been synonymous with the Red Wings and Hockeytown for as long as most of us can remember! We want to congratulate Steve on his new position with the Tampa Bay Lightning. This is an exciting and well-deserved opportunity for him and his family, and we know he will do a terrific job in this next chapter of his life.
“Yet, this is not easy -- we’re having a difficult time, frankly, because Stevie’s been with us from the start and we consider him part of our family. We drafted him as a young and shy 18-year-old -- just a year after we bought the team -- and he has been part of it all: the ups and downs, highs and lows, the Cups, the celebrations, really everything Red Wings over the last 27 years. We watched him grow and develop over the years into a Hall-of-Fame player, a wonderful husband and father and now, a very capable executive.
“We appreciate all Stevie has done for us, our organization and this community, and we wish him all the best. Stevie Y will always be a Red Wing and he’ll always be in our hearts.’’
Felt strange to read about it. I keep trying to imagine Super Joe going and taking over Atlanta or something. Can't.
ReplyDeleteOf course, only time will tell, but I believe the Lightning are much, much better for it.
Just make room for a little more crow!! I got up at 3:00 am local (just at sunrise by the way) to check the score. Later at breakfast I heard someone complaining about the Moose honking it up!! Yeah, I let one go!!
ReplyDeleteBT: Jimmmy T sends.
Of course, only time will tell, but I believe the Lightning are much, much better for it.
ReplyDeleteAh... this subject is the sorta thing that could make for good conversational fodder until LATE into the night. There's that "no wine before its time" thing... the loyalty vs. ambition thing, and God knows what else. But I'm thinkin' Mr. Yzerman knows exactly what he's doin'. No sense in waiting' around for the next ten years for an opportunity that may or may not come with the Wings, and all that. Just for starters.
Jimmy: There will be no more crow. Take that to the bank...
I would like to go on record as picking Philly in seven.
ReplyDeleteTwo reasons, firstly I originally picked the Habs and secondly I’m going against Buck’s pick cause he’s been wrong ALL along. ;)
Rub it in, Small Tee... rub it in.
ReplyDeleteI went back and checked, Small-Tee. I predicted the Wings would beat the Feral Dogs, and they did. There was this trivial matter of seven games vs. five, as I predicted. I'll give ya that. But a win is a win.
ReplyDeleteI'll be pulling for Chicago too. It's that kind of deal where as a quasi Preds fan I can say, except for a couple of key mistakes in the playoffs that could be the Preds there knocking the Flyers down. You ever do that? As a Cubs fan, I have it down to an art.
ReplyDeleteDan: I DO do that. Not often, but sometimes. This is one of those times.
ReplyDelete