Overview
- The Red Wings announced on July 15 that Steve Yzerman is leaving his roles as executive vice president and general manager and will become a senior advisor to CEO and governor Chris Ilitch.
- Yzerman will remain involved in day-to-day hockey operations during the transition and will advise the search committee until a successor is named.
- Detroit has opened a formal search for a new head of hockey operations and says it will consider both internal candidates such as Kris Draper and Shawn Horcoff and outside applicants.
- Captain Dylan Larkin’s formal trade request remains unresolved and is identified across coverage as the top priority the next GM must address because of Larkin’s no-trade protections and the tight salary-cap market.
- Yzerman leaves after seven seasons without a playoff berth and a 10-season franchise drought, a record that ownership cited as the reason for seeking new leadership and that could force quick roster and cultural changes to regain fan trust.