Franchise legend Steve Yzerman’s tenure as general manager of the Detroit Red Wings ended abruptly on Wednesday. The team announced Yzerman is transitioning from GM and executive vice president into a new role as a senior advisor to governor and CEO Chris Ilitch.

Yzerman’s Legacy

Yzerman, 61, a Hall of Fame forward and longtime captain who won three Stanley Cups during 22 seasons with Detroit (1983-2004, 2005-06), returned to the Red Wings as GM in April 2019. “Steve’s lifetime of contributions to the Red Wings has meant more to this franchise than words can truly express, and I have the highest level of respect for his continued commitment to our organization,” Ilitch said.

Yzerman expressed his gratitude to the Ilitch family and the organization, stating, “I am sincerely grateful to Chris and the entire Ilitch family. This organization has given me incredible opportunities, from my time as a player to the privilege of returning as general manager. I’ve appreciated every experience throughout the years, and I’m extremely proud to remain part of this great franchise.”

Future of the Red Wings

The Red Wings are searching for a new leader of hockey operations. The person who gets hired will have to deal with, among other things, captain Dylan Larkin’s request for a trade after 11 years in Detroit. “Clearly, we are not where we and our fans expect to be as an organization,” Ilitch said. “I’m looking forward to bringing in new leadership to build the championship-caliber organization Hockeytown deserves.”

After a strong start, Detroit finished 41-31-10 in 2025-26 and missed the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season. The Red Wings have not won a Stanley Cup playoff series since the 2012-13 season. Yzerman recorded 692 goals and 1,755 points in 1,514 games with the franchise, owning the team records for most goals (65) and points (155) in a season.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.