Detroit — The team hasn’t changed, the frustration hasn’t changed, the issues haven’t changed. But with Steve Yzerman, the tone has changed, and that’s a start.
He can’t reasonably preach patience, and he’s not. He can’t keep asking for time, although ownership seems willing to give it. After previous failed seasons, Yzerman has been defensive, even defiant. It’s time for something different, concise and unflinching, and I think he recognizes it.
The roster needs a major shakeup, and perhaps the front office does too. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs 10 straight seasons, the longest drought in the NHL. Yzerman has been in charge for seven of them. His job probably isn’t in jeopardy, as owner Chris Ilitch has shown no inclination to push out the franchise icon. But even Yzerman would admit the heat should be on, and he’s not running from it.
“I’m very disappointed how this season played out,” Yzerman said Thursday, about a week after it ended. “I spoke with (Ilitch) a few days ago, and he and the Ilitch family are very disappointed with the season. He continues to be extremely supportive of what we’re trying to do here and we intend to have further conversations. … I intend to do my job to the best of my ability, and I intend to see this through.”
Yzerman isn’t giving up – nor should he — and doesn’t seem interested in a different role in the organization. And no, I don’t think he should be fired.
I do think he should view his job through a different lens. His stated goal has always been to build the Wings into a team that can win the Stanley Cup, not just sneak into the playoffs. He hasn’t tried many short-term fixes, and when he has acquired veteran players for a quick boost, it’s generally failed.
Is Yzerman getting more time than any GM in almost any sport in almost any city? Yes he is, and I think many of the reasons are defensible. He took over a team bereft of talent, resources squandered in previous GM Ken Holland’s attempt — at the behest of ownership — to continue the franchise’s legendary 25-year playoff streak.
Red Wings’ March maladies
Yzerman has all the necessary track records, including as captain of multiple Wings Stanley Cup champions. He was the GM for nine seasons in Tampa and built the Lightning into perennial contenders — although he inherited prime players — and they won two titles after he returned to Detroit. His drafting expertise is well-documented, and the Wings’ hopes rest on their rising young players.
But Yzerman hasn’t filled holes adequately with trades or signings, and the Wings have collapsed four straight times in March with the playoffs in range. He’s been reluctant to gamble, knowing how long it took to win years ago in Detroit, and again in Tampa.
He finally adopted a different approach at this season’s trade deadline, and it looked smart. With the Wings in prime playoff position, he traded a first-round pick for defenseman Justin Faulk, and acquired veteran forward David Perron. But the core of the team was unchanged, and so was the pattern of misery.
In less than two seasons as coach, Todd McLellan isn’t the problem. Captain Dylan Larkin isn’t necessarily the problem either, but he can’t be part of the solution if he doesn’t get help. The Wings lack depth at center, to supplement a decent cache of scoring wingers — Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane.
Larkin, who turns 30 in July, has shown how dynamic he can be when healthy and surrounded by better talent, such as his effort on the U.S. Olympic gold-medal team. He posted a career-high 34 goals this season, while DeBrincat had a career-high 85 points.
The Wings have solid talent in high places, with Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson on defense and John Gibson in goal. But they’re not nearly deep enough or tough enough, mentally or physically.
“We all share the responsibility,” Yzerman said. “I can’t sit here and say these players are no good because we have a lot of good players. … We need to change some things, but we’re not gonna just go and get rid of everyone. There needs to be some very blunt conversations with some of our players, and challenge them to do more and be better.”
Lean on Larkin
Yzerman looks for internal growth first partly because he has no choice. The free-agent market is weak and most top players don’t become available. It would take a major trade to significantly alter the teams’ makeup, and that would mean dealing Larkin (doubtful), DeBrincat (doubtful), Raymond (possible), or a promising youngster such as Marco Kasper (possible). All their prospects and draft picks should be available.
The Wings ranked near the bottom of the league in five-on-five scoring, the fairest measure of a team’s offensive talent. They lack grinders and agitators, and as Yzerman pointed out, a true checking line.
Larkin often is charged with defending the opposition’s top center, but the Wings’ forwards aren’t especially adept, or physical enough, to score dirty net-front goals.
“We need to be a harder team to play against,” Yzerman said. “We hear our players talk about that, and my message to them would be, in order to do that, you guys gotta be harder to play against. Either that or I gotta get rid of you and bring in other guys.”
Larkin gets a lot of scrutiny because he’s the captain, and Yzerman has the unique perspective of knowing what Larkin is going through. I don’t think Yzerman wants to trade him, as much as he wants to motivate him.
Yzerman was the Wings’ captain for 10 years before winning the Cup in 1997, at age 32. Larkin has been the captain since 2021 and only appeared in the playoffs once, as a rookie in 2016. Both are relatively soft-spoken leaders who aren’t physically imposing, which can be mistaken for reticence.
Asked if the Wings need more out of Larkin, Yzerman spoke from experience.
“Yes, we do,” Yzerman said. “Now having said that, I went through the same thing (in the ‘90s). When your team isn’t meeting expectations, it’s right to question the leadership. And then when we won, it’s kind of the same guys. Maybe we didn’t become better leaders; maybe our team just won.”
Those championship Wings kept their core together but made changes, including hiring a guy by the name of Scotty Bowman. With the salary cap, the league is different now and the challenges are greater. But for the first time, Yzerman must seriously contemplate significant changes.
He sat next to McLellan on Thursday, with Kris Draper, assistant GM and director of amateur scouting, to the side. It was a stern-faced, united front, and no one made excuses, or promises.
“Ultimately, it’s incumbent upon me and my staff to improve this team,” Yzerman said. “Every year, the question is, when are you going to make the playoffs? I can’t give you a timeline. For the most part, we’ve been in the process of acquiring picks and prospects, being patient and developing them. Yes, the focus now will be more on how we can become a playoff team. … Do we need major shakeups? Maybe, maybe not. But I think it’d be ignorant to not have an in-depth look at our team and organization.”
Yzerman plans to see it through, as he should. To do so, he’ll have to look at things a little differently, more critically, more urgently.
Bob.wojnowski@detroitnews.com
@bobwojnowski
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Wojo: Steve Yzerman, Red Wings past point of patience, need shakeup
Reporting by Bob Wojnowski, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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