Citing family, Yzerman steps down as TB’s GM
Steve Yzerman reached the conclusion that he couldn’t be both the family man he wanted to be and the Lightning general manager he needed to be.
That’s why the Lightning shocked the NHL on Tuesday by announcing that Yzerman is stepping down as GM. His assistant, Julien BriseBois, is taking over. Yzerman, 53, will complete the last season of his contract by serving as senior adviser to the general manager.
“(BriseBois) is more than ready and deserves the opportunity,” Yzerman said.
Since joining the Lightning in 2010, Yzerman, 53, has owned homes in Tampa and in Detroit, where his family lives. Regularly boarding a 6 a.m. flight from Tampa to Detroit so he can be with his family had grown wearisome.
Yzerman said BriseBois has worked closely with him for the past eight years, and their ideas about personnel, team philosophy and building strategies “are all very aligned.”
While BriseBois is highly regarded, this is a significant blow for the Lightning, who are considered one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
Working with owner Jeff Vinik, Yzerman has helped transformed the Lightning into one of the league’s model franchises. The Lightning have a committed fan base, and a major reason is the confidence fans have in Yzerman’s decision-making and leadership. BriseBois could do the job well and win over fans, but it will take time.
A Hall of Fame player, Yzerman once transformed himself from a dynamic scorer to a gritty, two-way playoff warrior. He brought that attitude to his managerial role. Yzerman has an aura of determination and success.
He has given the organization prestige, an elite image that had been lacking before he arrived. Yzerman has a swagger and reputation that BriseBois doesn’t yet have.
Yzerman’s strength as a GM was player acquisition. He acquired goalie Ben Bishop for Cory Conacher. He turned Kyle Quincey into a draft pick that became goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. He traded forward Jonathan Drouin for defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. He signed key defenseman Anton Stralman as a free agent. He acquired defenseman Ryan McDonagh at the 2018 trade deadline. He drafted Nikita Kucherov, the league’s No. 3 scorer last season. Yzerman got the Lightning to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final.
Vinik said he was 100 percent sure when he hired Yzerman that he was the right man for the job, and he is equally sure that BriseBois is the right choice.
“A lot of things are staying the same, other than our titles,” BriseBois said.
The only question remaining is Yzerman’s plans. He is expected to live permanently in Detroit, but he said Tuesday that he would be “wherever I need to be for Julien” this season.
“After that, I don’t know,” he said. Detroit fans have long wanted Yzerman to run the Red Wings. They have made that clear on social media and in chat rooms.
While the Lightning are considered one of the NHL’s premium teams, the Red Wings could be one of the league’s worst this season. They are rebuilding and plan to use several younger players this season.
General manager Ken Holland, 62, was recently given a two-year contract extension. But when Yzerman’s contract expires with Tampa Bay, it’s hard to believe he wouldn’t end up back working for the Red Wings in some capacity.
In Detroit, he could be both a quality family man and do a hockey job the way he likes to do it.