The Detroit Red Wings are changing their leadership after a 10th consecutive season out of the playoffs.
Franchise legend Steve Yzerman, the executive vice president and general manager for the last seven seasons of that drought, will become senior advisor to governor and CEO Chris Ilitch. A search for a new head of hockey operations is underway.
The Red Wings said Yzerman will remain in charge of day-to-day responsibilities until his successor is named. The team added that Yzerman would be an advisor to the search committee, which will be led by Ilitch.
“Clearly, we are not where we and our fans expect to be as an organization," said Ilitch. “I’m looking forward to bringing in new leadership to build the championship-caliber organization Hockeytown deserves."
Here are answers to questions about the Red Wings' move on Wednesday, July 15:
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Why is Steve Yzerman out as general manager?
The Yzerplan wasn't working.
Yzerman, the team's longtime captain, three-time Stanley Cup winner and Hall of Famer, was hired in April 2019 to oversee a rebuild. He drafted current standouts Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond early in his tenure as the team purposely bottomed out with back-to-back seasons of fewer than 20 wins in order to build through the draft.
He began adding veteran players such as Andrew Copp, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. The Red Wings missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker in 2023, but for the most part, finished sixth or seventh in the Atlantic Division.
This past season, Yzerman addressed the goaltending by trading for John Gibson. Unlike in 2024-25, he was active at the trade deadline, bringing in Justin Faulk and David Perron. But the Red Wings had another March swoon and missed the playoffs again, ending the season with an 8-1 loss.
After the season, captain Dylan Larkin, who was born in Michigan and played at the University of Michigan, requested a trade.
How does this affect the Dylan Larkin trade request?
The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported Larkin listed the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Minnesota Wild as places where he would accept a trade.
Yzerman, during the draft, confirmed the trade request but said he wouldn't make a move unless it benefited the team. The new GM also will insist on a good return because this trade will be franchise-altering. Larkin might have to expand his list of teams.
Who could be the next general manager?
Ilitch said the team would look at internal and external candidates. Assistant general manager Kris Draper would be an obvious candidate for an internal hire. Shawn Horcoff, who oversees the Grand Rapids Griffins, would be another.
The timing for external candidates is bad because the top GM candidate of the offseason, Sunny Mehta, was hired by the New Jersey Devils, while Brandon Pridham joined the Pittsburgh Penguins front office.
No timetable was given for the hire.
What's up with Patrick Kane?
Kane spent the last three seasons with the Red Wings and is an unrestricted free agent. Hall of Famer Chris Chelios told Chicago's 104.3 The Score that he spoke with Kane and the all-time leading U.S.-born scorer is deciding between returning to the Chicago Blackhawks or signing with his hometown Buffalo Sabres.
Can the Red Wings make the playoffs in 2026-27?
It will be difficult. They added Viktor Arvidsson and backup goalie Daniil Tarasov in the offseason, but the key will be what happens with Larkin.
The Atlantic Division competition is tough. The 2024 and 2025 champion Florida Panthers are a favorite to make it back because of the return of injured captain Aleksander Barkov and the trade for Brady Tkachuk. The Toronto Maple Leafs also made multiple moves that could lead to a playoff return.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Steve Yzerman is out as Red Wings GM: Answering 5 big questions
