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What’s behind the timing of Steve Yzerman’s return to Detroit

The Red Wings saw the opportunity the same time everyone else did ... in September.
 
Steve Yzerman is answers a question as the new executive vice president and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, Friday, April 19, 2019, in Detroit. Yzerman returns to Detroit where he was part of three Stanley Cup championship teams and a captain. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Steve Yzerman is answers a question as the new executive vice president and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, Friday, April 19, 2019, in Detroit. Yzerman returns to Detroit where he was part of three Stanley Cup championship teams and a captain. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Published April 19, 2019|Updated April 19, 2019

Christopher Ilitch and Ken Holland have been thinking about Steve Yzerman’s homecoming for seven months.

When the Red Wings CEO and then general manager heard Yzerman had stepped down from his role as Lightning GM in September, they saw an opportunity.

Ilitch and Holland sat on that thought, though, because September isn’t the time to hire a general manager.

While they sat, Yzerman spent most of the season in Detroit, enjoying being with his family but also realizing he still wanted to manage a NHL team.

In March, Yzerman got an email from Jeff Vinik. Detroit wanted to talk to him. A couple of long meetings and phone calls later, a plan was in place. Yzerman would finish the season, one he hoped would go into June, with the Lightning and then take on the role of Detroit’s GM.

Yzerman said when Tampa Bay lost on Tuesday, he asked Julien BriseBois what he needed of him and the response was “Steve, I got it, go ahead.”

So here we are, on April 19, 2019 with No. 19 returned to Hockeytown, and BriseBois still at the helm in Hockey Bay.

Contact Diana C. Nearhos at dnearhos@tampabay.com. Follow @dianacnearhos