Advertisement

What they’re saying about Steve Yzerman stepping down as Lightning GM

 
Published Sept. 11, 2018|Updated Sept. 11, 2018

The surprise news today that Steve Yzerman is stepping down as general manager of the Lightning to take an advisory role with the team elicited many of the type of responses you might expect: shock, bewilderment, disappointment.

But most of all, the announcement unleashed a torrent of speculation about where Yzerman might wind up next.

There has been a feeling from the day Yzerman first took over for Brian Lawton in Tampa Bay in 2010 that the former Red Wing was grooming himself to eventually replace Ken Holland as general manager in Detroit.

For some, today's news added credence to that line of thinking.

Some Detroit fans didn't even care which team Yzerman oversees, as long as it's in the Motor City.

Others imagine Yzerman running a future NHL franchise in Seattle, where former Lightning CEO Tod Leiweke is president and CEO.

Or possibly going to Toronto, where Kyle Dubas was named GM after Lou Lamoriello left the Maple Leafs for the Islanders and former Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock works.

Many expressed concern about the health and welfare of Yzerman and his family.

One didn't care for the timing of the announcement, coming so close to the start of training camp.

Most seemed to agree that Yzerman is leaving the Lightning in great shape for successor Julien BriseBois.

And this one hopes Yzerman's departure will spur the Lightning to the one thing it was unable to accomplish during the general manager's tenure.