Should the Detroit Red Wings follow the path of the Toronto Maple Leafs and miss the Stanley Cup playoffs, they won’t be following the Leafs’ lead.

On Monday, the Maple Leafs fired GM Brad Treliving. Even if the Red Wings again miss the playoffs for a 10th successive season, and despite the hopes of a constituency of Red Wings fans, the chances of Detroit parting ways with GM Steve Yzerman are remote.

In fact, it would be an absolute surprise were Yzerman to be removed as Red Wings GM in any manner.

Former NHL GM Brian Burke agrees with this assessment. He doesn’t see any way that Detroit ownership will be cutting ties with Yzerman.

“From my standpoint, the progress that they’ve shown, including a massive amount of progress in the last year, I think Detroit’s in good shape,” Burke told host Jeff Marek on The Sheet.

“I think Stevie gets a pass on this one, even if they miss, because you can see the progression, how they’ve gotten better, where they’re going, and where they were two years ago.”

Certainly, there’s evidence to back up Burke’s prognosis of progress. In trades, Yzerman has acquired Detroit’s leading scorer (Alex DeBrincat). He’s also acquired a No. 1 goalie (John Gibson), and a top-four defenseman (Justin Faulk). There are seven Yzerman draftees in the Red Wings lineup, including core performers Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, and Simon Edvinsson.

Might Red Wings Consider Kicking Yzerman Upstairs?

Another bit of Yzerman speculation is out there from Hockey Night In Canada’s Elliotte Friedman. This plan is envisioning a scenario in which Yzerman is given a promotion out of the GM’s chair.

Friedman on 32TP: “There is this conversation right now, is Yzerman in trouble if they don’t make it? May I present an alternate theory: My alternate theory is Yzerman goes up to President of Hockey Ops and they promote Kris Draper or Shawn Horcoff to be the new GM”

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) March 30, 2026

Friedman suggested that the Red Wings could bump Yzerman upstairs to a title like President of Hockey Operations. Then one of the team’s assistant GMs – Shawn Horcoff or Kris Draper – would be earning promotion and sitting in the GM’s chair.

That scenario seems unlikely. If the Red Wings were planning to move on from Yzerman, you’d expect a clean break. Moving him upstairs and then placing one of his lieutenants in charge wouldn’t really be much of a change from the status quo.

Earlier this year, a prominent NHL source did tell DHN’s Kevin Allen that he couldn’t envision Red Wings ownership ever firing Yzerman. A plan such as Friedman’s suggestion might be feasible. The source suggested he could see Yzerman moving up in the front office hierarchy.

That situation may unfold someday, but it won’t be someday soon.

No matter how the season turns out for the Red Wings, count on Yzerman continuing as the Detroit GM.