Should the Detroit Red Wings follow the path of the Toronto Maple Leafs and miss the Stanley Cup playoffs, they won\u2019t be following the Leafs\u2019 lead.<\/p>\n
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<\/a> are remote.<\/p>\n In fact, it would be an absolute surprise were Yzerman to be removed as Red Wings GM in any manner.<\/p>\n Former NHL GM Brian Burke agrees with this assessment. He doesn\u2019t see any way that Detroit<\/a> ownership will be cutting ties with Yzerman.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom my standpoint, the progress that they\u2019ve shown, including a massive amount of progress in the last year, I think Detroit\u2019s in good shape,\u201d Burke told host Jeff Marek on The Sheet.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Stevie gets a pass on this one, even if they miss, because you can see the progression, how they\u2019ve gotten better, where they\u2019re going, and where they were two years ago.\u201d <\/p>\n Certainly, there\u2019s evidence to back up Burke\u2019s prognosis of progress. In trades, Yzerman has acquired Detroit\u2019s leading scorer (Alex DeBrincat<\/a>). He\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n Might Red Wings Consider Kicking Yzerman Upstairs?<\/p>\n Another bit of Yzerman speculation is out there from Hockey Night In Canada\u2019s Elliotte Friedman. This plan is envisioning a scenario in which Yzerman is given a promotion out of the GM\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n 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”<\/p>\n \u2014 NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) March 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Friedman suggested that the Red Wings could bump Yzerman upstairs to a title like President of Hockey Operations. Then one of the team\u2019s assistant GMs \u2013 Shawn Horcoff<\/a> or Kris Draper<\/a> \u2013 would be earning promotion and sitting in the GM\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n That scenario seems unlikely. If the Red Wings were planning to move on from Yzerman, you\u2019d expect a clean break. Moving him upstairs and then placing one of his lieutenants in charge wouldn\u2019t really be much of a change from the status quo.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, a prominent NHL source did tell DHN\u2019s Kevin Allen that he couldn\u2019t envision Red Wings ownership ever firing Yzerman. A plan such as Friedman\u2019s suggestion might be feasible. The source suggested he could see Yzerman moving up in the front office hierarchy.<\/p>\n That situation may unfold someday, but it won\u2019t be someday soon. <\/p>\n No matter how the season turns out for the Red Wings, count on Yzerman continuing as the Detroit GM. <\/p>\n