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![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/656260.webp.webp\" "\\"Steve")
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Photo credit: Screenshot<\/p>\n
Steve Yzerman and Todd McLellan are staring at a Red Wings finish that feels bigger than one bad week.<\/p>\n
Detroit’s slide has changed the tone around the front office fast. The Red Wings are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, and that has dragged them into a tense finish in the East.<\/p>\n
What makes this story different is that the pressure no longer sits only on the roster. It’s now drifting toward Yzerman and what kind of role he wants next.<\/p>\n
An Elliotte Friedman report pushed that idea into the open this week. The key line was simple: Yzerman may be \u201chugely frustrated.\u201d<\/p>\n
That matters because this doesn’t sound like a firing watch. It sounds more like a respected hockey executive deciding whether his run as the day-to-day architect is nearing its end.<\/p>\n
“I have no doubt that he’s hugely frustrated… The one thing that I kind of wonder about, and I’ve heard a little bit of rumor to that effect, is maybe does he kind of give another person the GM chair and have that person have a bigger imprint on the organization. I just wonder if he would think about giving someone else a bigger voice in the process as opposed to him doing both jobs himself.”<\/p>\n
Friedman’s theory is that Yzerman could stay in the organization, move above the general manager chair, and let another voice run more of the daily process.<\/p>\n
Detroit may be heading for a front-office shift<\/p>\n
That’s why this feels like Yzerman leaving on his own terms, not being pushed out. There’s a big difference between walking away from the grind and walking away from the franchise.<\/p>\n
The names attached to that possibility were Kris Draper and Shawn Horcoff. Both are already assistant general managers, which makes this less of an outside search story and more of a succession story.<\/p>\n
Friedman also said the idea would \u201cempower somebody else,\u201d and that line may be the clearest clue here.<\/p>\n
Detroit may be reaching the point where Yzerman wants influence without carrying every front-office file himself.<\/p>\n
The timing fits. Detroit was supposed to push into the playoffs, but instead the club has slipped to fifth in the Atlantic and sits two points out of a wild-card spot.<\/p>\n
That kind of finish always brings hard questions, especially after a quiet stretch of roster management.<\/p>\n
The report notes Yzerman made one move this year, bringing in Justin Faulk, while the forward group still lacked help.<\/p>\n
There’s also a sense that the organization is nearing a handoff point, whether it happens now or after one more push. Yzerman has been Detroit’s general manager since April 19, 2019.<\/p>\n
If the Red Wings miss again, this won’t sound like the end of Yzerman in Detroit. It’ll sound like the end of Yzerman running every part of it.<\/p>\n
Previously on Detroit Hockey Insider<\/p>\n
POLL<\/p>\n
10 HOURS AGO|56 ANSWERS<\/p>\n
Steve Yzerman may give up Red Wings GM role as Detroit’s season slips away<\/p>\n
Should Steve Yzerman hand the GM job to someone else after this season ?<\/p>\n
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