DETROIT (WWJ) -- In a major front-office shakeup, Steve Yzerman is stepping down as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings, the team has announced.
Yzerman, a franchise icon, will transition into a new role as a senior advisor to the team's Governor and CEO Chris Ilitch.
In a news release Wednesday, the Red Wings said the organization had launched an immediate search for a new head of hockey operations, considering both internal and external candidates.
Yzerman will assist on the search committee and remain in his current role in the interim to run day-to-day hockey operations and ensure a smooth transition.
"Steve's lifetime of contributions to the Red Wings has meant more to this franchise than words can truly express," Ilitch said in a statement. "Clearly, we are not where we and our fans expect to be as an organization. I’m looking forward to bringing in new leadership to build the championship-caliber organization Hockeytown deserves."
Yzerman played all 22 years of his Hall of Fame career in Detroit, serving as captain for two decades and winning three Stanley Cups before retiring in 2006. After building a powerhouse as the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2010 to 2019, he returned to Detroit in 2019 to lead the team's rebuilding efforts.
"My commitment to the Red Wings and this community will never waver, and I look forward to supporting the organization in whatever role is needed to achieve our collective goals," Yzerman said. "I want to thank our passionate fanbase for their support, as they are what makes Detroit and the entire state of Michigan a very special place in the hockey world."
