|
Nick Kypreos tweeted Tuesday that former Detroit Red Wings star Steve Yzerman will take over as new general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jeff Marek of Hockey Night In Canada confirms the tweet.
"…Yzerman was the long rumored choice but he waited so long that it seemed like he may have passed on the opportunity. Instead he took his time to figure out what he wanted to do and he has the job of making Tampa Bay into a contender again.
With Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman to build around, Yzerman has a good start in Tampa.
Maybe he can bring Vinny Lecavalier’s game back to prominence. And for those who think it could be a problem between Lecavalier and Yzerman over Team Canada, there are two things. One, Yzerman won Gold so he did his job right and two, in regards to Jeff Carter being the last addition in case of injury instead of Lecavalier, Carter was sent home because he wasn’t needed. You can’t send Vinny Lecavalier home, he is too high profile of a player and it would have been a distraction."
Yzerman spent 26 years with the Red Wings franchise, 22 as a player and four in the front office. He won four Stanley Cups in that span, three as a player and in 2008 as vice-president of the team. It was also reported that Yzerman turned the job down several times until the team's offer was too good to refuse. He takes over a 34-36-12 Lightning team that has failed to be a contender since winning the Stanley Cup in 2004.
Matthew Coller is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network, and is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter
 Follow the Business of Sports Network on Facebook
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed