Lightning Name Steve Yzerman Vice President, General Manager

[chilly666]

The Tampa Bay Lightning have hired Steve Yzerman to be the team's Vice President, General Manager and Alternate Governor, Owner and Chairman Jeff Vinik announced today. Yzerman becomes the sixth general manager in Lightning history, bringing with him four Stanley Cup rings earned with the Detroit Red Wings as a player and executive as well as a Gold Medal, earned as the executive director of Hockey Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Yzerman will report directly to Vinik.

“I am thrilled to introduce Steve to the Tampa Bay community today,” said Vinik. “I am confident that he is the right person to lead the Tampa Bay hockey team as we strive to become a world class organization. We are pleased Steve has elected to join the Lightning, bringing with him strong leadership qualities and a competitive desire to win through hard work and determination.”

"Steve Yzerman is driven to succeed,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “His level of accomplishment - as a champion with the Detroit Red Wings and as a gold medal team builder with Team Canada - represents precisely the type of individual Jeff Vinik wants for the Tampa Bay Lightning: a person committed to the team, to achievement and to the fans."

Yzerman, 45, has spent the previous 27 seasons with the Red Wings as a player, captain and executive. He is a four-time Stanley Cup Champion, winning three as a player in 1997, 1998 and 2002 and another as a member of Detroit’s management team in 2008. Yzerman ranks sixth in NHL history for points with 1,755, seventh in assists with 1,063, eighth in goals with 692 and 13th in games played with 1,514. He spent 20 seasons as the captain in Detroit, the longest such tenure in NHL and major sports history. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, his first year of eligibility.

After retiring from the game, Yzerman became an integral part of Hockey Canada’s management team. He served as general manager for Canada at the 2007 and 2008 IIHF World Championships, bringing home Gold and Silver respectively. He then led Hockey Canada to a magical moment this past February when his team defeated the United States in overtime to win the Gold Medal on home ice at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where he served as executive director. Yzerman also won an Olympic Gold Medal as a player with Canada in 2002.

“I am extremely excited to join the Lightning organization as we look to re-establish the organization as one of the most respected in the NHL,” Yzerman said. “There is a great nucleus here and Jeff is a proactive, enthusiastic and committed owner. I look forward to getting started right away.”

Yzerman becomes the sixth general manager in Lightning franchise history, following Brian Lawton (2008-09 – 2009-10), Jay Feaster (2001-02 – 2007-08), Rick Dudley (1999-00 – 2001-02), Jacques Demers (1998-99) and Phil Esposito (1992-93 – 1998-99).

[BrianTheAdsFan]

The Lightning shoot, they score!

[Dick Cheney]

Hopefully Yzerman can turn things around in Tampa. They have a solid core of talent surrounding Stamkos, with guys like Hedman, who will only get better. I think Yzerman can be that guy. Perhaps this will make Martin St. Louis rethink requesting a trade out. If Yzerman can make a few solid moves, this team may be ready to compete next year.

[silverback]

Extremely happy! (as long as he doesn't make the Lightning soft like Detroit)

[thepolishkid88]

Great hire, and a smart move. There is a light at the end of the tunnel Lightning fans!

[DaleHunter32]

great hire

wondering how wings fans feel about about this?

[illukka]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=530098

stevie the player appreciated hard nosed players- i wonder what will stevie the GM do...

[silverback]

Originally Posted by illukka

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=530098

stevie the player appreciated hard nosed players- i wonder what will stevie the GM do...

That is what I'm most curious about as well. Will he have a tough team?

[Burnsy87]

Best wishes to Stevie Y from a Wings fan. Sucks he's leaving the organization, but he's been learning the ways under one of the best GM's in the game. Hopefully he gets the Lightning turned around.

[Redtown]

Originally Posted by DaleHunter32

great hire

wondering how wings fans feel about about this?

Good for him.
He doesnt owe the fans or the Red Wings anything. Hopefully he is successful.

[blackngold]

Damnit! Pierre remains on my tv screen!

[Isles4life]

Very good choice by Tampa Bay, especially when you heard a name like Pierre McGuire floated around as another possible option. Yzerman has some outstanding young assets to work with already, it should be very interesting to see what he's able to do in order to build a competitive team around them.

[antonio106]

So...remind me again why Ottawa didn't hire him last season?

[The DZA]

Chris Chelios: "Hey Stevie, congrats on the position, how bout a try out?"

Steve Yzerman: "*fake static noise made by Yzerman*....whats that Chris?......*fake static*.....your gonna come out?.....*fake static*......of the closet?.....*fake static*.....thats great. Gotta go"....*hangs up phone*

[Sam1410]

Great hire.

Now he needs to move some VERY expensive players to make room for Stamkos - who I would pull an "Yzerman" with and make the captain of the team and let him lead this franchise for the next 15 years.

They aren't going to compete for the cup next year (not with the sh!t they have in net), but I'd build for 2-3 years to make a run. I don't see a 30 year old Vinny or a 34 year old St. Louis leading the charge in 2-3 years. Trade them now while you can still get a great return. Try to get some really good players in a deal for Vinny or St. Louis and turn the team over to the young guys. You know the Habs want to get rid of one of their young goalies, make a deal for Price and 2-3 young guys.