Report: Ilitch Rejected Stamkos

A report has come to light from Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press, who said the Detroit Red Wings had a chance at signing center Steven Stamkos in the 2024 offseason. According to Monarrez, then Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman wanted to bring his former center from his time in Tampa Bay to Detroit. But Monarrez said Red Wings CEO and owner Chris Ilitch hesitated to offer a contract to Stamkos, a potential top-line center. The quote said

“According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Ilitch’s hesitation in approving big signings cost the Wings two big signings: Steven Stamkos in 2024, and, on the same day Yzerman’s removal was announced, assistant GM Shawn Horcoff had a deal in place with Anthony Mantha, but it fell through while Ilitch deliberated.

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2024-25 Detroit Red Wings

That offseason in 2024, the Red Wings ended up adding forward Vladimir Tarasenko, goalie Cam Talbot, defenseman Erik Gustafsson, and William Lagesson. They also re-signed Patrick Kane.

Looking back at the roster with the additions they made and Stamkos, they could have featured a forward lineup of.

Raymond-Stamkos-DeBrincat
Tarasenko-Larkin-Kane
Rasmussen-Copp-Compher
Berggren-Veleno-Fischer

They also used Marco Kasper that season. Stamkos ultimately ended up signing with the Nashville Predators. He signed a four-year, $32 million ($8 million AAV) deal. Since then has appeared in 82 games each season. In year one, he had 53 points and 27 goals; in year two, he had 66 points and 42 goals.

Wrap Up

Nashville hasn’t made the playoffs with the addition of Stamkos, but the Red Wings haven’t either. The Red Wings missed the playoffs by five points in 2024-25, thinking the addition of Stamkos would have given them three-plus more wins isn’t out of the realm of realistic. Even last season, the Red Wings led the division in January before they collapsed, missing the playoffs by seven points; Stamkos could have made that difference.

Dylan Larkin also had requested a trade if Stamkos was in Detroit; would that have even been a conversation? If Stamkos was in Detroit, Yzerman may still likely have his job. Overall, it looks like a bad decision by Illitch, but it’s still a what-if question, and the report from the Detroit Free Press just adds salt to the wound that is the Red Wings playoff drought that has now reached ten consecutive seasons.