Yzerman Talks Red Wings’ Coaching Change, Challenges Media

Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman met with the media today for the first time since the team announced their coaching change. If you missed it, the Red Wings fired Derek Lalonde and hired Todd McLellan. Yzerman didn’t hold back as he turned around and questioned the media when they tried to cast a shadow over his team-building plans.

Yzerman responded to media questions about his rebuild plans by saying, “If you have a better way, you’re free to share it with me, okay?” He said they’re doing their best to try and win and expedite this rebuild but aren’t much different than many other teams trying to do the same.

Ultimately, the first big step to improving was changing the coach.

McLellan was fired by the Los Angeles Kings last season and had been a free agent until he signed with the Red Wings. He comes in with an extensive resume and plenty of playoff experience. He’ll be tasked with doing what other Red Wings coaches have failed to do, which is make the playoffs.

Yzerman’s Presser Was Direct

Yzerman is known around the NHL as a brutally honest person, and that was evident during his press conference. When asked when he felt the coaching change needed to happen, his response was as direct as expected:

“I can’t give you an exact date or time,” Yzerman said. He added:

“But as our season started and progressed to today, I obviously started to think about how to improve the team. How do we get going in the direction we want to or play the way we want to? You look at all different sorts of things. The first option is player personnel—to move things around and whatnot. And then, as we got closer to yesterday, I thought about how we might have to make a change here. Our team isn’t performing to what my expectations are.”

It’s clear Red Wings management had been considering this change for some time but chose Boxing Day to make it official, giving the team a new voice after the Christmas break.

Yzerman was also asked about his expectations for the team versus their current performance.

“At the start of the year, if everything went well, everyone stayed healthy, and performed to expectations, I think this group could compete for a wild-card spot.” He noted, “I think it’s too early to say it’s a setback. I’m not happy, obviously, with where we’re at today but I look at the big picture.”