NHL: Steve Yzerman To Become Lightning GM
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May 25 2010, 12:05 PM
Right about now the Tampa Bay Lightning are introducing Steve "The Captain" Yzerman as their new General Manager to the hockey world.
The man who's worn the "C" longer than any other person in NHL history departs my beloved Red Wings front office, where he most likely would never get a crack at the GM spot any time soon since Ken Holland will re-up his contract, and takes the reins of a young Tampa Bay team with stars such as Vincent Lecavalier and young, goal scoring machine Steven Stamkos. New owner Jeff Vinik cleaned house this past year by firing head coach Rick Tocchet, and then GM Brian Lawton, paving the way for Stevie Y to come in.
This should come as no shock when I say this is a great hire and the denizens of Tampa should be rejoicing. This is the man with three cups to his name, the architect for Canada's gold in the Vancouver Olympics this past February, a first ballot Hall of Famer, and the consummate leader on and off the ice. Humble Opinion Alert: He's going to bring stability to this club and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he gets this team back in the playoff hunt very, very soon. He has the building blocks in the aforementioned Lecavalier and Stamkos, plus I believe he proved more than capable of putting together a cohesive team in the Olympics with an entire nation breathing down his neck.
I hate to see him leave the Red Wings but I'm very happy for him and the fact that he's getting a shot at a job he's been patiently waiting for. Does this mean I might be secretly pulling for the Lightning next year?
Right about now the Tampa Bay Lightning are introducing Steve "The Captain" Yzerman as their new General Manager to the hockey world.
The man who's worn the "C" longer than any other person in NHL history departs my beloved Red Wings front office, where he most likely would never get a crack at the GM spot any time soon since Ken Holland will re-up his contract, and takes the reins of a young Tampa Bay team with stars such as Vincent Lecavalier and young, goal scoring machine Steven Stamkos. New owner Jeff Vinik cleaned house this past year by firing head coach Rick Tocchet, and then GM Brian Lawton, paving the way for Stevie Y to come in.
This should come as no shock when I say this is a great hire and the denizens of Tampa should be rejoicing. This is the man with three cups to his name, the architect for Canada's gold in the Vancouver Olympics this past February, a first ballot Hall of Famer, and the consummate leader on and off the ice. Humble Opinion Alert: He's going to bring stability to this club and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he gets this team back in the playoff hunt very, very soon. He has the building blocks in the aforementioned Lecavalier and Stamkos, plus I believe he proved more than capable of putting together a cohesive team in the Olympics with an entire nation breathing down his neck.
I hate to see him leave the Red Wings but I'm very happy for him and the fact that he's getting a shot at a job he's been patiently waiting for. Does this mean I might be secretly pulling for the Lightning next year?
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