In April 2019, Steve Yzerman, a Red Wings legend, returned to Detroit as general manager, sparking immense hope among fans who believed he would revitalize the struggling franchise. Dubbed the "Yzerplan," his strategy emphasized patience, accumulating draft picks, developing prospects, and avoiding short-term fixes that could jeopardize the future. Now, after five years, the question is whether the Yzerplan is truly succeeding.
Yzerman's approach has been slow and steady. He focused on drafting and developing talent, with some picks becoming key players. Moritz Seider has become a cornerstone on defense, and Lucas Raymond is developing into a star forward. Dylan Larkin, who once bridged different eras for the team, now leads a promising group. Prospects like Marco Kasper and Axel Sandin Pellikka are also showing promise. In the 2020 draft, Yzerman selected Lucas Raymond, a top winger who recently signed an eight-year extension and is known for scoring in clutch situations. The Red Wings selected Swedish defenseman Simon Edmonson and Sebastian Cossa in the 2021 draft. In the 2022 draft, Detroit drafted Marco Kasper and Axel Sandine Pelica. Sandine Pelica has been recognized as the SHL's best junior player, with the most goals and points by a junior player in the SHL.
Yzerman has also made strategic moves in free agency and trades. He brought in veteran players to support the team's young core. Patrick Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, signed with the Red Wings in November 2024 and has become a key player on the power play and a role model for younger players. In the 2025 offseason, James van Riemsdyk was added to ease the scoring burden on Larkin and Raymond, and reinforcements were brought in on defense to complement Seider. However, some moves have been criticized, such as the signing of defenseman Travis Hamonic, with fans drawing unfavorable comparisons to the Justin Holl signing in 2023.
Despite these efforts, the Red Wings have yet to make the playoffs during Yzerman's tenure, missing the postseason for nine straight seasons. They have not finished higher than fifth in the Atlantic Division since 2019. The team has also gone through three head coaches: Jeff Blashill, Derek Lalonde, and now Todd McLellan, without significant improvement in on-ice results. This has led to increasing frustration among fans, with some questioning whether Yzerman is the right person to lead the organization. Some fans were outraged by the Red Wings' trades and returns at the 2024/25 trade deadline. The team's failure to retain key forwards has also been a point of concern.
The 2025-26 season appears to be a critical juncture for the Yzerplan. After a relatively quiet free agency period in the summer of 2025, there's pressure on the Red Wings to demonstrate significant progress. The acquisition of goaltender John Gibson was a notable move, and the return of Patrick Kane is seen as a positive, but some argue that the team needed more impactful additions to their forward lines. If the Red Wings fail to make the playoffs, it could lead to questions about Yzerman's future with the team.
While Yzerman still commands respect due to his Hall of Fame career and his success in building the Tampa Bay Lightning into a Stanley Cup contender, patience is wearing thin. The success of the Yzerplan hinges on whether the team can translate its prospect development and strategic acquisitions into tangible results, namely a playoff berth, in the near future.
