‘Disappointed’ GM Steve Yzerman vows change: ‘We need better players’

Steve Yzerman addressed the Detroit Red Wings’ 2025-26 season and how it ended with the club missing the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs for a 10th consecutive year.

Yzerman has been general manager of the team since April 19, 2019. Head coach Todd McLellan was also at the news conference at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, April 23.

Advertisement

The Wings finished the season 41-31-10, for 92 points, seven points back of the team in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Wings looked like they were going to be one of the teams inside the playoff picture when, in late January, they had a 12-point cushion. But as games grew more intense, the Wings wilted. They went 9-15-5 from Jan. 25 on, the fourth-worst record in the NHL over that span. They won only two of their last eight games, and were eliminated on April 11 in a loss at home that left fans booing the team.

THE STEVIE Y ERA: 7 years ago, Steve Yzerman returned to Red Wings. So what’s changed?

The Wings finished their season on April 15, losing 8-1 at the Florida Panthers in a game that left McLellan so frustrated he only talked for 44 seconds afterward, and said that everybody involved should be embarrassed.

Advertisement

Here are key points from the news conference.

How to improve

Yzerman had this to say when asked what needs to change: “The most obvious would be we need better players. We need to improve specifically in certain areas. We can talk about goal scoring, we need to improve in that area, particularly five-on-five. But collectively, if you’re watching the playoffs – and I’m assuming and I’m hoping our players are – to play with the intensity and determination needed to be successful to make the playoffs and get there. But ultimately, it’s incumbent upon me and my staff to improve the team.”

Seven years later

Yzerman on his work since he was named GM: “Knowing full well seven years ago, I knew what I signed up for, I knew what the job, the task at hand was. And so when exactly we were going to be, are going to be a playoff team, I could never pinpoint that.

“To sit here today and say everything’s going perfectly according to plan, no. There’s a lot of things I’m pleased about within the organization. And areas that I’m not happy, disappointed, things that we need to have done better. We sit here today, a week after the end of the regular season, and see how the season unfolded. I think we’re all kind of emotional about this, and need to take a little time to analyze it, and not forget about some of the positive things that are going on here. And then try to address how we move forward.”

Advertisement

On the last game

McLellan expanded on his unhappiness with the last game. “I think my lack of words spoke for how I felt at that moment. Listening to the players after and talking to them, they weren’t pleased, they were embarrassed with that outing. It’s something we have to change in our organization. Every night is important, every day is important. Obviously not happy with the way things ended throughout the season. To cap it off with that was very disappointing. My complimenting Florida was a different way of saying I was disappointed in our players.”

On relationship with ownership

Yzerman said he spoke with team owner Christopher Ilitch a few days ago.

Advertisement

“He and the entire ownership of the Illich family are very disappointed with the way the season played out,” Yzerman said. “He continues to be extremely supportive of what we’re trying to do here. We intend to have further conversations about our team and our organization in the very near future.

“I don’t think I’m just going to sit and hope for the best. As an organization, I’m very disappointed how this season played out.”

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: ‘Disappointed’ GM Steve Yzerman vows change for Detroit Red Wings