Steve Yzerman 2024 NHL Free Agency Media Availability

Red Wings Executive Vice President & General Manager Steve Yzerman speaks on Detroit's 2024 free agency signings.

[@alexevanoski4588]

Huge Steve Y fan. He said the right things today. Still trying to build a young core. I love the fact he isn’t obsessed with just trying to make the playoffs for the sake of making the playoffs. When you get no lottery luck you have to be patient.

[@iprey4surf]

Thanks for being a rational commenter. The whole "I've given up on the Yzerplan" low IQ dummies are exhausting.

[@T-Will-4554]

Fans of the Red Wings cannot seem to grasp this concept. They look at the 8 years missing the postseason and get impatient. The team he inherented was god awful and had to be rebuilt from scratch. We should've made postseason last year. The heart they played with was amazing, even though they had to really bad losing streak. Everyone was gased at that point, and Larkin not being there to lead the team really hurt. He is the heart and soul of this team and needs to stay healthy all season.

[@kevinrasmussen1319]

Stoked to see some of the young guns make the team this fall! I am perfectly fine with Walman and Fabbri replaced with Ed and Bergers to see how they do. His signings have been excellent value and he's upgraded the team any way you look at it, all while focusing on a well developed young core. Hopefully get to see Danielson, ASP and Johanson up this year too, they all look pretty ready to me!

[@jakecowger6917]

Yzerman is going against the trend that has been set by all these failing teams who try to fill massive gaps quickly through free agency or trades. True skill is drafted and developed, and players need more than a few years to develop true chemistry. Greatness doesn't happen quickly.

[@tomfoydel]

Do you think the Walman trade had anything to do with the gritty?

[@maxhornell6820]

@@tomfoydelno it definitely didn’t. they didn’t like walman for other reasons

[@Mike-ix5sv]

The failing teams that fill gaps by free agency and trades? That's what the last 2 Stanley cup champs have done. Florida - 4 drafted and developed players on that roster everyone else aquired via trades and free agency. Vegas - 0 drafted and developed players, they signed and traded their way to a perennial contender as an expansion team. There is no one right way to build a contender.

[@scottritcey5166]

He will eventually have to acquire players through FA or trades because with no elite talent being drafted in top 3 he'll have to find them somewhere. The prospects in system are not difference makers. Without some superstar talent you can't win

[@Thrashman-ye4cf]

@@scottritcey5166how do you know the prospects we have aren’t difference makers, man? Our prospect pool has some of the best potential in the league lol

[@sportsfix6975]

I own 2 Jerseys; Datsyuk and Number 19; Steve Yzerman! I'm so glad he's part of the Red Wings org. Again.

[@MuskratWhiskers]

Excellent choices for jerseys

[@casewojo6186]

Very excited to see what Senko and Kane can do this season. Very excited Wings fan right now. Let’s go Wings!

[@wingshockeyfan]

Well done Stevie! No long term bad signings and moving forward to have the youngsters ready in a couple of years. Block out the noise and keep moving us forward.

[@Bach4t]

great point. In a sneaky way that pays dividends down the road when the competition is getting crushed by the weight of the overpaid FAs. Javy Baez anyone?

[@Nall412]

LFG boyysss??? We’re back baby. So pumped for this season

[@Workingman22]

Lol we are not even close to back! 😂

[@florida1289]

Relax Steve, you've built the #1 prospect pool on planet Earth that by itself says we got your back.

[@steveo3831]

Prospects are not productive NHLplayers

[@thewizardofoz511]

Relax Steve??😂😂😂 Stevie-Y so relaxed he's almost sleepy!😂 .. His aura just breeds calm and confidence.. He got this..

[@scottritcey5166]

No top 3 elite talent. Good middle 6 players

[@T-Will-4554]

@scottritcey5166 You really have no idea how any prospect will shake out. Pellika, Berggren, Edvinsson, Danielson, Cossa, and Augustine could all be superstars. Kasper, Mazur and Buchelnikov could be stars. Or not live up to their expectations. No one knows, that's the beauty of it.

[@HockeytownRundown]

well that ended abruptly lol

[@nicholaslandry3641]

He said F it I'm done.

[@HockeytownRundown]

@@nicholaslandry3641 🤣

[@Nall412]

What happened!?? 👀

[@HockeytownRundown]

@@Nall412 it ended while steve was in the middle of speaking so it was just weird haha

[@Clyde_Frog]

well at least we can hear the questions this time... ah never mind

[@MuskratWhiskers]

Love you Stevie Y, appreciate all you do and am so grateful you're the man to lead us to glory days again!

[@fredirecko]

Can we send the Detroit Audio/Visual team to the minors and sign a new A/V team?

[@mr.otterpockets3854]

It was filmed on BetaMax

[@danmatrisch4463]

Hey Red Wings Fans 🌟 were Elite now : we got Kane , Larkin , Tarasenko and DeBrincat 😅 they are all All Stars ⭐️ and Superstars .. we need maybe a First Class D-Man and were can going Far in the Playoffs LFGRW All the best for you guys from Germany 🇩🇪 🍻

[@a.N.....]

From Germany doesn't even mention Moritz lol

[@-Nv-94]

There elite, not superstars tho. Kane was but isn’t that anymore. Close tho, maybe he puts up 90-100 points and reclaims that title Doubt it tho

[@Arbs72]

We need to get a tough guy, to many stars to not have a guy who can fight

[@harken231]

If, er, SINCE you definitely need to re-vamp your entire video production staff, I will move to Detroit to run it for you. That was a mess, guys. The camera was in focus, so maybe we'll keep the camera op -- unless that's who kicked out the cable that shut down the stream.

[@harken231]

I mean, it wasn't til last year that you started bringing a SECOND mic, so that the people watching could hear the questions. Come on.

[@sportsfix6975]

Did you hear the Q&A with Stevie last week? Omg, you could barely hear him, and every person asking a question either blew your ears out, or you could barely hear them either...nasty

[@chevelle1]

Right. Especially in today’s world. Hell, an iPhone would probably produce better quality. The quality of production, broadcast, national on air talent, announcers, etc for the NHL has absolutely plummeted. ESPN has been the worst I can remember. Remember the days of NBC, Doc Emerik’s voice, etc during the playoffs? I didn’t realize how much a good production really affects how we enjoy the game. This year’s playoffs were atrocious. The pregame, intermissions, post game, etc. a lot of diversity quota nonsense too.

[@a.N.....]

I guarantee they don't need your help lol

[@sportsfix6975]

@@chevelle1 same thing with CBC...I don't watch live hockey anymore. I record it so I can fast forward ALL non live action, that includes the replay breakdowns, intermission, everything.

[@nakdrofnats9963]

we need more GRIT

[@chevelle1]

🎯 too many small skilled wingers and missing a top 1/2 center, Copp and compher are 3C’s

[@-Nv-94]

The game isn’t played like it used to. We don’t really need grit/goons/grinders Just people that compete every shift and can play the game the right way while scoring

[@-Nv-94]

Amazing moves and chess!!! Better scoring forwards and a much more defensive looking D. Three potential starting goalies who will have to compete for a job! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 teams a hell of a lot better and perfect length to all these signings. Yzermans planned for years out and the pieces will fall perfectly in place based on when these contracts are done! The vision baby!!!! 19 19 19

[@mattm3729]

Tarasenko is huge

[@Hellboydrw]

He is the best GM

[@steveo3831]

He’s been terrible. Face the truth

[@-Nv-94]

@@steveo3831your “truth” is wrong pal ✌🏻

[@austinshell3554]

I love Stevie but he’s been mediocre. Some you can blame on what he inherited from Holland, some his fault. He’s done great with his first round draft picks but second round and after, not so much.

[@WayneGibbous]

Agreed. It will take some time, but he will silence all the haters. Again.

[@TylerH12]

Love the take by Stevie saying that the end of last year was fairly misleading Makes a lot of sense, there were more veteran guys in the lineup and with younger guys moving in we the fans need to expect that there might be a bit less statistical improvement but if our core young guys develop then that’s a success

[@Wisesongs24]

Any chance the DRW media team can post the rest of the interview?

[@MyHandleShouldBeLessCharacters]

We probably aren't missing much but that was an amateur mistake. 😐

[@user-pd5qz2vt2c]

Steve Yzerman: Merchant of Hope

[@firsnamelasname6629]

Interesting that he mentioned Tuomisto. I figured he was already out of the picture

[@vivid_prizm]

He did at end of season availability as well, he seems to think he has a bigger role ahead of him then most fans do I think

[@mjk06]

From what I've seen from Tuomisto, he's a very smart defenseman. And has a cannon of a shot. Probably has a ceiling of 3rd pair D man at the NHL level. But they can be good too..........look at Maatta for example.

[@aaronrasalhagueforever3311]

Maybe theres a White House down situation, is Detroit still there

[@ValhallaRaven]

Helene St James always asks the most boneheaded questions 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@steveo3831]

@@ValhallaRaven haha. That’s what boneheads do!

[@elifaulds3168]

Does it sound like Yzerman thinks Raymond is going to be a 40+ goal scorer/PPG player?!

[@jft7775]

88 I’m huge fan since his first days in Chicago and the 3 cups ! Total super star ! BUT. Tarasenko makes Kane look like a Selke Trophy winner huge defensive liability if you put him and 88 together you will need 3 D on the ice !But Kane scores and sets up goals and hid 100% winner !

[@Maxharddrive64]

With all these rookies coming in all throughout the lineup there's going to be Growing Pains. It's quite possible they could take a step back before they take a step forward

[@billyp903]

I wish toughness for our team was addressed

[@Arbs72]

Fr, our forward group is very small, we need a guy who can fight and hit

[@mjk06]

They wanted Trouba but his wife didn't wana move as she's in Medical School.

[@NIVO1972]

People in the live chat that were talking buyout buyout!. Listen up, heres the ruleset. "Buyouts can start on the later of June 15 or 48 hours after the Playoffs end, and the buyout period ends June 30 at 5pm Eastern." NO BUYOUTS possible now.

[@mmsmith80]

Unless we have a player go to arbitration, and it sounds like Berggren will. That gives us a second buyout window.

[@mmsmith80]

Unless we have a player go to arbitration, and it sounds like Berggren will. That gives us a second buyout window.

[@nakdrofnats9963]

trust the Yzerplan

[@steveo3831]

There is no Plan! 6 yrs. Still no Plan. Face the truth

[@kevinkowaluk5682]

any chance of giving the folks asking a question a microphone? it cant be that hard

[@mattm3729]

Not too late to trade for Sorokin @ goalie - I think isles would do it as their owner is a penny pincher and they’re up against the cap.

[@sportsfix6975]

And they're still paying DiPietro 😅😅

[@mattm3729]

@@sportsfix6975lol exactly. And their GM is an incompetent guy so maybe he’ll accept whatever offer for Sorokin 😅

[@MES1331]

How does that work? You’d have to convince them to take on Husso lol…so they basically get worse at goalie? And Sorokin sucked last year. 8 mill for 8 years? You’re out of your mind. Better to have stop gaps till we see what Cossa and Augustine have.

[@mattm3729]

@@MES1331 he had a dip last year (.910) and they’re looking to trade if the price is right - he’s usually perennially in the running for a venzina. Now is a perfect time. Why not at least try? They have a GM who would likely bite.

[@MES1331]

@@mattm3729 he dropped from .924-.925 to .909, that’s more than a dip. You don’t pay $8M for a goalie to potentially play that badly, especially when his defense will be worse playing behind ours. On top of that, Cossa will be up the following season and Augustine a year or two after that. Then you have to find a way to move Sorokin again if either of those guys pan out. Just not a smart move, especially when the next few years aren’t cup contending ones.

[@chardeemacdennis3852]

I was hoping asp was going to grand rapids... I hope the kid goes crazy in training camp like Raymond did

[@Mike-ix5sv]

Only concern is adjusting to the smaller ice, and I dont think itll be much of a concern. 2 years post draft, playing with men already the raymond trajectory, aside from being different positions is my expectation.

[@Thrashman-ye4cf]

His highlights are very fun to watch. People don’t understand the potential our prospects have. Thats why we didn’t go out and sign 5 free agents to long term expensive deals. We’re trying to get good from within.

[@chriscote269]

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!

[@eleanorcat9982]

Stevie is so handsome 🥰🥰🥰

[@Arbs72]

Get Soderblom some boxing lesson and tell him to watch some Rempe highlights so we can have a tough guy😂

[@scotteberline5458]

Boxing lessons sure, Rempe highlights? HARRRD pass. Guy ate concussions back-to-back-to-back games.

[@DelburT-ep8tq]

Great off season Steve!

[@MichealBrandt-oq4hc]

My limited info belief is, lalonde seems incaplble of getting the best from everyone. Its a good old fashion, team needs to try harder at times. Like larkin said, we need to decide what kind of team we want to be. Un this league bring 100 percent and theres hope

[@thewizardofoz511]

Yeah that's my sentiment with him as well.. if we want to have someone like Tortorella.. even despite Larkin going down last season we will not have lost 7 straight!.. it probably would have stopped at like 3 or 4.. Newsy's a nice guy and all but at times you need to be an asshole to bring the best out of these guys.. I believe nosy is the second to last coach before we reach the Elite level.. I believe whoever the next coach would be that is the coach we'll win the cup with..

[@Plastpackad]

Ask about the Holl contract.

[@karltaylor9324]

We need defence unless he's going with the philosophy of out scoring the opponent which seems to be the case

[@scottlucidi6476]

Husso is going on LTIR. We're going to get some more help.

[@austinshell3554]

Even if he doesn’t, he sucks. The wings could start an orange juice business with the amount of juicy rebounds he’s given up since he got here. Ironically he’s the wings version of jack campbell

[@Yooper-906Wings]

Why did the Wings trade Jake Wallman? And what did they get in return?

[@steveo3831]

@@Yooper-906Wings Salary cap relief. I think that’s it

[@empireofdirt9045]

I think this is Kane’s last year in the NHL, and Detroit vs. Edmonton in the Final. Skinner VS. Talbot.

[@mjk06]

With Kane's style of play (not overly physical and avoids contact) He can play till he's 40 if his hip holds up.

[@davidlaffin5747]

You're overly medicated!

[@mjk06]

@@davidlaffin5747 Who me or the original poster?

[@davidlaffin5747]

@mjk06 Sorry, the original poster!

[@mattausterberry2323]

The original is a paint huffer..​@@davidlaffin5747

[@RyanDallo]

Go wings go. Tarasenko show is officially airing 😂😂😂

[@mattm3729]

Good pickup.

[@Ryan.S924]

well steve has spoken NO MORE MOVES to be made. Hes made his free agent presser

[@cameronfranke8566]

But he also said it’s possible,I’m sure Husso is going soon

[@Ryan.S924]

@@cameronfranke8566 well anything is possible. I would think a goalie has to go I mean we have like 4 now 5? i know some will have to be in GR but damn. Hopefully talbot will be better than what we had last year. I thinking we need another D man. I REALLY like the Motte signing though

[@thewizardofoz511]

Umm yeeeeeaa, Stevie does that a lot though, if you haven't noticed by now.. I mean to a certain extent you're right.. HOWEVER ☝️ this man is always tweaking and thinking about his roster and how to make it better without hurting our future.

[@Ryan.S924]

@@thewizardofoz511 I’m down for whatever it is he wants to do. The Wings organization is top level right now. Name me another who has as many HOF players running their team!? I’ll wait………….. even if it takes longer than we all want including themselves. We just have to stick with it and know (hope) it will finally work out. I’m going to predict we will miss the playoffs again this year and go hard into next offseason and sign another player that we probably won’t get this season and then will make the playoffs MAYBE next season and hopefully winning a cup within the next five seasons. I remember everyone thinking Ken Holland was crazy when he told is a rebuild in the NHL takes 10 years. Steve is working on his 6th? I think. So yeah. It’s gonna be a min.

[@thewizardofoz511]

@@Ryan.S924 it's Steve's 5th season entering with us.. the Red Wings SHOULD definitely make the playoffs.. if analytics serves them correctly.. however I would like either one of our young guys to step up and solidify a defensive spot or two or us getting a sound second pairing defenseman.. but we're definitely solid on the forward group and play off ready but I really just don't feel confident with the defense, but we're not that far off either.. angle changing up feeling better about this season then last season as well.. .. all in all is to make for a very fun interesting season once again.. looking forward to it!🚨🚨🚨🏒

[@theskimaskboy]

USE YOUR GOALIES LIKE PITCHERS STEVIE!!!

[@mattbadish7840]

Steve yzerman said he might make another move? wonder what it could be?

[@mattm3729]

Goalie?

[@johanjotun1647]

TELL ME there is a plan thats has Kane developing our prospects when he retires 🤞

[@L7cky11]

But datsyuk popped up like yesterday ish... I agree

[@SpartyMark]

He needs to do better

[@stuke8859]

One FA that they targeted but weren't able to make it fit....well...that sounds like one of two guys.

[@cknight0518]

Sitting on 4 pro goalies is pretty disappointing. I hope he finds a way to move Husso.

[@thewizardofoz511]

I definitely wouldn't count it out of a possibility

[@datcrazywhiteboy6205]

Is the audio guy on a Yzerman type contract?

[@sportsfix6975]

It's probably McCarty or Draper moonlighting for extra cash! 😂

[@datcrazywhiteboy6205]

@@sportsfix6975 I had to add this comment

[@user-tk4pw1iq8d]

Wings could use more skare speed. Id put this team thru speed skating all together. Make em compete for some type of prize. Otherwise. Talents there. They may make the plsyoffs. LGRW!

[@lukelafitte5608]

Huge Steve Y fan! Huge Star Wars fan! First time I'm a little worried for both paradigms.

[@Mike-ix5sv]

You are much more patient than I, the star wars franchise has been trash for close to 20 years

[@matthewgrice6902]

👍🏻

[@fredirecko]

Berggren finally gonna get his full shot that he deserves b/c of hard work

[@calebdickmann2998]

People say year 5 like we should be a cup contender by now. That's not how hockey works people. Roster had little talent and farm system was non existent

[@austinshell3554]

He looks a little like a man who had a plan going into free agency that didn’t go at all as expected. I think the Trouba situation is shocking in the way it doesn’t seem he wants to come here at all.

[@user-qo7ze9zz2l]

Everyone has a plan until it goes to hell in a hand basket. I think that a lot of these GMs have great plans going into FA but very, very rarely achieve 100% of what they wanted to. Lots of variables and moving parts/targets to account for. Money, location, role on team, player morale, familiarity, etc. For them to do everything they set out to do every single season would be a crazy thing to achieve consistently. Impossible? No, but very unlikely.

[@Ember2remember]

I miss walman already 😭😭😭

[@MrHunterbg]

Why? He was a bum

[@strigon4183]

​@@MrHunterbgyou're a bum

[@a.N.....]

He was cool, but we don't need scoring defense. We need defensive defensemen

[@kattzculo7739]

LGRW 🔥👍

[@Slamit88]

STILL....The Wings Forwards as a Whole, REMAIN WOEFULLY UNDERSIZED & Offer NO Toughness (X-Cept for Rasmussen, Who Seemed to Play A BIT More Physical/Aggressive Last Season) Up Front, & WHY Did They DUMP Their ONLY "Physical/ Character" Guy Kostin (For LITERALLY NOTHING!!) Down The Stretch Last Season Which Made NO SENSE & (TO ME/US??) Was a MAJOR (& FRUSTRATING!!) FACTOR For Not (FINALLY!!) Making it To The P.O's (IMHO!!)??..... Please Believe NOT Having That Toughness/Size is THE Difference as The Season Wears On & FORGET About Surviving/Advancing In The Play-offs w/out it!!..... That FACT is Somewhat Mind-Boggling as Captain Stevie's Teams FLOURISHED w/That IMPORTANT Factor During Their BEST Seasons & Yes, The Game is OBVIOUSLY "Different" Now, (ie: LITERALLY NO MORE FIGHTING Really!!) But The SOLID Teams (Seemingly) ALWAYS Have Good Size & Intimidating Physicality Regardless Still!!..... That Stated & In Close Here, I'll STILL BE CHEERING The Boys ON, So....'LGRW's"!!👊🔥

[@goodfella8143]

I really don't think Stevie is amused by all your dumbass questions 😂😂😂😂. Dude just wants to win a Cup here again

[@mrmojora2883]

No Trouba questions!?! Ball dropped by reporters. Unless they weee told not to ask about the situation 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@mattm3729]

It didn’t happen, what’s he going to say? Old news my man

[@maciejct2508]

What about Sprong? Sign him Steve!

[@cameronfranke8566]

He did score goals but unfortunately he fell apart like in the second half of the season and while we were in the race .and we also need money for seider and Raymond

[@joshuafyfe9749]

He's not coming back. Lalonde sat him out at the end of the season. He wasn't happy.

[@seanmichael5751]

im guessing he'll do like he did with joe v last season. let him simmer on the back burner to see if he can get a good deal elsewhere, sign him near the minimum if there are no takers

[@casewojo6186]

He doesn’t play defense, I am good.

[@MichealBrandt-oq4hc]

Goof player,except the part where he gets in the wrong spot, coughs up Puck. Then watches a 3 on one the other way. I say give chase, act like you give a shit.

[@danmatrisch4463]

Stevie did many things right , the Talbot , Gustaffson and Tarasenko Deal was Awesome .. but I dosnt agree with that , Walman trade I can’t see any Sense in that trade , and we got nothing back ( future Draft 2026 considerations ) that’s a bad joke .. and Jake Walman must be feel quite Worthless .. he was our first line D-Man

[@spookietowne7932]

Reporter asks about making the playoffs & Yzerman responds by basically saying we'll creep into them & then hopefully stick around for awhile & then, after some time, compete for the Cup. As a fan, I understand this takes time. But it's been 8 years on this "rebuild" with 5 of those years with Yzerman as GM. When does it end? Good teams rebuild in 4 years & better teams can do it in 3. Use the Vegas Golden Knights system as a model to jump start this process and let's get this thing going.

[@user-qo7ze9zz2l]

Not even sure you can include 8 years of a rebuild. Start when Yzerman took over, because that’s when it really began, let’s not delude ourselves.

[@joextreme]

Look for a trade to land Mitch Marner, mark my word.

[@hockeymike333]

I'm still not sold on Larkin's contract. He's good, but not as elite as others making his money, and he's also injured multiple times per year. I think I saw on Capfriendly at the end of the year that he was Ranked 500 something for cost per point. Again, I like him, but his injuries, and production are worrisome on that big of a contract. More of a 7-8M, currently getting 11-12M?

[@KeyserSoze1919]

His cap hit is 8.7m, 11m is what he makes this year.

[@Disciple_of_Larkin71]

His cap hit is 8.7 million. It’s no where close to 11 million.

[@steveo3831]

33 goals?

[@Disciple_of_Larkin71]

@@steveo3831 in 69 games which in a full 82 game season could hit close to 40

[@hockeymike333]

@@KeyserSoze1919 Correct. His salary is 10.5% of the entire teams salary cap. I don't think he does enough to have that elite of a contract. Injuries, points, cost per point is embarrassing, crying to refs super emotional is embarrassing. He's good, but I think people are too invested in him.

[@ryanb3908]

Strange Yzerman says he is hopeful they will make the playoffs when they have the garbage patch curse this year again so not possible.

[@DSled]

Lol give it a rest

[@ryanb3908]

@@DSled Facts don't need to sleep. 👍

[@shaun7867]

Yeah hes gonna ssy , yeah forsure we making it , no gm says that

[@DSled]

@@ryanb3908 bro thinks curses are real 😂

[@ryanb3908]

@@DSled As does every hockey player. 🤦🏻

[@steveo3831]

Steve Yzerman has been terrible! Re-signing Kane and getting the Russian Tank are his best moves in the last 6 yrs

[@eeegon]

Drafting Seider is way above signing Tarasenko

[@AlphaPatriot91]

Another massive L for an offseason.

[@strigon4183]

Go root for another team then

[@steveo3831]

@@strigon4183Nono. You keep being delusional…face reality