Steve Yzerman's struggles with analytics have become the central problem inside the Detroit Red Wings front office.
Detroit Free Press columnist Carlos Monarrez reported earlier this month that a person familiar with Yzerman's approach said the GM believes hockey is "still trying to figure out what analytics work."
That mindset, according to the report, left Yzerman unable to explain the game in the analytic terms owner Chris Ilitch prefers.
Carlos Monarrez: Re Red Wings: A person familiar with Yzerman's approach...said Yzerman thought hockey is “still trying to figure out what analytics work."; That led to Yzerman struggling to explain hockey in analytic terms Ilitch prefers.
It's not a stat that shows up on a scoreboard. But it's apparently mattered enough to trigger a search.
NHL Rumour Report said Monday that the Red Wings are using a search firm to find a general manager fluent in analytics, the exact area Yzerman reportedly lacks.
The account also said Detroit could add a President of hockey operations to sit above that new hire.
So this isn't just a GM search. It's a search for two specific things Yzerman apparently doesn't bring to the table anymore.
What kind of GM profile Detroit is reportedly chasing
Picture it like replacing a coach who still calls plays off a paper wristband while the rest of the league runs its game plan through a tablet.
That's the gap Detroit is reportedly trying to close, and it's not a small one to fill.
Yzerman has run Detroit's front office since April 2019, and the Red Wings finished this season 41-31-10 for 92 points, 16th overall.
They also stumbled home 2-6-2 over their final ten games, a finish that hasn't exactly quieted the questions upstairs.
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Does Steve Yzerman still have what it takes to run the Red Wings front office?
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