Yzerman named GM for Team Canada
After last year’s success at the World Championships in Moscow where Team Canada went 9-0 and won the gold, Steve Yzerman was named GM once again for Team Canada. This year’s World Championships series will take place in Quebec City and Halifax from May 2nd through May 18th. Luc Robitaille, a former Detroit Red Wings player himself, will be Yzerman’s assistant GM as will Doug Armstrong.
“Working with Hockey Canada and their staff for the world championship last year was a terrific experience, and I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to return,” Yzerman said. “Over the coming months, myself, Doug and Luc will be looking to name a coaching staff and players that will give Canada the best chance to defend their gold medal in Quebec City in May.”
“Hockey Canada is very excited that Steve Yzerman has agreed to return as Canada’s general manager for the 2008 IIHF World Championship, the first-ever world championship to be held in Canada,” said Misley. “We are confident that Steve will provide us with the leadership we need to help Canada stay on top of the hockey world.”
Apparently, this is an important year to win the gold as it would give Team Canada the top ranking in the 2010 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver.
The Hockey News has gotten a bit ahead of themselves, in my opinion, with an article speculating that success in this tournament may cause Detroit to allow Yzerman to take the helm as GM allowing a team like Toronto to hire current GM Ken Holland.
Think about it. Yzerman could be moved into the president-GM role with the Red Wings and would still have the expertise of assistant GM Jim Nill, senior vice-president Jim Devellano, uber consultant Scotty Bowman and a top-notch amateur and pro scouting staff to help him. And if Yzerman isn’t ready yet, the Red Wings could promote Nill to the GM chair until Yzerman is ready to take over.
And if Holland does become available, he automatically becomes not only the frontrunner for the Maple Leafs, but the only candidate in whom they should have any interest. He is without a doubt the best GM in the league – THN named him that last season, so it must be true – and he meets every single one of the criteria needed to satisfy the Leafs.
I think even Yzerman himself would say that he’s not ready to be the GM for the Wings. Yes, I eventually would like to see Yzerman in the GM or Assistant GM position, but the organization has a great thing going right now and I don’t think anyone is in too big of a rush to switch things up and mess with a good system. Being the GM for Team Canada in the World Championships is like a kid learning to ride a bike. Yzerman still needs his training wheels, which is what he gets with the Team Canada GM position. He’s not quite ready to go without those wheels yet as a GM for a professional hockey team.
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