What is the Yzerplan?
Prospects like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Jesse Kiiskinen are the future of the Detroit Red Wings. While both players are fresh on a professional journey, the team is on a rebuild that is on the clock. Fans have become increasingly frustrated at the absence of post season appearances.
The playoff drought has hit nine consecutive seasons, with Steve Yzerman at the helm for six of those years. The “Yzerplan” was introduced in 2019 when the long time franchise captain returned as a General Manager. The word “patience” was at the core of the process, but the Detroit faithful weren’t really prepared for what that meant.
Looking at the numbers
The 2019-2020 season saw the team finish last in points. A record of 17-49-5 produced 39 points and the hope of a first overall selection. Instead, the recurring theme of “lotto luck” saw Detroit pushed back to fourth overall. The pick of Lucas Raymond, however, turned out to be more than just a consolation price.
There is just one player left from that opening night roster. Dylan Larkin, now the captain, is the last man standing from the inaugural year under Yzerman. To his credit, the GM cleaned house and made way for new talent.
Each successive year saw the team improve in the standings. From 31st they rose to 27th in a shortened 20/21 campaign. In 2022 and 2023 the team ranked 25th garnering 74 and 80 points respectively. The 2023-2024 campaign was the strongest with a 91 point finish and a playoff position decided by the very last game of the season.
Last Season was a step backward
After finishing 17th in the league, fans were beyond eager to see the team move forward. It was time for the post season drought to end. Unfortunately, a disastrous start led to a change behind the bench. Coach LaLonde was dismissed and Coach Todd McLellan was brought in. The impact was immediate.
After a loss to Toronto in his debut, McLellan led the squad to seven straight wins. The initial loss had the new coach in town less than 24 hours and only a warmup skate to get acquainted with the team. The improvements were made quickly and decisively.
The momentum of success was completely cut off by the Four Nations tournament. The team could not recover and fell while other teams in the division gained in the standings. The team had the fourth best power play in the league at 27%, but a penalty kill that was dead last at 70.1%. That destroyed the gains made on the man advantage.
Ultimately, the 2.87 goals for per game and 3.16 goals against broadcast the issue. Both numbers were a decrease from the previous season’s finish of 3.35 goals for and 3.33 against. Detroit had seen a positive goal differential from the first time in the rebuild in 23/24 and were back in the red.
The Final Chapter of the Yzerplan?
There are multiple areas of glaring concern carried over from last year’s team. The need for a stay at home veteran to complement Moritz Seider was not addressed. A steady top six forward to stabilize the left wing on Dylan Larkin’s line also went without remedy. The goaltending, though, seems to be the summer’s bright spot.
Acquiring John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks was the highlight of this year’s entry draft. The free agent market for goalies (and everything else) was sparse at best. Gibson has shown the ability to keep a team in games without a strong blue line. It is on his shoulders to close the goal differential gap.
For months there has been an online sentiment of frustration in the lack of success in the rebuild. There is also quite a bit of lost context in the journey. Calls for a “blown” season ignore Detroit already finishing last and falling in the draft. In fact, no team has slid more in the negative due to the lottery than the Red Wings. The Islanders success highlighted the cruel propensity of the ping pong balls.
There seems to be no middle ground left. Either the team will succeed and make the post season or fail spectacularly to earn a top three pick. Fans aren’t content with any outcome that lies between those extremes. A successful run seems to be the lifeline of the “Yzerplan”, and anything short of an opening round entry feels to many like the harbinger of another reboot.
