Steve Yzerman addresses media, recaps 2021-22 season

DETROIT -- Just three days after the conclusion of the Detroit Red Wings' 2021-22 season, the business of hockey hasn't stopped in Hockeytown.

In addressing the media in his annual end-of-season availability session on Monday afternoon, executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman referenced how busy the past few days have been. He has already met with certain players that have impending travel plans, and announced on Saturday that the Red Wings would not renew the contracts of coach Jeff Blashill, assistant coach Doug Houda or goaltending coach Jeff Salajko.
Detroit will send six active players representing five countries to Finland for the 2022 IIHF World Championship, which will be held from May 13-29. Alex Nedeljkovic will play for the U.S., while recently signed goaltender Magnus Hellberg will suit up for Sweden. Moritz Seider will represent Germany, while Pius Suter will compete for Switzerland and Jakub Vrana and Filip Hronek will play for the Czech Republic.
The 2022 NHL Draft Lottery, the NHL Entry Draft and the beginning of free agency all lie ahead in the next 60 days.
Yzerman stopped short of declaring how many foundational pieces the Red Wings have on their current roster. But he's pleased with the young core and its potential, and the hockey character that many of Detroit's players bring to the rink every day.
"I like these guys," Yzerman said. "They're good guys, they're trying hard, they're working hard. It's a good group. I'm hoping we can be successful sooner than later, because as you're around your team, and around your players, you get to know them. You grow fond of them."

Jeff Blashill's contract not renewed

Informing Jeff Blashill that he would not be retained as the Red Wings' head coach wasn't an easy discussion for Yzerman. He acknowledged the difficulty of those discussions, adding that it's a big part of being in management.
"Jeff Blashill is a good hockey coach. He ran a really good program," Yzerman said. "I can certainly attest to what has been our program for the last three years because it's been dictated by me.
"You cannot judge Jeff Blashill on the Detroit Red Wings' record. I think you judge it on how he ran this program and how he conducted himself, and he was extremely professional in that."

Yzerman decided not to renew Blashill's contract because he thinks a coach with a new voice and approach could help the Red Wings get back on track. Detroit also struggled defensively in the 2021-22 season, surrendering 3.78 goals per game.
"We've been unable to, with the group that we've had, specifically in that area, to get better," Yzerman said. "To get our team to play, both individually and collectively, as a sounder defensive hockey team. And it's been three years we've been trying.
"It hasn't been a lack of discussion, a lack of effort on the coaching staff's behalf, or trying. We just haven't been able to do it. I look at this now as - that's an area that's going to need to improve. In order to do that, I'm going to bring in a new coach and see if he can't do that with the group that we have."
There is no specific timetable for Yzerman to have a new coach in place. He is in the process of formulating a long list of coaching candidates across multiple levels of hockey. He'll scale it down, have conversations and hopes to have a coach in place before the NHL Entry Draft and free agency.
"I've got a few names bouncing around in my head and it's been a busy couple of days here," Yzerman said. "At this stage, I'm not gonna restrict my search or my long list to any particular criteria as he has to be a head coach, he has to have NHL experience or this or that."
Yzerman did confirm that Red Wings assistant coach Alex Tanguay and video coach LJ Scarpace currently remain on the coaching staff, and he is "pleased with the coaching staff in Grand Rapids."
"Maybe even more so in the American League than in the NHL, it's been really challenging to run a program with taxi squads and COVID restrictions and things like that, travel restrictions," Yzerman said. "Ben (Simon) and his staff in GR have done a fantastic job. I'm really happy with that and I don't foresee any changes there."
Stay tuned to DetroitRedWings.com this week for additional stories recapping Yzerman's end-of-season media availability session, including updates on some of Detroit's highest-ranked prospects.