The New York Rangers president list shrinks with Steve Yzerman heading to the Detroit Red Wings to serve as the new general manager.
The New York Rangers search for a new team president has one less person on the list. Steve Yzerman will head back home to the Detroit Red Wings as their new general manager.
BREAKING: The Red Wings will introduce Steve Yzerman as their new GM this afternoon, Ken Holland to remain as Sr Vice President. https://t.co/21BaPpS6s2
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) April 19, 2019
Gord Miller of TSN tweeted the news early Friday morning. The Detroit Red Wings also announced that there would be a press conference on Friday afternoon.
The Rangers have been searching for a new team president since Glen Sather stepped down from that position when the team’s season ended at the beginning of April.
Yzerman has served as general manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning until the beginning of this season when he stepped down two weeks prior to the start of training camp.
Yzerman served as Tampa Bay’s general manager for eight seasons and was instrumental in the trade with the Rangers that saw Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller move to the Lightning last year. Yzerman played 1,514 regular season games with the Red Wings over his 22-year NHL career, winning three Stanley Cups and earning a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
With the announcement by Detroit, it appears that John Davidson may be the best fit the Rangers might be considering. This scenario has its issues, though.
First, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team JD currently runs, is still playing in the playoffs as his team is coming off a four-game sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Lightning.
Secondly, though he is contractually free to leave the Blue Jackets, no one really knows if he is interested in taking the position. The Rangers will have to wait it out until the Blue Jackets conclude the playoffs to get the true fell from the Rangers long-time broadcaster and a former goaltender.
Other potential candidates that have been mentioned are Brian Leetch, Dave Maloney, Kelly McCrimmon and Mike Gillis.
