Steve Yzerman, the Detroit Red Wings GM, is known for his outspokenness about NHL officiating, a trait that’s been evident since his playing days.
He’s notorious for not holding back his critiques, even directly addressing referees.
This reputation follows him into his role as a general manager, as demonstrated in his recent comments following the end of Detroit’s regular season. Yzerman’s wit adds a layer of ambiguity to his criticisms; while they may seem playful, there’s an underlying seriousness to them.
.@HoneyNutChelios Former ref Paul Stewart says that Yzerman was awful to deal with on the ice.
— George Malik (@georgemalik) July 30, 2014
During a media session, Yzerman took aim at officiating incidents from recent games. He highlighted a questionable call in the Washington-Philadelphia game and a fortunate break for his team during a game against Montreal.
The Philadelphia Flyers saw their game-opening goal against the Washington Capitals disallowed after referee Kelly Sutherland blew the whistle after losing sight of the puck — only for it to end up in the net https://t.co/QJGTa5aO4p pic.twitter.com/x5Zo4rlkgg
— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) April 17, 2024
Despite the seriousness of these issues, Yzerman’s delivery elicited laughter from both himself and the gathered media.
Yzerman’s remarks didn’t go unnoticed, catching the attention of national media figures like Elliotte Friedman, who highlighted Yzerman’s ability to inject humor into serious topics like officiating.
His comments reflect a level of candidness that distinguishes him in the hockey world.
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