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Changes Afoot In Post-Holland Era?

May 6, 2019, 4:10 PM ET [3 Comments]
Bob Duff
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
With the departure of long-time general manager Ken Holland imminent, how will the rest of the front-office of the Detroit Red Wings shake out in the post-Holland era?

Holland will be announced as GM of the Edmonton Oilers later this week and already, one change has taken place in the Detroit hierarchy. The Wings announced Monday that Pat Verbeek would be the club’s assistant GM. The former Wings forward joins the club from the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he worked as the right-hand man for new Wings GM Steve Yzerman.

“Pat Verbeek is one of the brightest minds and hardest workers in the game and has been a trusted and valued resource to me throughout my management career,” Yzerman said in a statement.

“He played a pivotal role in helping build the Lightning into a Stanley Cup contender throughout his tenure with the organization.”

Verbeek will focus on player personnel decisions, leaving fellow assistant GM Ryan Martin to take charge of the business side of the duties, as well as serving as GM of the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s top farm club.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported Monday that two other former Wings hired by Yzerman in Tampa Bay as scouts - Jamie Pushor and Stacy Roest - will remain with the Lightning, as will Al Murray, Tampa Bay’s director of amateur scouting.

There’s been speculation that Tyler Wright, Detroit’s director of amateur scouting, may follow Holland to Edmonton. Wright is a former Oilers player.

A source close to the situation indicated Monday that Kris Draper, who was Holland’s special assistant, would be retained in that role. Draper and Yzerman have a long-standing relationship from their days as teammates in Detroit.

TSN’s Frank Seravalli reported that the Wings will not renew the contract of assistant coach Pat Ferschweiler. He’s been with the club since Jeff Blashill was hired as head coach four years ago.

Larkin Gets An A
Dylan Larkin, the man many assume will soon be named captain of the Red Wings, was appointed an alternate captain for Team USA at the upcoming world championship.

Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks was named captain. Blashill is coaching Team USA for the third straight season.

Adding Some Finnish?
Finnish website Ilta-Sanomat is reporting that the Red Wings will sign free-agent defenseman Oliwer Kaski after he plays for Finland in the world championship.

A right-hand shot, Kaski, 23, put up 19-32-51 numbers for Pelicans Lahti during the 2018-19 season to lead all Liiga defensemen in scoring. That’s the same Finnish club that produced Wings defenseman Libor Sulak.

From 2015-17, the 6-foot-2, 187-pound Kaski played NCAA hockey for Western Michigan.

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