Yzerman loving life as Tampa GM

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This article was published 29/10/2011 (5085 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TAMPA, Fla. — Lightning GM Steve Yzerman is in his second year running the franchise and after making a trip to the Eastern Conference final last season has his sights set on higher marks.

“Some nights this is a really fun job and others not so much,” said the four time Stanley Cup champion and executive director of Canada’s 2010 Olympic gold medal hockey team. “It’s a great challenge and something that later on in my career I thought it was a direction I wanted to go. After spending four years in the front office in Detroit it convinced me even more. After one year here it’s something I’ve really enjoyed. It’s an exciting position, a great responsibility and a great challenge. I have my own goals I’ve set for the organization and it’s going to take time but I intend to work as hard as I can to get there.”

The Jets currently play in the Southeast Division with the Lightning but re-alignment is expected.

“I’m not sure how it will shake out. There’s a board meeting coming up in December and I’m not sure how much it will be discussed there. There are few options if the Southeast is re-aligned. We’ll have our own internal discussion and decide which way we want to go. It makes sense to move Winnipeg into the Central or the Pacific,” said Yzerman. “There are arguments for Detroit, Nashville and Columbus moving into this division.”

Lightning owner Jeff Vinik hired Yzerman shortly after buying the team.

“(Vinik) has really stabilized the organization. He’s made a lot of changes and done a lot in the community to show the fan base he’s serious about running a first class organization,” said Yzerman. “He’s committed to winning and the community has really bought in. He’s had a tremendous impact. Players are proud guys and they want to do well on the ice be part of something they feel good about. Jeff has said from Day 1 he wants to win and he wants people that are proud to wear the jersey.”

Yzerman says he hasn’t decided if he will resume his role with Team Canada.

“It’s a long way off and we still don’t know if NHL players will be involved or not so I haven’t given it much thought at this time,” he said.

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The queen: Lighting TV broadcaster Rick Peckham told a story about the old Winnipeg Arena at Saturday’s morning skate.

“I was with the Hartford Whalers and we went into Winnipeg for a game,” recalled Peckham. “We had a kid named David Jensen and late in the third period he’s sitting on the bench next to our backup goalie Steve Weeks. He looked up at the portrait of the Queen and said to Weeksy, ‘who’s the broad?’ Weeksy said, ‘that lady is the mayor of Winnipeg.’ Jensen then said, ‘they could have got used a smaller picture of her.’”

Roster shuffle: The Jets will not have backup Chris Mason (groin) at their disposal for a few days and have recalled Peter Mannino from the St. John’s IceCaps.

Winnipeg also saw forward Brett MacLean claimed off waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca