Because that's what he was hired for. Detroit could have hired almost anyone else and they'd be right where they are now. Yzerman was viewed as a wizard and was hired to be special - not just another run of the mill GM.
They should be a playoff team by year six under the tutelage of the supposed best GM in hockey. The whole "oh but look at what he came into" isn't a valid excuse anymore. This current product is his team - there aren't any more Ken Holland leftover contracts.
Maybe it's time to take him off the cross and admit he's not the cheat code that he was viewed as.
What do you mean is a wizard hired to be special vs. another run of the mill GM?
Is he supposed to magically trade for McDavid and Bedard? And sign all the free agents who wants to sign for contenders when the team haven't reached that status yet?
There has been nothing outspoken from anyone that it won't take anything else but long time. In Tampa it took 10 years from he was hired to when they won, okay they had much better pieces to start with and went to the final 5 years into it, but took another 5 years to get back and win and then win again.
They are winning the absolute majority of the trades.
Drafting well in the 1st round with the options they had.
The rest we are waiting to see, its too early to tell who makes it, several going to be banking on the door in the coming 1-3 years.
Name one job in which someone would get to skate by for six years without making any significant improvements.
None of us would. Sports executives should be treated no differently.
This team has improved every year. Tell me aren't you even paying attention whatsoever?
Look at the points and standings for every year, improved every year.
Drafted players who are progressing well, built one of the best prospect pools in the league.
Traded for good player like DeBrincat. Signed or traded for role-players they traded elsewhere later on for decent amounts in most cases.
Traded away players for much better return than most GM's would get.
So what is your magical cure you think should have been implemented?