Detroit Red Wings fans have never been shy about sharing their passion, and this offseason is proving no different. The results of a wide-reaching fan survey conducted over the past two weeks are in, and they reveal a deeply divided fanbase unsure about the direction of the team under General Manager Steve Yzerman.
After another season outside the playoff bubble—and now the bombshell loss of star forward Jonatan Berggren to the Toronto Maple Leafs—Red Wings supporters are grappling with what feels like an identity crisis. Is this a team still building toward contention, or has Yzerman’s “Yzerplan” hit a wall?
According to the survey, which received over 25,000 responses from fans across Michigan and beyond, 51% of respondents said they still believe in Yzerman’s long-term vision. But a significant 43% said they have lost confidence in the general manager’s ability to steer the franchise back to glory. The remaining 6% are undecided, citing mixed feelings after the departure of yet another fan favorite.
The frustration is understandable. Since taking over in 2019, Yzerman has emphasized patience, draft development, and culture-building. And to his credit, Detroit has slowly assembled a promising core, including Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Marco Kasper. But the tangible results remain elusive. No playoff appearances in six years. A middle-of-the-pack draft position again. And now, the departure of Jonatan Berggren—a player many viewed as the offensive centerpiece of the future.
One fan wrote in their survey response, “It feels like we take one step forward and two steps back. We finally get a star in Berggren and let him walk? What’s the plan here?”
Another echoed the sentiment, stating, “I’ve backed Yzerman for years, but this one hurts. You don’t let a 24-year-old future All-Star go to Toronto unless you’re waving the white flag.”
Still, a strong contingent of fans is urging patience, pointing to the big-picture strategy that has seen Detroit stockpile prospects and cap space. “This is still a young team. Seider and Raymond are going to be elite. Yzerman knows what he’s doing,” one fan commented. Others mentioned faith in upcoming draft picks and the belief that Detroit could use its flexibility to make moves of its own this summer.
The survey also revealed that 67% of fans are expecting major trades or free-agent signings to replace Berggren. Nearly 40% listed a top-line winger as the team’s biggest need, while another 32% cited a veteran goalie to help stabilize the crease. Interestingly, only 12% felt coaching was an issue, indicating more trust in Derek Lalonde than in the front office.
Perhaps the most telling part of the survey was this: when asked if the team is better now than it was three years ago, only 48% said yes. That statistic alone paints a picture of discontent among a fanbase that once gave Yzerman nearly universal support.
What happens next will likely define his tenure. The loss of Berggren might be remembered as a turning point—either the moment Yzerman finally pivots into a more aggressive phase of the rebuild, or the one that sparked a full-scale erosion of trust between the front office and its loyal supporters.
With the draft just weeks away and free agency looming, the pressure is mounting. Steve Yzerman has always preached discipline and vision. Now, Red Wings fans are demanding results.
The clock is ticking.