Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News with questions for Chris Ilitch on the Wings and Tigers...

Q: A question about the Red Wings. Steve Yzerman’s rebuild somewhat mirrors the Tigers’. They have a young core but have slid late in the season. Are you satisfied with the progress?

A: I love the course there, very analogous to what we’re doing with the Tigers and what we’ve done in history. Steve is building a young core and filling in with free agents. Now is not the time to go all out because he doesn’t have that full young core. He’s got parts, but we need more. I think this season illustrated that we don’t have the depth we need.

Q: Yzerman probably has to make a decision on his coach, Jeff Blashill, who’s finishing out his seventh season. Struggles were expected, but are you concerned about the ugly stretches?

A: That’s a question that really would have to be directed at Steve. I know what I know, and I know what I don’t know. I have a ton of respect for Steve Yzerman and a ton of respect for Jeff Blashill. I’m gonna leave it to Steve to decide what he wants to do with the head coach. I’ve hired Al and Steve because I think they’re great at what they do, and now I gotta let them do their thing. It’s very infrequent that I may say to them, no, I don’t want you to do that.

much more ($$$) on the Tigers...