from Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Tribune,

I like Yzerman. I believe he knows what he's doing.

But it's on him now. All roads lead to the GM.

Lightning owner Jeff Vinik is such a believer he just gave Yzerman $32.7 million to buy out Vinny. Yzerman, by his own admission, stepped outside of the box by losing Vinny without a replacement in place. But in his mind, the Vinny move was inevitable, so why wait another season?

Yzerman has believers all over the dressing room, including Steven Stamkos and captain-to-be Marty St. Louis. I wonder, even now, if Marty would have asked for a trade last season if a coaching change hadn't been made midstream. He seems in a good place now, but couldn't that change if things don't come together?

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