Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock stood high in Van Andel Arena on May 3, 2015, watching Grand Rapids play the Toronto Marlies in the AHL playoffs.
Diagonally across the ice, sitting low in the stands, Brendan Shanahan considered his options.
The Wings’ brain drain had been happening for a while.
In 2008, Scotty Bowman, a special consultant after winning the last three of his nine Stanley Cups as head coach, left his team of more than a decade, to become the Blackhawks’ senior advisor for hockey operations.
Steve Yzerman made his desire to run an NHL franchise known since retiring as a player in 2006.