Show a profound lack of knowledge about our owner.
I've read all the same articles about Vinik that you have. He is a business man with an ego. Who says he holds people under him accountable. Will he take kindly to a bidding war? Or will he think working for him should be enough and will he feel (like some here feel), that all the other people in the organization (most of whom Yzerman brought in) like Briseboise and Murrary, etc. are enough?
He will not simply be outbid. He's not just a businessman, he is a die-hard fan of his team and city of Tampa.
He was a fan of the Bruins. He bought the Lightning because the Bruins weren't going up for sale and they were the best business deal among the teams that were coming up for sale.
For those of you making it sound like Yzerman has the dream job in TB where everyone loves him -- you have short memories. I could embarrass some of you if I wanted (but I won't) by directing you all to the HF archives where a few short years ago, many TB fans were calling for Yzerman's head because he wouldn't bring a washed up Vinny Lecavalier back. Remember that?
There's a bit more loyalty for Yzerman in Detroit.
1st - Yzerman is under contract next year. If his team wins 5 more games this year I fully expect him to sign a lucrative extension this summer.
2nd - Mike Ilitch is no longer involved in the team (or life, R.I.P.).
3rd - Chris Ilitch is not Mike Ilitch. Nor is he Jeff Vinik. Vinik is a pretty awesome owner across the board. He said he wanted a world class organization and has continuously taken the right steps to deliver exactly that. Yzerman is a big part of that, and Vinik has empowered everybody in the organization (Yzerman included) toward achieving that. Chris Ilitch is said to be difficult to work for, very hands on/meddling, tight with money, impatient...basically the opposite of Vinik. I'm not sure why you think Yzerman's loyalties spread to the whole Ilitch family, I personally think his ties are now stronger to Vinik than they've ever been to Chris Ilitch. Yzerman already works for one of the best owners in the league he has no reason to give that up to start over.
4th- Yzerman doesn't seem motivated by sentiment. His actions and words both reflect somebody passionate about the sport that is capable of calm, non-emotional objectivity when it comes to making professional decisions. I get that the "Prodigal-Son-Returns" narrative has mass appeal to Detroit fans, but, I doubt it holds the same magical sway over the man himself. He's got Scotty Bowman nearby coming to games if he needs to scratch the nostalgic itch. Not to mention his currently relevant connections to many of his former team mates.
5th - When asked a few years ago whether Yzerman saw himself in Tampa long term he said "I hope so. That means I'm doing a good job and I'd be very happy with that. I'm worried about right now, the next few years. And if I'm the GM of the Lightning in 20 years that means I've done a good job." He's doing a great job, neither he nor the team have any reason to disrupt the good thing they have going on. It's a big reason why he's able to get the players to buy in (literally) when it comes time to extend their contracts. His integrity probably won't let money be the main reason he leaves and given a chance Vinik wouldn't let it be.
I'm not worried about Yzerman leaving, at all. Not until the job becomes considerably less rewarding than it currently is.
Returning to the scene of former glories makes for good story, but, I think carving out new glories holds more appeal to Steve Yzerman. If he leaves I think it'd be for a job further up the professional ladder (which he'll likely have the opportunity to do in Tampa as well), and I think he enjoys being a GM too much right now to take that next step.
@garmonbozia Thank you for the best post of the thread. You made good points while staying on topic and without resorting to insults or conspiracy theories.
While I disagree with some points, you make some good ones.
I will say being under contract for one more year does not mean that the last year is never broken if another opportunity arises. Although you could make the case that the big push will come next year.
Marian Illitch is still around. The same Marian Illitch who said Steve Yzerman was like a son to her. Yzerman is connected to the entire Illitch family (who were ever involved with the Red Wings). If you trace back where all the talk came from (aside from the fans) it was linked to Chris Illitch. I think you're also underestimating that the Illitch's have a brand new arena to fill and their popularity is going the other way.
Put yourself in Chris Illitch's shoes. A blind man can see what he is aiming for. Apologies to Kris Draper, but he is not Steve Yzerman -- not with the fans. If Yzerman is brought in, the fan base won't even care if they don't win in the next 3 years, because there is faith that Yzerman knows what he is doing. Take a stroll around. Angry Wings fans tweeting that if only the Wings hadn't let Yzerman get away the Wings would have Kucherov, Kuznetsov, Namestnikov, etc, instead of Riley Sheehan, etc. Yzerman has a built in credibility that buys time. Wings fans are furious at the idea of having Holland around and his high priced contracts for mediocre vets.
You mention Scotty Bowman, he himself was absolutely shocked that Yzerman left Detroit for the TB job because he never thought it would happen. Bowman thought Yzerman would be GM in Detroit for a reason. And btw, Vinik needed Yzerman to be given the vote of approval by Bowman so maybe too much is being made of the great Vinik/Yzerman bond. You can find quite a few articles around the time the TB GM position was up, and you'll see a bunch of articles about how it was believed Yzerman withdrew his name because he didn't feel it was the right place for him. Was it money? Negotiating?
And again, I'm sorry, but you all underestimate the power of money. I don't think Yzerman is leaving TBL simply based on emotion. It will be money. It's always about the money. The strongest argument for Yzerman staying in TB is because of the tax situation in Florida which I believe is one of the reasons why he went to TB in the first place. But if the Illitch's make it a financially better offer for Yzerman taking into account the tax situation, he will be gone.
Btw, here is a quote from Yzerman from April 2015...
"Honestly I'm going to have a relationship with the (Red Wings) organization my entire life, an affinity for the team forever. "