(AP) -- A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that the Tampa Bay Lightning have hired Steve Yzerman to be the team's general manager.
The person spoke Tuesday morning on the condition of anonymity because the team hadn't made the announcement. The Lightning said they would introduce their new GM at a 3 p.m. news conference.
Yzerman has worked as a vice president for the Detroit Red Wings, the only team he played for during his Hall of Fame career.
He recently led Canada to men's hockey gold as Hockey Canada executive director at the Vancouver Games.
Last month, Tampa Bay's new owner, Jeff Vinik, fired coach Rick Tocchet and general manager Brian Lawton after the struggling franchise missed the playoffs for the third straight season. TheGM's two-year contract was due to expire in June.
Yzerman was not going to get a chance to be Detroit's GM soon because two executives above him, Ken Holland and Jim Nill, are expected to sign long-term deals.
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