Steve Yzerman To Be Named Lightning GM At Tuesday Press Conference

The Tampa Bay Lightning have called a news conference at 3 PM Eastern on Tuesday, where they will announce that hockey legend Steve Yzerman has been named the team's sixth general manager. The news comes via the AP.

Yzerman has never been a general manager in the NHL before, but he has held a position in the front office of the Detroit Red Wings and was in charge of putting together Canada's 2010 gold medal Olympic team.

Our Lightning blog, Raw Charge, which has been all over this story since things hit the fan months ago with the firings of former GM Brian Lawton and former coach Rick Tocchet, looks at the long road that new owner Jeff Vinik has taken to reach today.

Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings legend, will become the Tampa Bay Lightning's sixth general manager this afternoon, replacing dismissed GM Brian Lawton and following in the footsteps of former GM's Jay Feaster, Rick Dudley, Jacques Demers and Phil Esposito.

We've been waiting, waiting, waiting...  And early this morning a news release from the Lightning announced the scheduling of a press conference for this morning.  Various reports have also come out, and Jeff Vinik's wish silence can no longer be kept in check.

Of course, at this point, it's a  hell of a marketing tool, as the hriing is not only a huge name -- but there is huge hype around someone finally filling the position.

For more on the news as it develops, be sure to stick with Raw Charge.