Episode 149 of The Detroit News' OctoPulse podcast takes the pulse of Steve Yzerman's rebuild for the last time under Yzerman's watch.

Hired in 2019, the Red Wings' GM stepped down on Wednesday morning, leaving the team on thin ice as owner Chris Ilitch looks for his replacement.

Beat reporter Ted Kulfan said he was "shocked" at the timing of the Red Wings' decision.

"You kind of wonder why he (Ilitch) let Steve Yzerman handle the draft and free agency," Kulfan said on the podcast. "And then there's the whole Dylan Larkin saga. Was that the final straw? It doesn't look like a deal is going to get done anytime soon.

"I really thought Steve Yzerman was going to be here for at least a couple of years. He didn't show any signs of retreating in any of his press conferences."

Kulfan said candidates to replace Yzerman include assistant GMs Kris Draper and Shawn Horcoff, ex-Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger.

"This team's future in the near term isn't very good," Kulfan said. "They're not going to make the playoffs this year, especially with Larkin still looking for a situation where he has a chance to win.

"He's not public enemy No. 1 in Detroit, but he's definitely not one of the most popular folks in Detroit. The people would boo the heck out of him on opening night and it probably won't get any quieter as the season goes on.

"I think whoever comes in now, there's a greater possibility of sending him off somewhere for draft picks and future young players. I think there's going to be a longer leash for the new GM and you've got a valuable chip chip there. You got to get a lot of pieces for the future."

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Previous OctoPulse podcasts

▶ Can Red Wings afford Larkin-Robertson deal?

▶ Larkin trade could put Wings in draft lottery

▶ Should Red Wings trade Lucas Raymond?

▶ Red Wings endure staggering fall from grace

▶ Wings' McLellan pushes right buttons in Philly

▶ Faulk to make debut vs. Devils; Larkin sidelined

▶ USA Hockey 'on top of the mountain' with double gold medals

▶ Unlikely assist on Red Wings goal; playoff chances

▶ Edvinsson injury tests Wings' blueline depth

▶ Fedorov, Kane cap historic week in Red Wings' history

▶ Nate Danielson demoted; Dave Goricki tribute

OctoPulse guests in alphabetical order

▶ A: Trey Augustine, Dave Andrews, Kenny Albert, Kashawn Aitcheson

▶ B: Riley Brengman, John Bacon, Red Berenson, Matt Beniers, Scotty Bowman, Joe Bowen, Cooper Black, Phil Bourque, Jason Bukala, Nick Bogas

▶ C: Steve Coates, Leo Carlsson, Mike Cammalleri, Logan Cooley, Caley Chelios, Cole Caufield, Mitchell Clinton, Mellissa Channell-Watkins

▶ D: Nate Danielson, Dave Drinkill, Jamie Drysdale, Ken Dryden, Jake Davis

▶ E: Cole Eiserman, Simon Edvinsson, Mike Emrick, Emerson Etem

▶ F: Jordan Forgione, Everett Fitzhugh, Jim Fox, John Forslund

▶ G: Cutter Gauthier, Dylan Guenther, Jerry Green, Stu Grimson, Gerard Gallant, Liam Greentree, Bruce Garrioch, John Garrett

▶ H: William Horcoff, Mark Howe, Cross Hanas, Luke Hughes, Murray Howe, Milan Hejduk, Brian Hayward, Brandon Hawkins

▶ I: Greg Innis

▶ J: Kent Johnson

▶ K: Joakim Kemell, Mark Kirton, Megan Keller, John Kelly, Mike Keenan, Emily Kaplan, Rich Kincaide, Alex Kannok Leipert, Ryan Kennedy, Hilary Knight

▶ L: Ryan Leonard, Nick Libett, Chaz Lucius, Brian Lawton, Pat Lafontaine, Nicklas Lidstrom, Craig Laughlin, Dave Legwand, Bill Lindsay

▶ M: Doug MacLean, Al Montoya, Tim Mayer, Wes McCauley, Dan Milstein, Max Namestnikov, Ken Morrow

▶ N: Ted Nolan, Frank Nazar, Dwayne Norris, Pat Nagle

▶ O: Mark O'Brien, Phil Osaer

▶ P: Madison Packer, Dave Poulin, Gabe Perreault, Jakub Petr, Doug Plagens, Cole Perfetti, Darren Pang, Zayne Parekh, Julie Petry, Chris Pronger

▶ R: Abby Roque, Jason Ross, Manon Rheaume, Lucas Raymond, Marco Rossi, Luc Robitaille, Marcus Ragnarsson, Sam Rosen, Daryl Reaugh

▶ S: Riley Sawchuk, Bob Stauffer, Will Smith, John Shannon, Paul Stewart, Moritz Seider, Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Craig Simpson, Kirsten Simms, Mats Sundin, Brad Stuart, Melissa Szkola, Callie Shanahan, Colin Stephenson

▶ T: Tripp Tracy, Bryan Trottier, Tim Taylor, Jacob Truscott, Amanda Thiele

▶ V: Rick Vaive

▶ W: Paul Woods, Shane Wright, Bob Wilkie

▶ Z: Rick Zombo, Trevor Zegras

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Yzerman's exit leaves Red Wings on thin ice: OctoPulse podcast