DETROIT — Red Wings fans are getting frustrated and would like to see the team's nine-year playoff drought end.

They're tired of hearing the word "rebuild" from Red Wings officials.

General manager Steve Yzerman understands that — Yzerman believes this year's team, which begins training camp Thursday, will be better than last year's — but isn't going to do anything impulsive to try to speed up the process.

"Our goal is improve from last year," said Yzerman during a Zoom call Wednesday with media. "By our younger players taking another step, the addition of John Gibson in goal. How good? I can't tell you at this stage. But I expect our team to improve."

Yzerman understands the frustration among fans but wants to build a sustainable, deep organization of talented players who can compete in the playoffs every year.

"We're trying to improve every year," Yzerman said. "Ultimately the goal is to compete for a Stanley Cup. You can't compete for a Stanley Cup until you make the playoffs. But our goal again is to be a team that can compete for a Stanley Cup. These rebuilds take time. How much time, I can't really predict. Every one is different. Where you finish (in the standings), what happens in the (draft) lottery, who is available in the draft in a particular year. Those things are somewhat out of our control.

"We'll try to continue to run a good program and try to improve each season with the goal of becoming a playoff team and a team that eventually competes for a Stanley Cup."

The infusion of young talent over the last several years gives Yzerman reason for hope that the organization is on the correct track.

"I see progress," Yzerman said. "I look at the young players coming into the organization. I look at the young players playing on the Detroit Red Wings today. I'm hopeful that maybe one or two (recent draft picks) at some point, if not the start, get into our lineup during the season and we continue to build a young core that eventually is here for a long time and competes on a regular basis to make the playoffs."

Yzerman meets with owner Chris Ilitch regularly and the two understand rebuilding a hockey organization can take time.

"Chris and I have spoken and going back to when he hired me, that it's going to take a long time, and we're going to be patient and going to allow our young players to develop, rely heavily on the draft and hopefully over time, these young players that we draft turn into NHL players," Yzerman said.

"How many years is it supposed to take? I don't know, is it four, five, or 10 years? Ultimately it's ownership's decision when they feel they're not (comfortable) with the direction of the club or plan, that's their decision. But Chris and I have spoken about it and he's understood the process and where we're at.

"We're not completely tone deaf. We know the expectations and hopes of our fan base, but we'll continue with the process and look for opportunities to expedite it whether that's through trades or free agency, but we'll continue doing what we have to do.

"Ultimately my job is to do what is right for the organization and we'll continue to do that."

— Yzerman said the only player not ready to practice Thursday when camp begins will be defenseman Simon Edvinsson (lower body).

"(Edvinsson) is dealing with a lower-body injury (but) we'll have him ready to go sometime around the start of the regular season," Yzerman said.

Yzerman added that rookie Carter Bear (2025 first-round pick), who didn't play in last weekend's prospect games as he's been recovering from an Achilles injury, will be ready to skate Thursday.

— There is a path for prospects such as Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Carter Mazur or Axel Sandin-Pellikka to make the Wings' opening night roster, said Yzerman, but they would have "force" their way into the lineup.

"There's a path for anybody who can make us better," Yzerman said. "Somebody that makes us better, forces their way into the lineup and they're too good to take out, they're in it (the lineup). It's not that complicated, and we'll figure out what we do in that case with any of them."

— The future of the Prospects Tournament — which was two games against Dallas' prospects last weekend — is "undecided, undetermined" for next season, said Yzerman. With the NHL preseason being shortened to allow for two more regular-season games, the issue of prospects tournaments and camps is cloudy around the NHL.

"We'll figure it out and what makes the most sense and best use of the players' time," Yzerman said.

— Yzerman confirmed there are no free agents, at this time, coming into the Wings' training camp on a tryout basis.

— Yzerman was excited for his former teammate Sergei Fedorov, whose No. 91 will be retired by the Wings later this season.

"Fantastic, extremely well deserved," Yzerman said. "He was an extremely important player on our Stanley Cup teams in the 1990s and throughout 2002. It's great for the organization and great for our fan base and very well deserved for Sergei. I had a chance to speak with him after it was announced and he was very excited about it."

Red Wings training camp

— When: Thursday through Saturday at Traverse City's Centre Ice Arena, with players, prospects and tryouts divided into three teams that practice and scrimmage daily.

— Red and White Game: The camp concludes Sunday with the Red and White intra-squad scrimmage at Grand Rapids' Van Andel Arena at 3 p.m.

— Exhibition opener: The Red Wings begin an eight-game exhibition season Sept. 23 at Little Caesars Arena, hosting Chicago.

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