TAMPA, Fla. -- Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman is the Tampa Bay Lightning's new general manager, taking on the task of rebuilding a franchise that's fallen on hard times since winning its only Stanley Cup championship six years ago.

The former Detroit Red Wings captain and executive was introduced Tuesday as Brian Lawton's replacement during a press conference at St. Pete Times Forum. Lawton and coach Rick Tocchet were fired April 12.

"This is a long-term project for me. I believe building a Stanley Cup caliber team takes time and there will be many decisions, some lengthy, that will be made over the course of time," Yzerman said.

"There is no easy fix. I don't sit up here with the notion that there is a magic wand I can wave and make changes and we're a Stanley Cup contender. I plan on making the Lightning better for the upcoming season, but the long-term goal is to make this team a perennial contender."

Since retiring in 2006, Yzerman has worked as a vice president for the Red Wings, the only team he played for during a 22-year career in which he scored 692 goals, amassed 1,755 points and was part of three Stanley Cup winners.

The 45-year-old recently led Canada to men's Olympic hockey gold as Hockey Canada executive director at the Vancouver Games.

Tampa Bay's new owner, Jeff Vinik, fired Lawton and Tocchet after the struggling franchise missed the playoffs for the third straight season. The Lightning went 34-36-12 this season and were 53-69-26 in just under two seasons under Tocchet.

Detroit owners Mike and Marian Ilitch congratulated Yzerman but said his departure was hard on them, the team and the city.

"Steve Yzerman ... has been synonymous with the Red Wings and Hockeytown for as long as most of us can remember," they said in a statement. "We drafted him as a young and shy 18 year old -- just a year after we bought the team -- and he has been part of it all: the ups and downs, highs and lows, the [pStanley] Cups, the celebrations, really everything Red Wings over the last 27 years."

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.

"After talking to many people throughout the league, I came to the conclusion that Steve was the person to bring a winning culture back to this team," Vinik said.

"Steve is in charge of all hockey-related decisions," the owner added. "He does answer to me, but I trust his judgment and his insight."

Many felt Yzerman would be reluctant to leave the only club he had worked for, however he relished a chance to be a GM and had conceded he might have to leave Detroit to get that opportunity.

"I have mixed emotions, both good and sad," said Red Wings senior vice president Jim Devellano, who drafted Yzerman fourth overall in 1983 and watched him lead the franchise's turnaround on the ice.

"He's been such an integral part of the Red Wings for 27 years, first as a player and then as a front-office person," Devellano added. "I'm sad for us, but happy for him to get this wonderful opportunity."