Shawn Horcoff’s time as Red Wings interim GM comes with a big promise attached, at least on paper: Chris Ilitch says his people get to run things.
In a 45-minute interview with The Detroit News, the Detroit Red Wings CEO and owner addressed Dylan Larkin, Steve Yzerman and where the organization is headed under Horcoff. The line that jumped out most was Ilitch’s insistence on control and decision-making power.
"I've been highly consistent in giving all of our sports leaders 100% autonomy and authority to make the decisions necessary as they see fit. I've done that from Day One."
That sounds straightforward enough. The issue is whether it will hold up when the Red Wings actually face a real decision. Ilitch can say Horcoff has autonomy, but the bigger question is whether that autonomy exists in practice or only in theory.
The season ahead could answer that quickly. Ilitch said there is a chance Larkin could stay with the team all year, but if Horcoff gets a chance to move him - or if Larkin broadens his trade list - would Ilitch really approve it? Horcoff is interim GM, not the permanent guy.
The easier calls figure to be the routine ones, like extensions for Simon Edvinsson and Alex DeBrincat. The harder test comes if Horcoff wants to swing bigger, whether that means dealing a young prospect for help at a position of need or taking another risk on the roster.
For now, it is difficult to picture Ilitch signing off on anything that feels aggressive. A slow, careful approach seems more likely.
That said, Horcoff could still prove otherwise. He may be given room to make a bold move. But until that actually happens, there is no real proof that he has that kind of freedom.
There is also the question of whether Horcoff even wants the job long term. Sources have said he is not interested in the role full time, though that could always change. One source on the Grand Rapids staff said Horcoff is doing this as a favor to the club and does not want to commit to the position yet.
Ilitch, though, is said to be hoping for a different outcome.
Other sources close to the Red Wings organization have indicated that Horcoff is Ilitch’s preferred candidate. Bringing someone in from inside the organization would be cheaper than hiring from the outside, and the hope is that the interim setup goes well enough for Ilitch to promote from within. That would also help him move past what the source described as a disastrous hire of an external firm.
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