The Detroit Red Wings have hit pause on their search for a permanent general manager and handed the job, on an interim basis, to Shawn Horcoff.
On Tuesday morning, the team named Horcoff interim general manager while also giving him the GM title with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL affiliate. Horcoff had already been serving as the Red Wings’ assistant general manager, so the move keeps him in the middle of the club’s hockey operations while the front office search continues.
According to the team, Horcoff will handle day-to-day roster decisions, salary cap matters and hockey operations personnel during this stretch, with all of it reporting directly to Governor and CEO Chris Ilitch. Detroit said Horcoff will oversee the hockey side with full authority and the organization’s confidence.
The shift comes as the Red Wings keep working toward a permanent replacement for Steve Yzerman, who had been the club’s general manager since 2019. At the same time, Detroit formally announced Yzerman’s move into a new role as Senior Advisor to the Governor and CEO.
In that advisory capacity, the team said Yzerman can serve as an "invaluable resource to leaders throughout the organization" while the search for the next GM continues.
Ilitch said in the statement that Horcoff is still in the mix for the permanent job and could use this opportunity to show what he can do. Ilitch specifically pointed to the possibility of negotiating a new deal with restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson.
The Red Wings also made clear why they were comfortable taking their time. "Identifying and hiring the right leader is essential to our franchise's future, and we remain committed to being deliberate and thorough in this process. We're grateful for our players, staff, and fans for their support as we work toward this pivotal hire," Ilitch said.
The team praised Horcoff as well, saying his work has helped the front office avoid rushing into a decision. "Horcoff has been instrumental to our organization, allowing us to maintain our high standards while conducting a thorough search rather than working against a deadline," the statement read.
"His deep knowledge of our players, contracts, and organization positioned him to lead us during this period. Moving forward, he will oversee our hockey operations with full authority and our complete confidence."
Detroit is working with an outside search firm as it looks for Yzerman’s long-term successor, and the organization has reportedly placed a premium on finding a candidate with a strong analytics background. For now, Horcoff gives the Red Wings a steady hand at the top of the hockey ops department while the search plays out.
His name has also come up outside the organization. Former NHLer and Spittin’ Chiclets podcast host Ryan Whitney, a former teammate of Horcoff’s, has said multiple times on his podcast that he believes Horcoff’s devotion to the game and deep knowledge of the league would make him a strong fit for a full-time GM role.
With Horcoff running the day-to-day operation and Yzerman moving into an advisory role, Detroit’s front office is going through one of its more notable shakeups in recent memory as the club looks for its next lead voice.
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