The Detroit Red Wings’ search for a new general manager has reportedly led them to Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Red Wings have potentially engaged in discussions with Peterson, whose name has continued to surface around league front-office openings. Peterson was also in the mix for several jobs earlier this summer, including the Toronto Maple Leafs position, which went to John Chayka, and the Nashville Predators opening, which Chris MacFarland took.
Peterson has been with Florida since the 2020-21 season and has served as an assistant GM with the Panthers during that span. He has also handled GM duties for Team USA at the World Championship twice.
Detroit’s vacancy opened when Steve Yzerman stepped down as GM and shifted into a senior advisor role on July 15. Since then, the Red Wings have been working through a search as the franchise tries to sort out its next direction.
The timing matters because the pressure around the organization is already heavy. Detroit owns the NHL’s longest active playoff drought, and captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade this off-season. Under Yzerman, the club repeatedly fell short of expectations, leaving fans frustrated and the team’s path forward far from clear.
Friedman also floated another name tied to Florida’s front-office picture: Jeff Keatly, a San Jose Sharks assistant GM, as a possible option for the Panthers’ GM job. Keatly has been in the NHL since the 2001-02 season and has held a series of roles with the Predators, including amateur scout, director of amateur scouting, director of scouting and assistant GM.
Compared with Peterson, Keatly brings more NHL experience. Still, Peterson has built a strong early résumé in a relatively short time at the league level.
Another name that has come up in Detroit’s search is Jeff Greenberg, currently the GM of the Detroit Tigers in MLB. Greenberg previously worked as an assistant GM of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23.
The Red Wings’ GM process remains ongoing, and the organization is taking its time as it navigates what the source described as a critical, fragile era for the franchise.
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