The Detroit Red Wings are taking decisive action to keep the franchise on steady footing while the front‑office search continues. On Tuesday, team ownership confirmed that longtime assistant Shawn Horcoff has been named interim general manager, effective immediately.
Why Horcoff was chosen
Horcoff brings a deep knowledge of the organization, having served as the Red Wings’ assistant general manager and previously as general manager of the Grand Rapids Griffins, the club’s AHL affiliate. In his new interim role, he will oversee day‑to‑day roster decisions, manage the salary‑cap, and direct hockey‑operations personnel for the Red Wings.
Leadership’s statement
CEO Chris Ilitch praised Horcoff’s experience, saying, “As our process continues to find the best possible leader for Red Wings hockey operations, I’m appreciative of Shawn for stepping up to serve in this capacity. His knowledge of our organization and range of experience allows us to operate with a clear decision‑maker in place for the season ahead, while maintaining our commitment to carry out a thorough, methodical search process on our own timeline.” Ilitch added that Horcoff has his “complete support, and the authority to make decisions in the best interests of our organization.”
Steve Yzerman’s new role
Legendary former player and current senior advisor Steve Yzerman will transition to a senior advisory position with Ilitch, continuing to lend his strategic insight while the team evaluates candidates for the permanent general‑manager slot.
Search process and timeline
Ilitch emphasized that the search has attracted significant interest from respected leaders across the hockey industry. He noted that several of those candidates, including Horcoff, remain under consideration for the permanent role. “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,” he said. The organization plans to keep fans, players and staff informed as the process moves forward.
What’s next for the Red Wings
Training camp opens Thursday in Detroit, with preseason action slated to begin on Sept. 21. The interim appointment ensures that roster decisions, contract negotiations and other operational matters can proceed without interruption, giving the team a clear chain of command as it prepares for the upcoming season.
Red Wings supporters can look forward to a focused, methodical approach to building a competitive roster, guided by Horcoff’s experience and Yzerman’s continued advisory presence. The franchise remains committed to its proud tradition of excellence on and off the ice, and to delivering a winning product for the city of Detroit.
Original reporting: Warren | FOX 2 Detroit — read the source article.
