Of Red Wings-related note this morning, on a source-by-source basis:
Detroit Free Press: Helene St. James discusses the most popular theory as to how the Red Wings should move forward, managerially speaking, via hiring both an analytics-oriented general manager, and a more traditional president of hockey operations:
It could make sense to have someone with [Brendan] Shanahan’s cachet as the top man, with another hire serving as general manager. In Toronto, GMs were in charge of trades, with some involvement from Shanahan.
Analytics are a growing trend in the NHL – the Leafs just hired John Chayka, who in 2016 was the buzz of the hockey world when his hire by the Arizona Coyotes, based on his data-driven approach, made him the youngest GM in NHL history. Chayka’s hire as Toronto’s head of hockey operations in May came bundled with the addition of Mats Sundin, a Hall of Fame player with little front-office experience, as a “senior executive advisor of hockey operations.”
Elsewhere in the league, the analytics-driven Carolina Hurricanes just won the Stanley Cup, following a two-season Cup run by the Florida Panthers fueled by the analytics department championed by then-assistant GM Sunny Mehta. Likewise, the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils (who just hired Mehta, who started New Jersey’s analytics department in 2014, as GM) and the Colorado Avalanche are also very analytically driven. In April, the Avalanche hosted an analytics event that drew 300 people, including analysts representing all 32 NHL teams.
[Red Wings CEO Christopher] Ilitch may find the GM he’s looking for by mining the front offices of those teams, while keeping an experienced executive like Shanahan in the driver’s seat.
Detroit Hockey Now: Kevin Allen suggests that the Red Wings give heavy consideration to hiring their former salary cap expert in New York Rangers assistant GM Ryan Martin:
New York Rangers assistant general manager Ryan Martin spent 16 years as Detroit’s assistant general manager and only one of those was with Steve Yzerman.
He is well-respected, evidenced by the fact he was in the interview mix for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators GM positions that went to John Chayka and Chris MacFarland, respectively. He has contract negotiation, talent evaluation and team building in his background. He did an excellent job working with the Grand Rapids Griffins when he was in Detroit. He has strong ties to USA Hockey, working with junior and senior national teams. Martin has developed relationships with many players because of his work with USA Hockey.
Based on what I’ve been told, Martin has embraced a modern approach to the game. He will interview well and can measure up to the other trendy assistant general managers who will be granted interviews.
Shifting gears, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff reports that former Red Wings 1st round pick Jakub Kindl, who spent this past season playing for the Bordeaux Boxers, who won the French League championship, is at a career crossroads:
On Thursday, Kindl, 39, announced that he would not be returning to the French club for next season.
“He brought his experience, discipline, positional skills, and passing to the game,” the club said in a release on their web page announcing Kindl’s departure. “And also his personality, which integrated into the team without any problems.”
The club described the one-time Red Wings player as “a true giant of the hockey world.”
In 37 games, Kindl accounted for four goals and 17 assists. He won his second title in three seasons. In 2023-24, the former Detroit rearguard helped Storhamer to win the Norwegian League title.
The veteran defenseman has not indicated that he will be retiring from the game.
The Hockey News: It took the Hockey Newes’s Michael Whitaker a while to get to it, but he offered a Friday night column wondering aloud whether Steve Yzerman’s departure may yield to Dylan Larkin changing his mind about leaving the Red Wings:
The Detroit Red Wings organization as a whole is in unfamiliar territory, entering a crossroads that started in April when they took ownership of the NHL’s longest current playoff drought at 10 years and counting.
Not only do they now hold the longest drought in franchise history, which is now a century, but they were also rocked by the trade request of homegrown captain Dylan Larkin in early June.
What’s more, it was announced earlier this week that the club is undergoing a major leadership transition, as GM Steve Yzerman stepped down from his role.
This begs the question: whoever ultimately takes over the general manager position for the Red Wings, can he convince Larkin to change his mind?
(I don’t think that “the split” can be rectified, but that’s just my opinion)…
Ontario Hockey League: Finally, the Ontario Hockey League’s Breanna McNeill examined the Red Wings’ prospects who will spend this upcoming season playing for OHL teams…
Adam Levac (C) – Peterborough Petes (2024-26)
Selected: 4th Round, 108th Overall (2026)
OHL Career Stats: 117 GP, 22G, 32A, 54 PTS, -22
Age: 18
With the 108th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Detroit Red Wings selected Peterborough Petes forward Adam Levac. The Embrun, Ont., native enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign, more than tripling his offensive production by recording 44 points (16-28–44) in 60 regular-season games.
Beckham Edwards (C) – Sarnia Sting (2024-26)
Selected: 5th Round, 143rd Overall (2026)
OHL Career Stats: 126 GP, 44G, 46A, 90 PTS, -35
Age: 18
The Detroit Red Wings selected Sarnia Sting centreman Beckham Edwards in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Edwards posted his second consecutive 45-point season, recording 19 goals and 26 assists in 68 games. He also represented Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, producing four points (2-2–4) in five games.
Michal Svrcek (C/W) – Windsor Spitfires (2026-27)
Selected: 4th Round, 119th Overall (2025)
2025-26 Stats (Brynäs IF U20): 11 GP, 6G, 12A, 18 PTS, +8
Age: 19
Following his CHL Import Draft selection by Windsor in 2025, Michal Svrcek remained with Brynäs IF, recording 18 points (6-12–18) in 11 J20 Nationell games. Internationally, the 6-foot forward represented Slovakia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, contributing a goal and an assist in five games. He is set to make his OHL debut with the Spitfires this fall.
As well as two OHL alumni who will be playing in the Red Wings’ system this upcoming year:
Chase Stillman (RW/LW) – Sudbury Wolves (2019-22), Peterborough Petes (2022-23)
Signed: Jul. 5, 2026
OHL Career Stats: 176 GP, 51G, 80A, 131 PTS, -31
Age: 23
Recently acquired by the Detroit Red Wings, Chase Stillman spent the 2025-26 season with the Abbotsford Canucks, recording nine points (3-6–9) and 48 penalty minutes in 24 games. Originally selected 29th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 NHL Draft, the former J. Ross Robertson Cup champion, has accumulated 45 points (21-24–45) and 174 penalty minutes across 143 AHL games with Utica, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Abbotsford since 2023-24.
Cameron Butler (RW/LW) – Peterborough Petes (2018-20), Niagara IceDogs (2020-2022), Oshawa Generals (2022-23)
Signed: Jul. 1, 2026
OHL Career Stats: 257 GP, 74G, 80A, 154 PTS, -84
Age: 24
Also joining the Red Wings organization this summer, Cameron Butler split the 2025-26 season between the AHL’s Iowa Wild and the ECHL’s Iowa Heartlanders. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound forward recorded one goal in 16 AHL games while adding 20 points (9-11–20) and 77 penalty minutes in 30 ECHL contests. Originally signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Butler made his NHL debut on March 30, 2024.
