Updated 3x at 12:43 PM: The Detroit Red Wings have named Shawn Horcoff their interim general manager, and they tipped the beat writers off to this development, as the Athletic’s Max Bultman had a piece ready to go at 10 AM…
The Red Wings begin training camp on Thursday but have yet to settle on a permanent top executive after a search that began July 15, when Steve Yzerman was removed from his position as general manager and moved into a senior adviser role.
The move gives Horcoff the latitude to handle day-to-day operations and complete the team’s most urgent piece of business, signing top-pair defenseman Simon Edvinsson to a new contract. Beyond that, though, the team’s No. 1 center, Dylan Larkin, requested a trade earlier this summer, and having an interim general manager at the helm could make the now-former captain’s request even more difficult to resolve before camp, or even the first games.
“We’re focused on identifying an innovative decision-maker who can lead the Red Wings to Stanley Cup success,” Illitch said in the news release. “We’ve had substantive conversations with talented executives over the past two months, and it’s been gratifying to see such strong interest in this organization and the caliber of candidates involved. This reflects our confidence in where this organization is headed. Our search continues, and we’re excited about the path forward. We’ll share updates when we have something meaningful to announce.”
As did the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:
Horcoff, who’ll turn 48 Thursday, joined the Wings’ organization in 2016 as assistant director of player development and has steadily seen his role increase.
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The odd timing of replacing Yzerman, several weeks after every team had set its front office for the upcoming season and had gone through the NHL Entry Draft and unrestricted free agency, made the Wings’ task increasingly difficult.
The Wings also preferred to have an executive who was astute and favorable to analytics, similar to the way Ilitch’s Tigers baseball team is under the direction of Scott Harris, president of baseball operations, and an Ilitch hire.
Horcoff has some big issues to deal with as training camp begins.
Dylan Larkin requested a trade in June but will report to training camp this week. The Wings have stripped Larkin of his team captaincy.
The Wings also need to re-sign defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who is a restricted free agent. Edvinsson is expected to report to training camp.
Ditto for WXYZ’s Max White…
On the transition from Steve Yzerman and its timing
“A thorough evaluation of our hockey operations following this past season’s disappointing finish led to discussions with Steve Yzerman and a determination that a change was necessary. This decision was driven by our need for a new vision in hockey leadership while preserving organizational continuity through the offseason and stands independent of other matters. We’re grateful for Steve’s invaluable contributions and his transition to senior advisor.”
On our search and where it now stands
“We’re focused on identifying an innovative decision maker who can lead the Red Wings to Stanley Cup success. We’ve had substantive conversations with talented executives over the past two months, and it’s been gratifying to see such strong interest in this organization and the caliber of candidates involved. This reflects our confidence in where this organization is headed. Our search continues, and we’re excited about the path forward. We’ll share updates when we have something meaningful to announce,” the team said in the release.
Update: Here’s the Free Press’s Helene St. James:
Most immediately, Horcoff is on the clock to get restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson signed to a new contract. If it’s done by end of day on Sept. 15, there’s still a chance for an eight-year deal; after that, teams are limited to signing their own players for seven years.
The team also announced Yzerman will officially transition to his new role of senior advisor to Ilitch.
Horcoff presents the smoothest way forward as Ilitch and his inner circle search for new leadership to guide a team that has missed the playoffs that last spring grew to an active NHL-record 10th consecutive year.
“Our search has attracted significant interest in the head of hockey operations position from respected leaders across the industry, and several of those candidates, including Shawn, remain under consideration for the permanent role,” Ilitch said. “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.”
Update #2: Here’s Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:
The ability to make trades and sign players is critical because the Red Wings start training camp Thursday and they still don’t restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson signed. Dylan Larkin is coming to training camp, but he has asked to be traded. The Red Wings need to start negotiating with Alex DeBrincat immediately because he will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The Red Wings said Steve Yzerman is moving to a role as advisor to Ilitch.
Update #3: Here’s MLive’s Ansar Khan, offering a to-do list for Horcoff:
Simon Edvinsson: He’s a restricted free agent who’s been waiting for someone to negotiate a contract with his agent. He will report to camp but needs to be signed before the start of the regular season on Oct. 2.
Actually, he needs to be signed by 11:59 p.m. tonight to get the maximum eight-year term. The NHL’s new CBA that goes into effect Wednesday limits contracts to seven years. The way salaries have escalated this summer, Edvinsson could soon become the team’s highest-paid player, perhaps getting a deal with an AAV around $10 million. That would be comparable to the eight-year, $75.04 million deal Zeev Buium signed recently with Vancouver ($9.38 million AAV).
Dylan Larkin: With Yzerman out of the picture, might Larkin rescind his trade request? Horcoff needs to convince him to stay. They’re not going to be able to replace his offense (30 or more goals five years in a row), especially at his club-friendly cost ($8.7 million average annual value the next five years — $7.7 million in average salary), and the organization is thin at center.
Larkin didn’t reveal much in the statement the club released last Friday but indicated he is preparing to play for the Red Wings this season. Even if Larkin still wants out, Horcoff shouldn’t just take the best offer; he should wait it out for fair-market value, if such a deal is even possible. The team has the leverage; it doesn’t need to do anything.
Alex DeBrincat: Unlike Larkin, this metro-Detroit native has stated his desire to remain with the Red Wings, and that’s good for the organization because 41-goal scorers aren’t easy to find.
Like Edvinsson, DeBrincat would need to be signed today to get the maximum eight-year term. But unless talks started long ago, that’s not going to happen. So Horcoff must get a deal done, for up to seven years, at some point before the March 1 trade deadline. That shouldn’t be a problem, you would think. DeBrincat will get a hefty bump from his current $7.875 million cap hit, to perhaps the $12 million-a-year range.