It’s the middle of August, and the Detroit Red Wings are still without a general manager, over a month after Steve Yzerman’s departure on July 15. Team owner Chris Ilitch is holding all the cards right now, leading a hunt for a new hockey operations boss whose first massive task will be sorting out the Dylan Larkin situation. This isn’t just a casual search, folks, it’s a high-stakes gamble with the future of the franchise on the line.
Taking Their Sweet Time, and Why It’s Strategic
So Yzerman is out, parting ways with the Wings after they missed the playoffs for a brutal 10th straight year, seven of those under his watch since he took over in April 2019. You’d think after that kind of drought, they’d be rushing to fill the spot, right? Nope. An inside source with knowledge of the Red Wings’ thinking told the Detroit Free Press that they “were never going to let the process or the timeline dictate” their decision. They are committed to being “super thorough” and claim moving on from Steve was “really strategic.” The source even pointed out that right around the Olympic break, they weren’t just contending for a playoff berth, they were actually in first place! That’s why they didn’t make “knee-jerk decisions” back in April. They’ve even hired a search firm, TurnkeyZRG, to narrow down a list that started with over 100 names. This is about finding the right person to “win the Stanley Cup,” which the source says is the “only thing that matters,” and nobody cares more about it than Chris Ilitch.
The Search for a Stanley Cup Savior
Yzerman came in during spring 2019, fresh off the team ending a historic 25-season playoff streak in 2017. He was supposed to turn the whole thing around, but after recent seasons fell way short of expectations, Detroit decided it was time to go in another direction. Ilitch basically challenged everyone to “go find the next leader that’s going to bring a Stanley Cup to Detroit” from anywhere in the hockey world. They’ve started with a massive list of over 100 names and are methodically making their way through it, trying to figure out how to get the perfect fit. While they would like to have someone in place “by training camp,” there’s no specific date set in stone for this critical hire.
This slow-burn strategy means the Red Wings could be running right up against training camp without a new GM, a move that feels like playing with fire. With over 100 names already on the board and the clock ticking towards camp, every single move now is critical for Ilitch and his team. They’re trying to find that one person who can finally deliver a Stanley Cup to Detroit, but will they find them before the Dylan Larkin situation becomes an even bigger headache?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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