Christopher Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Red Wings, has turned to a search firm to find a new general manager after Steve Yzerman stepped down on July 15, 2026. Yzerman served as GM from April 19, 2019, until his transition to a senior advisor role. Assistant GM Shawn Horcoff is managing day-to-day operations, but cannot make trades. The Red Wings now face a critical juncture, with captain Dylan Larkin still requesting a trade since April 15.
Yzerman’s unexpected exit shocked the hockey world, especially coming shortly after he oversaw the draft and free agency. The team has missed the playoffs during his entire tenure, and his timing raised questions about the direction of the franchise. Larkin’s ongoing trade request increases pressure to find a solution. As August progresses, the team remains without clear leadership, and its captain remains dissatisfied.
A Shift Toward Analytics
Ilitch is reported to seek a new GM who prioritizes analytics, similar to how the Detroit Tigers hired analytics-driven president Scott Harris from the Giants in September 2022. The Tigers now emphasize data in management, and Ilitch appears to look for the same in the Red Wings. Currently, the team uses analytics in hockey operations only in an advisory role, not as a core decision-making tool. The new GM is expected to shift strategy to center around analytics.
The Red Wings’ new GM may look to teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, who recently won the Stanley Cup, or the Florida Panthers, whose analytics-driven approach led to consecutive Stanley Cup finals under then-assistant GM Sunny Mehta, now the GM of the New Jersey Devils. Mehta helped build the Panthers’ analytics system in 2014. The Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres also rely heavily on data. These teams will likely serve as models for Ilitch and the search firm as they modernize the Wings’ operations.
This hiring will be one of Ilitch’s most significant decisions since his father, Mike Ilitch, passed in February 2017, when Ken Holland was the GM. In 2018, as his contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning neared its end, Yzerman began his return to Detroit, signaling his eventual role with the Red Wings. He took over a team in disarray in April 2019, initially seen as a chance to rekindle his playing success, including three Stanley Cups. However, the team failed to make the playoffs, and now faces a 10-year drought.
A New Era for the Red Wings
With the 2026-27 season approaching, the Red Wings are preparing for a major shift in leadership style. The new GM will immediately need to handle the Larkin situation and reshape the team. The current use of analytics in hockey operations has not been central to major decisions, but the new leadership is expected to change this. The Wings have an opportunity to break their cycle of underperformance with a data-driven approach. Training camp begins on September 17, and the regular season starts on October 2, leaving little time to finalize the new leadership.
Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com for more updates. The Red Wings’ search is not only about finding a new GM but also about redefining the team’s identity and future. Stability and success are now urgently needed for the franchise.