What Happened
Detroit Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch told reporters Thursday he understands fan frustration and shares it, speaking ahead of a game against the Flyers according to The Detroit Free Press. Ilitch defended the pace of his search for new hockey operations leadership, saying he is deliberate because finding the right person matters more than hiring quickly. He said he is seeking a president of hockey operations who would decide whether and when to add a general manager.
Key Details
- Ilitch fired general manager Steve Yzerman in July; no permanent replacement has been named.
- Shawn Horcoff was promoted to interim general manager in mid-September.
- Ilitch said he is seeking a president of hockey operations to lead the department.
- Dylan Larkin's trade request and Simon Edvinsson's contract talks remain unresolved.
- Detroit opened 1-3-2 through six games and holds the longest active playoff drought.
- Fans have chanted 'sell the team' at Little Caesars Arena.
What It Means
Detroit entered the season with its playoff drought already the league's longest, and the offseason brought a trade request from its former captain, an unsigned top-pair defenceman and a July change atop the front office. Ilitch's comments signal the search for a president of hockey operations will set the timeline for filling the general manager role, leaving Horcoff in an interim post while the roster questions stay open.
What's Next
Ilitch said the president of hockey operations will decide whether and when to add a general manager, so the timeline for a permanent hire remains open. Larkin's trade request and Edvinsson's contract situation are still unresolved.