Detroit is heading into training camp with an interim general manager, an unsettled captaincy situation and a clear instruction from Shawn Horcoff: the Red Wings are trying to break through, not tear everything down.
Red Wings reject another rebuild as Horcoff takes the controls
Horcoff, speaking publicly for the first time since becoming Detroit’s interim general manager, said the club has too much established talent to consider starting over. His focus is on identifying the changes that can push the Red Wings into the Stanley Cup Playoffs after three near-misses.
“Starting a rebuild is not something I see as an option,” Horcoff said. “There are too many quality players in this group. We have been right there the last three years, and now the question is what gets us past that point.”
Quick facts
- Detroit opens training camp Thursday.
- The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, the longest drought in franchise history and the NHL’s longest active skid.
- Detroit led the Eastern Conference tie-break picture on Jan. 24 and held a 12-point playoff cushion before finishing 9-15-5.
- Shawn Horcoff has worked in Detroit’s front office since 2016 and had been an assistant general manager since February 2022.
- Dylan Larkin requested a trade after last season, and that matter remains unresolved.
- Patrick Kane departed for the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year, $16 million deal on July 23.
The club’s recent history makes the decision to press forward a significant one. Detroit has fallen out of the race late in each of the past three seasons, and last year’s collapse ended with fans booing the team from the ice in its home finale.
The Red Wings had been level with the Carolina Hurricanes atop the East on Jan. 24. From there, the club went 9-15-5 and watched a comfortable playoff position disappear.
Detroit also has not drafted in the top three since selecting center Keith Primeau third overall in 1990. The organization has young talent in the system, but its lack of elite draft positioning during the drought has added to questions about whether its roster has enough game-breaking pieces.
Those questions intensified over the summer. Steve Yzerman moved from general manager to senior adviser to owner Chris Ilitch on July 15, while Larkin’s trade request remained open. Kane, whom the Red Wings had wanted to retain, signed in Chicago eight days later for an $8 million average annual value.
Ilitch said he understands the frustration around the club and shares the desire to build a championship-caliber operation. But he indicated that the next direction would be shaped primarily by the person leading hockey operations, whether that ultimately is Horcoff or another permanent hire.
Horcoff did not wait for a formal resolution to begin running the department. He said the front office started its offseason work in midsummer, in consultation with coach Todd McLellan, rather than standing still during the organizational transition.
“We made the choice internally to get moving immediately,” Horcoff said. “We looked through every area of the organization and asked where we could improve, what needed to change and how we could give the players a better chance to clear that hurdle.”
He said the club was not waiting for ownership to hand down a plan. Detroit’s hockey operations staff continued making decisions intended to strengthen the roster and its support structure.
For Horcoff, the interim label comes with an obvious audition. The former NHL center inherits a club with pressure on every side: a decade-long playoff absence, a star player seeking a new address, and a fan base that has seen promising seasons fade in the final months.
His early approach is to gather input before settling on broader decisions. Horcoff said he wants to hear from players, coaches, management and staff, then keep the organization centered on daily work that can produce results.
“I am thrilled to have this chance,” Horcoff said. “At the start, my responsibility is to listen and support the people here. There are capable people throughout this organization, and I want their ideas on how we get better.”
SEO Title: Detroit Red Wings reject rebuild under interim GM Shawn Horcoff
SEO Description: Shawn Horcoff says the Detroit Red Wings will chase a playoff breakthrough rather than begin another rebuild as training camp opens.
