In his introductory press conference, Detroit Red Wings Assistant General Manager Dan Cleary admitted his first practice as GM of the Grand Rapids Griffins felt "a little weird."
The former assistant director of player development for the Detroit Red Wings would normally be skating on the ice, working with the club's prospects who are playing for the Griffins. But on Tuesday, he found himself standing on the bench, analyzing the team rather than coaching.
Cleary has been in player development for the Red Wings since the 2017-18 season, but last week, the Griffins named the former Red Wing as interim GM of the Griffins.
Much like Shawn Horcoff, Cleary's interim title means he could be replaced at any point this season. It's also possible Cleary makes his case for a permanent role and leads the Griffins for years to come.
The 2026 offseason has been rife with chaos and uncertainty for the Red Wings, and while some of it doesn't directly affect the Griffins, losing their GM certainly does.
In fact, Cleary said Horcoff asked him to be GM of the Griffins soon after Horcoff accepted the Red Wings GM position.
"When Shawn figured out what was happening with him, that's when I found out," Cleary said. "And we've been best friends for a long time. I don't know what else to say. That's how it went, literally. We sat down, and he said, 'OK, If I'm going to be the interim GM here, I want you to run GR.' I said, 'OK.'"
One of Cleary's first tasks: Making moves that will set the Griffins up for a long playoff run.
Cleary's vision for the Griffins
Grand Rapids has suffered early playoff exits for the past three seasons, never making it past the Central Division Finals. Last season's elimination was even more of a gut punch than usual after the historic start and the number of records the 2025-26 team broke.
Last season, the Griffins had the best start in AHL history, going 24-1-0-1 in the first 26 games. The team also earned a point in 17 consecutive road games (15-0-1-1), setting another league record. To top it off, their final record of 56-16-4-1 was the best in the franchise’s 30-year history.
However, after beating the Manitoba Moose in the Central Division Semifinals, they lost to the Chicago Wolves in the Central Division Finals, ending a historic season way too early.
Cleary said he can empathize with the players' disappointment after such an incredible regular season as a former player himself, but he noted the players coming back will learn and grow from the experience.
"You gotta keep knocking on that door," Cleary said. "Eventually, that door will open."
The Griffins return key veterans, including Sheldon Dries, John Leonard, William Lagesson and captain Dominik Shine. But they'll also see an influx of prospects, including Carter Bear (2025 first-round pick), Trey Augustine (2023 second-round pick), Noah Dower-Nilsson (2023 third-round pick) and Kienan Draper (2020 seventh-round pick).
Cleary's role in player development surely will help him as GM. Player development requires relationship building and helping prospects reach their potential. Carrying over those skillsets, Cleary said he anticipates a smooth transition.
"Even the new young guys, I've worked with them so often since they were drafted," he said. "Get to know some of the newer, older guys that are here.
"I told them today I'm a very black-and-white guy; I don't really live in the gray area. So, if you need to know where you stand or what you can do to help you get better, I'm certainly the guy to come and ask."
Griffins coach Dan Watson echoed the idea of a seamless transition for Cleary, noting he's already up to speed on the expectations that both the Red Wings and Griffins have for their respective teams.
"He knows all players inside and out," Watson said. "What they need to work on in their game, what they're really good at in their game already. ... He's been here a ton, whether it's watching games, whether it's here on practice days. He knows how we operate behind the scenes already."
The stage is set for Cleary to put his own mark on this team. But don't think he's just a placeholder for the next hire. When asked whether he would be interested in becoming the permanent GM, Cleary said emphatically, "I sure would."
The Griffins open their regular season in Cleveland, facing the Monsters on Friday and again on Sunday, before their home opener against the Moose on Oct. 9.
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