The Detroit Red Wings, despite this point in the offseason, have no shortage of potential candidates for their next general manager.
Apart from obvious names like Shawn Horcoff and Kris Draper, other names like Jeff Tambellini of the Tampa Bay Lightning and former general managers like Tom Fitzgerald (a not-so-ideal choice) are on the table.
But if the Red Wings want to nail it in their next era, they need to go in a completely different direction:
They have to hire a general manager with a stronger focus on advanced analytics.
An analytic focus is the future in the NHL
It goes without saying that the future of the NHL rests in the hands of the analytics-minded general managers. Eric Tulsky of the Carolina Hurricanes managed to pull off a Stanley Cup victory without any game-breaking superstar players. The Florida Panthers built their back-to-back franchises off sound analytics and finding the perfect fit for their core.
If the Red Wings want to set themselves apart from the crowd, they need to hire an analytics-minded general manager.
This doesn't mean they need to pick up the first guy with a calculator and spreadsheet, though. That's how John Chayka happened to the Arizona Coyotes. There's a whole spectrum of analytics-minded hockey executives, from Chayka to Kyle Dubas to Eric Tulsky. It's up to the Red Wings to conduct the due dilligence necessary to find the proper successor to Steve Yzerman.
Right now, the Red Wings don't exactly have the premier analytics department. This is why they need to find the perfect candidate to take on the role.
A few candidates that could work
Of all the names, the most intriguing to me is Sam Ventura, Director of Analytics for the Buffalo Sabres. Ventura has worked with both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sabres, helping to build both squads into legitimate threats in both the regular season and postseason. He's a data scientist who created multiple data scraping programs in order to learn the ins and outs of hockey.
His experience across multiple teams in multiple roles makes him a great fit for this position.
Another candidate, Brandon Pridham, is one of the top suitors for teams in search of a general manager. Pridham served as the assistant general manager in the Toronto Maple Leafs for the last eight seasons, taking on the interim role once then-general manager Brad Treliving was relieved of his duties.
Pridham is currently a consultant with the Penguins, which makes him prime for the chance at a much bigger role.
Brett Peterson, while not a traditional analytics-minded GM, would make for an ideal candidate in this role. He's one of the key drivers behind the aggressive philosophy the Florida Panthers have put together in recent years to improve the team. The two-time GM of the Team USA World Juniors roster has experience with the Boston Bruins as well. His fingerprints are all over both perennial playoff teams, making him a great fit for the Red Wings.
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