A report emerged a few days ago in the Detroit Free Press discussing how the Detroit Red Wings missed out on Anthony Mantha and Steven Stamkos.
The report pointed towards indecision from team owner Chris Ilitch, costing the team an opportunity to add two high-end goal scorers.
In Mantha’s case, it would have been a reunion with a former first-round pick. That reunion could have righted a bit of a mistake the team made in trading Mantha back in 2021.
Be that as it may, the report signals a layer of subtext that might explain why the Red Wings have struggled to find a suitable replacement for Steve Yzerman. Just how much autonomy would a GM have in Detroit? After all, the report indicates that ownership has to pretty much approve every move made.
The 2024 Stamkos botched signing, in particular, happened during Yzerman’s watch. So, could it have been that Yzerman had a deal in place, took it to ownership, and then was overridden? Did ownership take so long to make up their minds that Stamkos’ camp ended up choosing another offer?
Those are questions that likely point towards any potential GM facing limitations regarding how much they can act without having to run everything up the totem pole.
Lack of autonomy could turn GM candidates off
If there is indeed a restriction on autonomy, potential GM candidates might think twice about taking on a role. If every trade and signing has to go up the food chain, ownership has to be prepared to respond swiftly.
Otherwise, we’ve seen the cost of hesitation. Both Stamkos and Mantha were right to move on. It’s one thing if ownership nixes a deal because the dollar value is too high. But it’s another thing to just delay decisions.
That’s why up-and-coming NHL executives might look at the situation in Detroit and wonder how much it could hamper their careers’ longevity. One failed tenure in Detroit could cost a younger exec their career.
It might sound outrageous, but that’s how thin the margin for error can be. One bad tenure, regardless of the specific circumstances behind it, could derail a promising career.
So, why risk it?
When will Red Wings name new GM?
Anyone who can answer that question accurately should quit their day job and become a professional soothsayer.
The bottom line is that, based on the information trickling out, there is no firm timeline on what Red Wings fans can expect. The reality of finding a GM before the season begins will become increasingly low.
That’s a situation that will make it tough in training camp. There will be crucial decisions to be made about the roster. Todd McLellan will only have so much power to decide who stays and who goes. Without a GM to at least make the final roster decisions, the outcome could lead to a team devoid of direction.
There is only so much that McLellan can do without full decision-making power. If the Red Wings can’t have someone in place with the proper authority, training camp might get just a bit messy.
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