When Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press announced that the Detroit Red Wings are hiring an outside firm to search for their next general manager, questions soon followed.
Some wondered how closely the new general manager would stick to Steve Yzerman's vision. Others speculated that the Red Wings would ultimately stick with an internal candidate. Fortunately, we have a little more clarity on that front. Top NHL insider Elliotte Friedman joined NHL Tonight this week to discuss the GM search and how things are going.
"I do believe they're going to see their initial beginning interview process begin sometime next week," Friedman said.
Autonomy a huge factor for next GM
Friedman went on to express two major benefits for the next general manager. "The most interesting thing I understand about it is that the Red Wings are very serious about making sure candidates know they have full autonomy," he began. "The Red Wings are making it very clear that there is no shortage of resources in terms of what they may need."
The next general manager, no matter their background, will have all the tools they need to find success. Friedman indicated that this is a job that will garner a lot of interest, given Detroit's history and willingness to provide any resources needed. Additionally, he pointed out that the Red Wings are open-minded about the role getting split between general manager and president of hockey operations roles.
New GM needs to come in with a plan
The most important thing that the Red Wings want, according to Friedman, is a plan.
"They've made it pretty clear they want whoever joins needs to come in with a plan. The candidate needs to show they can make Michigan and Detroit a destination."
It's not the toughest job in the NHL, but it's certainly one that will require a bit of work. Unfortunately, the Original Six moniker doesn't carry the same weight it used to. The new general manager needs to plan for everything, from attracting talent to building Hockeytown back up to its former glory. This quote, however, indicates that the executives and ownership group recognize the problems Detroit faces. They know how hard it can be to compete in today's NHL and are willing to do whatever it takes to bring the team back to contention.
Red Wings may find outside candidate for GM
The biggest surprise came at the end of the interview.
"It might not be a traditional 'hockey person' -- it might be different," Friedman added. "There's one name I want to mention that I don't think has been out there a lot. His name is Jeff Greenberg, he's the general manager of the Detroit Tigers."
Greenberg worked as the assistant general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2022-23 season before joining the Tigers. The Tigers, coincidentally, are also owned by the Ilitch family. Greenberg's close proximity to the ownership group may give him a bit of an edge with the interview process.
That said, Friedman made sure to stress that no candidate in particular is a lock for the position. Since this recruitment process is handled by an outside firm, they'll be able to put individual biases aside in order to recruit the best possible candidate.
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