Red Wings pull desperate move amid GM search and Dylan Larkin trade saga

The Detroit Red Wings are now three weeks removed from the announcement that rocked the hockey world, Steve Yzerman stepping aside as general manager into a senior advisor role. The franchise has yet to name a replacement, and the situation surrounding captain Dylan Larkin's trade request remains frozen in place. But a new development signals just how seriously owner Christopher Ilitch is taking the rebuild of his front office.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Ilitch has hired an outside search firm to help identify Yzerman's successor. A person within the NHL with knowledge of the process confirmed the move, which mirrors the approach the Ilitch family took when they brought in Scott Harris from the San Francisco Giants to lead the Detroit Tigers' baseball operations in 2022.

The hire of a search firm suggests Ilitch is casting a wide net rather than defaulting to an internal candidate. The Red Wings are reportedly looking for an analytics-driven executive, potentially drawing from the mold of organizations like the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes or the Florida Panthers, whose recent back-to-back Cup runs were fueled by data-driven decision-making.

In the meantime, assistant GM Shawn Horcoff is managing day-to-day operations but reportedly does not have the authority to execute trades. That detail matters enormously given Larkin's situation.

It has been two months since news broke that the 30-year-old captain requested a trade shortly after the season ended in April. Despite that, there is no indication the Red Wings are close to moving him.

Max Bultman of The Athletic believes the GM hiring process is still in its early stages. NHL analyst John Shannon has suggested the search could drag into September, raising the real possibility that Larkin remains on the roster when the regular season opens October 2.

The Minnesota Wild have long been considered the most likely destination. According to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, Detroit's asking price has centered on winger Matt Boldy, but Minnesota has no intention of parting with him. The Wild have also struggled to offer young players that interest Detroit, and their limited salary cap space makes absorbing Larkin's $8.7 million average annual value a complicated proposition.

Prediction market Kalshi reportedly shows 75 percent of participants expecting Larkin to still be in a Red Wings uniform when the season begins.

Whoever eventually takes the GM chair will inherit more than just the Larkin file. Restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson still needs a new contract, and winger Alex DeBrincat becomes eligible for unrestricted free agency next July.

As of right now, Detroit sits in an uncomfortable holding pattern. Training camp opens September 17, and the clock is ticking on the biggest front office overhaul the franchise has faced since the passing of Mike Ilitch in 2017.