Reports that the Red Wings are looking to the MLB for their next GM

The Detroit Red Wings are deep into their search for the next person to lead their hockey operations, and by all accounts, the interview process has been moving quickly. Multiple sources confirmed that interviews were already underway last week, with a wide net being cast across the hockey world. But one name on the reported candidate list has raised more than a few eyebrows, and it's not someone you'd expect to find on a hockey team's shortlist.

A Baseball GM in the Mix?

Among the names generating buzz is Jeff Greenberg, the current general manager of the Detroit Tigers. Yes, the baseball team. While that might sound like a bizarre crossover episode, there's actually some logic to it if you squint hard enough. Both the Red Wings and Tigers fall under the Ilitch Sports and Entertainment umbrella, making Greenberg something of a quasi-internal candidate. His office is practically down the hall.

Greenberg's career has actually bounced between the two sports more than most people realize. A Pittsburgh native, he grew up playing club hockey before going the baseball executive route, starting with an internship with the Pittsburgh Pirates and eventually landing front office roles with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. In 2022, he pivoted back to hockey by joining the Chicago Blackhawks as an associate general manager, though he left after just one season. He's since overseen a Tigers turnaround that saw Detroit snap a nine-year playoff drought in 2024, return to the postseason in 2025, and sit just a game out of another berth this season.

Still, the idea of a baseball executive running an NHL franchise feels like a stretch for a team that desperately needs hockey-specific expertise. Fans online were quick to voice skepticism, with some pointing out the irony of people being upset about former players like Horcoff or Draper as potential candidates while a baseball GM apparently gets a pass. Others called it a classic search firm move to simply look at whoever happens to be in the building already.

The Hockey Candidates Who Make More Sense

Fortunately for Wings fans, there are several legitimate hockey executives reportedly in the conversation. Florida Panthers assistant GM Brett Peterson appears to be a strong contender. He's built a stellar reputation in South Florida, playing a key role in helping the cap-strapped Panthers pull off major acquisitions like Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, and Seth Jones. Peterson also served as GM of Team USA at the 2026 World Championships, and after years of success working alongside Bill Zito, he seems more than ready for his own top job.

Another intriguing name is Jeff Kealty, who recently joined the San Jose Sharks as an AGM after spending a remarkable 25 years with the Nashville Predators organization. Kealty climbed from amateur scout all the way to assistant GM in Nashville, and his fingerprints are all over some of the franchise's best draft picks. Players like Pekka Rinne, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Viktor Arvidsson were all found outside the first round under his scouting leadership. He just arrived in San Jose, but the prestige of the Detroit GM title could be tough to turn down. Carolina Hurricanes assistants Darren Yorke and Tyler Dellow are also reportedly on the radar.

Whoever Detroit ultimately selects will inherit a franchise stuck in a decade-long playoff drought, despite the emergence of promising young talent like Simon Edvinsson, Lucas Raymond, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. The next GM will need to be aggressive in building around that core and keeping captain Dylan Larkin happy. Whether that person comes from the hockey world or the baseball diamond remains to be seen, but most Wings fans are hoping it's the former.