Austin Konenski
The Detroit Red Wings have eight games to avoid a disaster. After Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman traded a first-round pick and more for defenseman Justin Faulk, Detroit has collapsed. The team is one point out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with no first-round pick. However, Yzerman’s job could also be in jeopardy.
Yzerman’s job as Detroit’s general manager could be in trouble if the Red Wings miss the playoffs, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast. The former Red Wings forward has been Detroit’s general manager since April 2019 after stepping down from the same position with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Red Wings haven’t made the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2016, and time is running out for the team to make it during the 2026 NHL season. After a horrible stretch of games in March, Detroit needs to step up as an organization over the next two weeks, or Yzerman may not be the general manager soon.
Potential replacements if Steve Yzerman departs the Detroit Red Wings
If the Red Wings miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs after being in a great position over the winter, the patience might run out with Yzerman. Detroit could look in a different direction to give the team a better future. If so, who could replace Yzerman as the Red Wings’ general manager?
Friedman suggested an alternate theory on what Detroit could do with Yzerman. The NHL insider proposed the possibility of Yzerman becoming the president of hockey operations while promoting Kris Draper or Shawn Horcoff as the new general manager.
Draper is the current director of amateur scouting and assistant general manager for the Red Wings. The 50-year-old spent 17 years in Detroit as a player and has been with the organization since 2011. Horcoff is also an assistant general manager for Detroit; however, he might have more appeal due to his other work.
The 47-year-old is the general manager of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, which has been breaking records left and right during the 2025-26 AHL season. It might not be very desirable to promote from within the organization, but Horcoff would be the best internal option.
Detroit needs to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as another collapse would be detrimental for the entire organization. The players haven’t been living up to expectations, and that ultimately lands on everyone. If things don’t change soon, Yzerman could be out as the Red Wings’ general manager.
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