Detroit — Whoever it is that’ll replace Steve Yzeman as the Red Wings’ general manager will have plenty on the to-do list. There will be very little easing into this job.
There are multiple key items to take care of — some of which could actually happen before a new GM is named, but others that’ll likely linger and fall into the lap of the new boss.
The timing of Wednesday’s announcement remains odd.
The Wings announced Yzerman was going to transition into a senior advisory role, two weeks after the start of unrestricted free agency — Yzerman signing several players — and three weeks after the NHL Entry Draft.
So, Yzerman already did some of the heavy lifting. But other balls remain up in the air, some of which will have great bearing on the Wings’ this season, and for the foreseeable future.
Here are some of the top items on the priority list:
What to do with Dylan Larkin?
You may have heard, the Wings’ captain would like to be traded. But will that still be the case after the new GM is named? After seeing who the new GM is and what the game plan is going forward for the organization, perhaps Larkin will have a change of heart and decide he wants to stay in his hometown. Maybe it simply is a deteriorating relationship with Yzerman that triggered Larkin’s decision to request the trade.
But, possibly, all of this already has gone way too far. Maybe there is no coming back for Larkin, the bridge has been burned. A large, growing segment of fans have some rather strong, ill feelings toward Larkin, blaming him for Yzerman’s departure.
Some fans feel Larkin basically turned his back on the Wings and his teammates.
The new GM will need to figure out what’s best for everyone involved.
Will the Red Wings bring back Patrick Kane?
This one might happen way before the new GM is in place.
It appears Kane’s decision has come down to either joining his hometown Buffalo Sabres or his beloved Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he won three Stanley Cups. After three seasons with the Wings, Kane is likely done in Detroit, and an official announcement could be coming soon.
Was it the turmoil this summer with Larkin and Yzerman? A sense the Wings aren’t getting closer to make the playoffs? Ending his career in either Buffalo or Chicago?
Kane showed toward the end of last season he still has plenty of offense to offer, and the Wings want him back.
That’s likely not going to happen.
What will Simon Edvinsson’s new contract look like?
The restricted free-agent defenseman is due a new contract, and judging by some of the deals around the NHL, it’s likely to be a doozy. Likely more than Yzerman had wanted it to be.
Moritz Seider is the Wings’ highest-paid defenseman, at an $8.5 million annual average value, and Edvinsson likely could eclipse that. A thing to watch, also, is the possibility of another team offering Edvinsson an offer sheet, with a particularly high salary, and the Wings being forced to match.
Yzerman continues to run the day-to-day operations, for now, but with the Wings’ front office in a state of flux, it wouldn’t be shocking to see another team possibly try to take advantage.
What does the future hold for Alex DeBrincat?
DeBrincat can become an unrestricted free agent next July 1, and given the skyrocketing NHL salaries, he’s going to make significantly more than the $7.875 million he’s currently making. A 41-goal scorer, he thrived playing with his long-time linemate Kane — they dominated when both were in Chicago — and energized the Wings with his intensity.
But given Larkin’s uncertain future, along with Kane’s in Detroit, DeBrincat might be thinking of his own future. If anything, the Wings’ new general manager might have some valuable chips to deal at the trade deadline, with DeBrincat, goaltender John Gibson and defenseman Justin Faulk all prospective UFA’s.
They could bring some valuable future draft picks or prospects in return.
What’s the status of Red Wings coach Todd McLellan?
The new GM is highly unlikely to make a head-coaching change, particularly this close to the beginning of a new season. McLellan has done an admirable job in his two seasons with the Wings, making the roster more accountable, though last season’s late-season slide will leave a mark, and was highly disappointing.
In any sport, it’s just natural for a new GM to have a coach they hire and are comfortable with. It’s just the way it is, and it’s understandable.
McLellan is under no pressure now. Nor should he be. But if the Wings don’t perform to a certain level next season, and the GM has no real ties to McLellan, you will hear increasing speculation about McLellan’s job security.
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Next Red Wings GM will face a mountain of a to-do list: Analysis
Reporting by Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
