Shawn Horcoff has a new title.
The Red Wings officially named Horcoff interim general manager on Tuesday, the team announced.
Horcoff will now have to navigate the team's 10-year playoff drought and captain Dylan Larkin's trade request.
He will report to Red Wings governor and CEO Chris Ilitch during his interim period.
“As our process continues to find the best possible leader for Red Wings hockey operations, I’m appreciative of Shawn for stepping up to serve in this capacity,” Ilitch said in a statement. “His knowledge of our organization and range of experience allows us to operate with a clear decision-maker in place for the season ahead, while maintaining our commitment to carry out a thorough, methodical search process on our own timeline.
Shawn has my complete support, and the authority to make decisions in the best interests of our organization.
Ilitch added that the team will continue its search for a permanent GM, with Horcoff as one of the candidates for the position.
"Our search has attracted significant interest in the head of hockey operations position from respected leaders across the industry, and several of those candidates, including Shawn, remain under consideration for the permanent role," Ilitch said. "Identifying and hiring the right leader is essential to our franchise's future, and we remain committed to being deliberate and thorough in this process.
We're grateful for our players, staff, and fans for their support as we work toward this pivotal hire.
Horcoff, who was the team's assistant general manager, had been handling GM duties since franchise legend Steve Yzerman abruptly stepped down from the role in July.
Yzerman served as the team's GM since 2019. The Red Wings did not make the playoffs during his entire tenure as general manager.
Ilitch announced Tuesday that Yzerman will officially transition to the role of senior advisor to the governor and CEO.
The timing of Yzerman's move surprised many, as he had just managed the NHL Draft and free-agency rush for the team.
"A thorough evaluation of our hockey operations following this past season's disappointing finish led to discussions with Steve Yzerman and a determination that a change was necessary," Ilitch said of Yzerman's transition on Tuesday. "This decision was driven by our need for a new vision in hockey leadership while preserving organizational continuity through the offseason and stands independent of other matters.
We're grateful for Steve's invaluable contributions and his transition to senior advisor.