One of the greatest players to ever don the blue and orange is thriving in his role in Hockeytown, and is quietly becoming general manager material.

<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/shawn-horcoff-interview-detroit-red-wings-assistant-gm-grand-rapids-griffins">Daily Faceoff&#8217;s Anthony Di Marco</a> sat down with former <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> captain<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/best-oilers-from-the-past-25-years-unveiled-in-nhls-quarter-century-team"> Shawn Horcoff</a> to discuss how things are going as the assistant general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, a role he was hired into in 2022 after starting off as director of player personnel shortly after retiring almost six years earlier.
Horcoff admits that getting to serve under experienced GMs like Ken Holland and Steve Yzerman has certainly been worthwhile.
<blockquote>
“I have won the lottery as a young person coming into management: working under Ken Holland to start and then transitioning to Steve Yzerman,” Horcoff said in the interview. “They’re both very different. Ken brought me in and allowed me in on all facets of management, which helped me learn. When Steve and Pat (Verbeek) came in, my role grew and I became more involved in player personnel decisions, sat in on arbitration hearings, contract negotiations&#8230;.There’s no education you can pay for that – to be around people who do it at such a high level and to be able to sit back and watch.”
</blockquote>
Along with working in Detroit, Horcoff is also the GM of the Red Wings&#8217; American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Trail, B.C. native admitted he has to be sure to split his attention evenly between the minors and the big club.
<blockquote>
“I run the team in Grand Rapids, working closely with the coaching and development staff and making sure our plan in Detroit is being executed down there. Secondly, I work closely with Steve on the professional side. I watch a lot of pro hockey and have a big player personnel role.”
</blockquote>
With Horcoff in charge in Grand Rapids, the Red Wings have seen the promotions of everyday players such as forwards Jonatan Berggren and Marco Kasper, as well as defencemen Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson. Not to mention the fact that Detroit has a rising<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-goaltending-help-trey-augustine-sebastian-cossa"> goaltending prospect in Sebastian Cossa.</a> During his tenure solely in charge of player development, Horcoff oversaw the rise of current Red Wing stars Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider.
The former Michigan State Spartan admits that his <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-overcome-two-game-series-deficit-beat-sharks-2006-playoffs">12 seasons with the Oilers</a>, three of which were when he was the team&#8217;s captain, were crucial in helping him not only be a great leader on the ice, but off the ice as well.
<blockquote>
“It has helped massively,&#8221; Horcoff said. &#8220;Leadership in any role in management in any industry is probably the first and foremost thing you’re relied upon for. When it came to player development, I had already kind of been doing my last two or three seasons as a player, being around younger players as the older guy to help impact them. Before I left Edmonton, we drafted a lot of top draft picks in Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle – the list goes on. &#8230; There wasn’t a position or role that I wasn’t comfortable talking about with a younger player. You’re there as a soundboard for these younger guys and help them learn what it takes to stay in the league.”
</blockquote>
Horcoff initially began working for the Red Wings in 2016, right after rounding out his 15-year NHL career with the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks. From being someone who solely worked with prospects and younger players to being one of Yzerman&#8217;s right-hand men, he has become a name that many expect to make the eventual move to becoming an NHL GM. It wouldn&#8217;t be anything new for Yzerman to see one of his proteges find a top job. With the Tampa Bay Lightning, the former Wings captain stepped aside to let Julien BriseBois take over as GM. Pat Verbeek, who once held Horcoff&#8217;s current job, became the Ducks GM in February 2022.
While all signs point to Horcoff being the next man up for some team in the league, he admits he&#8217;s focused on continuing to guide the development of players in Grand Rapids, along with trying to end the Red Wings&#8217; long playoff drought.
<blockquote>
&#8220;I think we’re close and we’ve been right there the past few seasons,” Horcoff said. “We haven’t found a way to get over that hump in the final 15 games or so. A lot of it has to do with being young and inexperienced; we are starting to get some of our high draft picks to turn pro. We have players in Grand Rapids and in Europe looking to make that push (for the NHL). Steve has been very open about being patient and committing to drafting and developing our players.&#8221;
</blockquote>

One of the greatest players to ever don the blue and orange is thriving in his role in Hockeytown, and is quietly becoming general manager material.



<a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/shawn-horcoff-interview-detroit-red-wings-assistant-gm-grand-rapids-griffins">Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco</a> sat down with former <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> captain<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/best-oilers-from-the-past-25-years-unveiled-in-nhls-quarter-century-team"> Shawn Horcoff</a> to discuss how things are going as the assistant general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, a role he was hired into in 2022 after starting off as director of player personnel shortly after retiring almost six years earlier.

Horcoff admits that getting to serve under experienced GMs like Ken Holland and Steve Yzerman has certainly been worthwhile.
<blockquote>
“I have won the lottery as a young person coming into management: working under Ken Holland to start and then transitioning to Steve Yzerman,” Horcoff said in the interview. “They’re both very different. Ken brought me in and allowed me in on all facets of management, which helped me learn. When Steve and Pat (Verbeek) came in, my role grew and I became more involved in player personnel decisions, sat in on arbitration hearings, contract negotiations....There’s no education you can pay for that – to be around people who do it at such a high level and to be able to sit back and watch.”
</blockquote>
Along with working in Detroit, Horcoff is also the GM of the Red Wings' American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Trail, B.C. native admitted he has to be sure to split his attention evenly between the minors and the big club.
<blockquote>
“I run the team in Grand Rapids, working closely with the coaching and development staff and making sure our plan in Detroit is being executed down there. Secondly, I work closely with Steve on the professional side. I watch a lot of pro hockey and have a big player personnel role.”
</blockquote>
With Horcoff in charge in Grand Rapids, the Red Wings have seen the promotions of everyday players such as forwards Jonatan Berggren and Marco Kasper, as well as defencemen Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson. Not to mention the fact that Detroit has a rising<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-goaltending-help-trey-augustine-sebastian-cossa"> goaltending prospect in Sebastian Cossa.</a> During his tenure solely in charge of player development, Horcoff oversaw the rise of current Red Wing stars Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider.

The former Michigan State Spartan admits that his <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-overcome-two-game-series-deficit-beat-sharks-2006-playoffs">12 seasons with the Oilers</a>, three of which were when he was the team's captain, were crucial in helping him not only be a great leader on the ice, but off the ice as well.
<blockquote>
“It has helped massively," Horcoff said. "Leadership in any role in management in any industry is probably the first and foremost thing you’re relied upon for. When it came to player development, I had already kind of been doing my last two or three seasons as a player, being around younger players as the older guy to help impact them. Before I left Edmonton, we drafted a lot of top draft picks in Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle – the list goes on. ... There wasn’t a position or role that I wasn’t comfortable talking about with a younger player. You’re there as a soundboard for these younger guys and help them learn what it takes to stay in the league.”
</blockquote>
Horcoff initially began working for the Red Wings in 2016, right after rounding out his 15-year NHL career with the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks. From being someone who solely worked with prospects and younger players to being one of Yzerman's right-hand men, he has become a name that many expect to make the eventual move to becoming an NHL GM. It wouldn't be anything new for Yzerman to see one of his proteges find a top job. With the Tampa Bay Lightning, the former Wings captain stepped aside to let Julien BriseBois take over as GM. Pat Verbeek, who once held Horcoff's current job, became the Ducks GM in February 2022.

While all signs point to Horcoff being the next man up for some team in the league, he admits he's focused on continuing to guide the development of players in Grand Rapids, along with trying to end the Red Wings' long playoff drought.
<blockquote>
"I think we’re close and we’ve been right there the past few seasons,” Horcoff said. “We haven’t found a way to get over that hump in the final 15 games or so. A lot of it has to do with being young and inexperienced; we are starting to get some of our high draft picks to turn pro. We have players in Grand Rapids and in Europe looking to make that push (for the NHL). Steve has been very open about being patient and committing to drafting and developing our players."
</blockquote>

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