Shawn Horcoff is hanging up his skates, but he has already found a new role in the NHL. Horcoff will join the Detroit Red Wings as a director of player development, calling it a career after 1,008 games. At the age of 38, Horcoff most recently skated with the Anaheim Ducks and will finish with 186 goals and 325 assists.
[link_box id=”22277″ site_id=”17″ layout=”link-box-third” alignment=”alignright”]Horcoff spoke about his new role with the Edmonton Journal:
“It’s a great opportunity for me, especially with my family settled in Detroit and my kids settled in school here.
You know me … I’m not good with doing nothing,” Horcoff said with a laugh.
I need to be doing something, and I always wanted to get into management. I can learn from probably the best organization in the National Hockey League. I did everything I could to get the job when it was presented.
I think I’m built for this role. I’ve been in the NHL trying to bring young guys along, to teach them to be better pros … I was the type of player who really had to work on his game. Do everything possible with off-ice training and summer training to get the most out of my career”
In summary, Horcoff didn’t want to sit around after retiring and immediately found a new job which should be an immediate fit considering he spent his career helping younger skaters adapt and adjust to the NHL.
Horcoff will oversee the club’s drafted prospects down in the AHL, in junior hockey and in Europe. After playing 796 games with the Edmonton Oilers, a team which has brought in and sent out a ton of young talent over the past decade, Horcoff should be a natural.
