A Detroit Red Wings fan has launched an online petition demanding that owner Chris Ilitch sell the franchise after the team failed to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th straight season in 2025-26. The petition, created by Jeffrey Allor, accuses the current leadership of losing its way and calls for new ownership to restore the team's winning identity.
Detroit finished the 2025-26 season with a 41-30-9 record but was eliminated from playoff contention in April, leaving the Red Wings with the NHL’s longest active postseason drought after Buffalo ended its own absence. This decade-long stretch without playoff hockey is unprecedented in the franchise’s history, which dates back more than 100 years. The team had previously made the postseason for 25 consecutive seasons between 1991 and 2016 and won 11 Stanley Cups overall, four of which came after Mike and Marian Ilitch bought the team in 1982.
Allor’s petition criticizes not only the failure to qualify for the playoffs but also a series of personnel decisions and trades that fans perceive as missteps. The petition mentions “questionable trades,” missed opportunities in the draft, and instability within the team’s leadership. It also expresses concern about core players potentially leaving, citing captain Dylan Larkin’s trade request during the offseason as an example.
Larkin asked to be traded but showed up for training camp and could remain with Detroit throughout the season. Chris Ilitch acknowledged earlier this month that Larkin might stay with the team for the entire year, leaving his long-term status unresolved. This uncertainty around the captain’s future has added to fan frustration.
The offseason also saw significant changes in the front office. Steve Yzerman stepped down as general manager in July and moved into a senior adviser role, leaving Ilitch in charge of the search for a permanent replacement. With more than 100 candidates considered and an executive search firm hired, the team entered the new season with Shawn Horcoff serving as interim GM. The prolonged search has raised questions about how quickly Ilitch plans to finalize his leadership team.
Despite the petition, there is no indication that the Ilitch family is considering selling the franchise. Chris Ilitch remains the Red Wings’ governor and CEO, overseeing both business and hockey operations. The organization has continued investing in the team and its facilities, and the arrival of a PWHL expansion franchise at Little Caesars Arena this season reflects ongoing community involvement under Ilitch’s leadership.
The Red Wings roster features several young players who could help end the lengthy rebuild and bring Detroit back to the playoffs. Still, the petition reflects a growing impatience among some fans with the current direction of the team and its leadership. While an online petition carries no binding authority, its timing coincides with mounting pressure on Ilitch amid a transition period for the franchise.
Detroit is now in its 101st season, still searching for a way back to postseason success after a decade-long drought. The ownership question, unsettled captaincy, and interim front office leave the organization facing critical decisions as it tries to reclaim its place as a contender in the NHL.
According to Yahoo Sports.
