UPDATED: Report: Tom Wilson to be hired by Ilitches

UPDATE (9:53 PM): NSFMF says the Detroit News:

Detroit’s WXYZ-TV reported Monday evening that Wilson was joining Ilitch Holdings Inc. A spokesman issued a statement afterward saying that while Wilson “would be a terrific additional to any organization,” the company would not comment on his next possible career move.

I’m not sure I would call that a “denial” as much as I would say that it’s a refusal to comment on something that hasn’t been announced. At any rate, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Some sources are saying that there was going to be a press conference possibly as early as tomorrow. Wait and see I suppose…

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Pardon the interruption, but there may actually be some Red Wings related news of note during this Olympic break.

Khan(!):

Tom Wilson, who resigned last week as president and CEO of the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment, will soon be hired by Ilitch Holdings to oversee the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers, according to WXYZ.

The Ilitch takeover continues, and this one signals something we’ve all been hearing about over the past couple of months:

He will spearhead the Red Wings’ efforts to build a new arena in Detroit.

I have to admit, I am VERY surprised to see Ilitch go out and scoop up an old Bill Davidson crony in Tom Wilson, but holy cow, what a bold move. Wilson is regarded as a financial whiz, transforming the Pistons into one of the most valuable franchises in the NBA despite having an arena nowhere near downtown Detroit and competing against one of the most successful hockey franchises in the NHL and their powerful and persuasive ownership group. Yet, somehow, Wilson pulled it off, and the Red Wings/Tigers are going to be much better off because of it.

For the Red Wings, this means that a guy with a proven track record of financial success is now working hand-in-hand with Christopher Ilitch and the rest of the Wings front office as they make preparations for a new arena in downtown Detroit. Wilson was integral in helping get the Palace of Auburn Hillis built, which is now rife with irony considering all of the discussion that has gone on over the past months about the Wings potentially playing at the Palace.

For the Tigers, well, they just inked Justin Verlander to a major deal, as well as landed Johnny Damon, so you do the math.

At the end of the day, this would be a monster win for the Red Wings organization, as well as for all of those who want to ensure that the Red Wings are playing their brand of hockey in downtown Detroit for a long time to come.

Tags: Tom Wilson