Embed from Getty Images In what turned into an outpouring of vocal shocked and angry fans the Detroit Red Wings announced they would not name a team captain. It has been widely assumed since the team drafted him that Dylan Larkin would be the successor to Henrik Zetterberg. Larkin has been the face of the Detroit rebuild.
Dylan Larkin, Frans Nielsen and Justin Abdelkader will return with an “A” on the front of their sweaters. Luke Glendening will replace newly retired Niklas Kronwall as an alternate captain.
Detroit Red Wings general manager said upon the press conference to announce him as the organizations new architects that he needed time to get to know the entire team. The fact that he is unwilling at this time to place a “C” on a players jersey should come as no surprise.
Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill did say that “we reserve the right to change our mind.” He hinted Dylan Larkin could still be named captain at some point this season, but “right now, that’s not our focus. Our focus is on how we’re going to attack the year.”
Blashill said after talking with new general manager Steve Yzerman, it was determined to go with the four alternates. In my opinion there could be a couple reasons for the decision. Only Yzerman and Blashill know for sure.
The Detroit Red Wings pipeline is the strongest it has been in a very long time. The Red Wings prospects just finished a tournament and players like Joe Veleno and Moritz Seider, showed on ice leadership. With the eyes of the general manager watching.
Yzerman, sat in his box with the rest of his Red Wings staff with him. The smart thinking is he may want to do the same thing for the first month or two of the 2019-20 Red Wings season.
In the grand scheme, this is a good move. It is important to have the right captain. The Red Wings last three captains served a long time. Steve Yzerman 1986-2006, Nicklas Lidstrom 2006-2012 and Henrik Zetterberg 2013-2018.
The choice will come soon enough. But, first the general manager needs to get a pulse on his team.
Need to trust Yzerman, is still weeding through the organization.