It’s in the Detroit Red Wings best interest to roll with Three Alternate Captains

It would be wise for Detroit Red Wings to be patient and not rush to name Henrik Zetterberg’s successor.  Detroit should consider three alternates on a nightly basis allowing the next leader to emerge.

It’s in the Detroit Red Wings best interest to hold off on naming a new captain.  Detroit should entertain taking the same approach as the Toronto Maples Leafs have done.  The Leafs have been running three alternate captains since the departure of Dion Phaneuf.

The Detroit Red Wings are quite a ways away from contending.  There is no need to rush and name a veteran player that won’t be here for many years as captain just for a season or two.  Detroit in recent memory is used to having a string of captains leading the team for multiple years.  After the long tenure of Steve Yzerman was complete, Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg both dawned the “C” for six seasons each.

The Detroit Red Wings we expect will name Dylan Larkin as their next captain at some point, but it may not be for a year or two.  Detroit is nearing the end of an era and soon will be turning the page and entering a much needed but often avoided, full-blown rebuild.

Zetterberg is finished, Kronwall is expecting to be entering his final NHL season.  Jonathan Ericsson is nearing the end (finally).  Trevor Daley and Mike Green are going to be trade candidates in a year and a half.  Gustav Nyquist and Thomas Vanek will be on the move serving as rentals elsewhere as the season grows old and the trade deadline approaches.

With the Detroit Red Wings franchise finally set to see a complete rebuild, why rush to name a captain just to name one?  Detroit should run three “A’s” for a couple of seasons until the next core of players have been solidified.  After that, the permanent letters can be earned, and it would be a good time to award new leadership throughout the franchise.

It will be interesting to see what the Detroit Red Wings do in this regard.  If they unexpectedly decide to name a captain immediately, I think it would be Niklas Kronwall.  I don’t see it happening and it would make little sense to me given his age and knowing the end of his playing career is creeping up.

If the Detroit Red Wings don’t like the idea of three alternates on a nightly basis and are looking towards the long term, the choice is Dylan Larkin.  Like I previously mentioned I think this is the desired route but it will be a year or two away.

I hope the organization is patient in this regard.  I hope they don’t name a captain just to have a “C” on the ice.  Let Dylan Larkin grow into the role, and hopefully, he can thrive once the time comes.