The news came out on Wednesday that the Detroit Red Wings would be moving forward into the regular season without a captain. The captaincy has been vacant since the retirement of Henrik Zetterberg last month. Frans Nielsen and Dylan Larkin were assigned as new alternate captains for Detroit, but a captain will not be named, most likely for the entire season.
There’s been a throng of fans over the past year or so speculating that Larkin could have ended up, and may still end up, the next Red Wings captain. Larkin himself had some thoughts on this after learning he would be getting the A:
With #RedWings Larkin being named an alternate captain this season, expectation is he'll get the 'C' next season. His thoughts on that possibility: pic.twitter.com/shNf3CAjif
— Will Burchfield (@burchie_kid) October 3, 2018
“In a franchise like this, being from here and seeing some of the greatest players of all time wear a ‘C’ on their Red Wings jersey, it would mean a lot. It’s something that’s not just slapped on there and given. It’s something that you have to earn through your play, and I think all the guys who have worn it in the past were established and had won Stanley Cups and were key players on the team for a long time. I don’t think anything should be given in this league, or in life.”
Red Wings GM Ken Holland also had a few things to say on the matter:
#RedWings Holland: It speaks to (Larkin's) parents. Just turned 22 in July. Zetterberg and Datsyuk became Zetterberg and Datsyuk when they were 25 and 26.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 3, 2018
#RedWings Holland: (Larkin) plays hard every day, is a natural born leader because he plays hard, has a passion. He was at the rink every day. He loves hockey, he's got a passion for hockey. How good can he be? I don't know. I know he's really important to this organization.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 3, 2018
#RedWings Holland: (Larkin's) only going to get better because of his passion for the game and his determination.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 3, 2018
It seems the Red Wings as an organizational whole do not take the captaincy lightly. It is a role that is earned through leadership, determination, and a proven record of excellence. Detroit has only had 3 different captains over the last 32 years. (Steve Yzerman – 1986, Nicklas Lidstrom – 2006, Henrik Zetterberg – 2013).
With the kind of attitude and work ethic that Larkin shows day in and day out, along with the respect that he has for the captaincy, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine him with the ‘C’ on his jersey in the somewhat near future.
