Here's why Detroit Red Wings aren't naming a captain in 2026-27
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL − The Detroit Red Wings are not naming a captain this season as they want to take their time to make the decision.
Key points
- The Wings (7-9-3 entering Thursday) are trying to right themselves after an opening month of turmoil, including the Larkin situation and the contract stalemate involving restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson.
- There's been individuals that have stepped up and we don't know what kind of waters are in front of us and we want to experience them before we give one individual the hands of the wheel," McLellan said.
- "It's a hundred-year-old tradition, it's got deeper meaning, it stands out a little bit more, but I do think with the youth and its courage to show up and play now and attempt things, that leadership is spread out a little bit more.
The Red Wings have been without a captain since stripping Dylan Larkin of the title in the offseason as a result of his demanding to be traded.
"We are in a transition phase in our organization, obviously, with some of the stuff that's going on," coach Todd McLellan said after the Red Wings' morning skate on Thursday, Nov.
Additional details
- Honestly you just try to lead by example every single day, and whether it's in the gym or out on the ice I think you just want to do the right things over and over again.
- "The decision was made going into training camp once we knew − had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen, of how we were going to treat him." Contact Helene St.
- You can't be perfect all the time, but I think just aiming for perfection, I think that's a good example." McLellan said that Seider "damn well is" a dominant leader.
- "Steve wasn't part of this because at that point we didn't know what was going on with Dylan, and Dylan had that 'C' on his jersey and now he doesn't," McLellan said.
- You find the true leaders when it's a little bit rocky." The decision was made after Steve Yzerman was fired on July 15 and before Larkin quit the team on Oct.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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