If Dylan Larkin is one day going to wear the 'C' that Steve Yzerman wore for 19 years in Detroit, Yzerman first wants to watch Larkin up close.
For the second straight year, the Red Wings will not elect a captain, instead going with four alternates to start the season: Larkin, Justin Abdelkader, Frans Nielsen and Luke Glendening.
The former three were also alternates last season, while Glendening takes over for Niklas Kronwall, who announced his retirement last week.
Jeff Blashill announced the news Thursday upon the start of training camp in Traverse City. In conversations with Yzerman, Blashill said, the two decided it makes sense for the first-year GM to get a feel for the team before they choose a captain.
Blashill added that the Wings won't necessarily roll with four alternates all season, meaning Larkin could assume the captaincy midseason if he's deemed worthy.
Blashill said he talked with Steve Yzerman and they agreed it's better not to name a captain until the new GM gets to know the team better so they'll start with 4 alternates. He said they reserve the right to change their mind.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) September 12, 2019"Steve and I discussed through it through the course of the summer and with Steve being new to the organization regarding the current players, it gives him a chance to get to know everybody involved," Blashill said, via the Free Press. "We feel with adding Luke it gives us four really strong voices and a good group of leaders."
Larkin, 23, is Detroit's best player and has become the face of the franchise since Henrik Zetterberg retired. It's only a matter of time before he's named captain.
But it sounds like Yzerman won't hand over the 'C' until he sees for himself that Larkin is ready.
