Dylan Larkin is ready to take on a major role with the Red Wings.
In a season that saw no Red Wings player wearing the coveted “C” on their sweater, the former University of Michigan star and Michigan native “feels like he’s ready” to take on the role as captain.
“I feel ready for it,” the center told TSN. “I think it’s something that I can’t focus on, I can’t lose sleep about it, can’t control it, I just try and be myself and play the game that I love and play with a lot of passion.
“Everyone in the NHL has been a leader at some point in their careers. I’m lucky that we have great veteran leadership and it’s taken a lot of pressure off me, but a letter’s a letter, but being a captain of a franchise like the Detroit Red Wings would mean a lot to me.”
The Red Wings have been without a captain ever since Henrik Zetterberg retired due to back problems just prior to last season. Instead the team opted to go with alternates which Larkin served as one along with forwards Frans Nielsen and Justin Abdelkader as well as defenseman Niklas Kronwall.
In Detroit too the role of captain isn’t a title that’s just given to anyone. I’m pretty sure every Wings fan out there knows just how coveted it is. Ever since Steve Yzerman, the role itself has been one that I can only imagine is meticulously thought over. Hell since Yzerman retired after the 2006 season there’s only been two captains for the Wings, Nicklas Lidstrom and Zetterberg.
Anyways, it only seems fitting too that Larkin is presented the honor the first season Yzerman is back with the team.
