Dylan Larkin named 37th captain in Red Wings’ history

In a move that comes with very little surprise, the Detroit Red Wings have named Dylan Larkin the team’s 37th captain in franchise history.

The team had operated without a captain through the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons after Henrik Zetterberg, who had most recently worn the “C” unofficially retired due to injury.

The Wings boast a long list of NHL legends who have served as the team’s captain. Zetterberg was captain for six seasons, taking the reigns from Nicklas Lidstrom, who served from 2006-07 to 2011-12 when he became the first-ever European to captain an NHL team to a Stanley Cup.

The team’s current general manager, Steve Yzerman, was captain for two decades, an unprecedented run that saw the team shift from the basement of the league to one of the best dynasties seen in the league. Before that, names like Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Sid Abel, and Ted Lindsay dawned the captaincy in Detroit.

It’s certainly an impressive list and with it comes quite a bit of pressure, but Larkin has proved over the past few years that he’s going to be a key part of the organization’s turnaround.