The Detroit Red Wings currently have Niklas Kronwall and Justin Abdelkader serving as alternate captains. With the departure of Henrik Zetterberg, the door is open to adding a third alternate. Taking this approach will allow a young Dylan Larkin to grow into a leader rather than shoulder the leadership role all at once.
The Wings are anything but cup contenders at the moment, so there is no reason to start sewing a “C” onto someone’s jersey this season or even next.
Longtime Red Wing Gustav Nyquist would have been in consideration if he wasn’t entering the final year of his contract and expected to be moved by the Wings at the trade deadline.