Red Wings introduce 2025-26 season captains: A new player has received a letter
Photo credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images
The Detroit Red Wings organization announced their new leadership group for the 2025-26 season, including a notable change in alternates.
Todd McLellan joined the Detroit Red Wings in December last year, meaning that he gets to start the season behind the bench right from the start for the first time.
With that comes a lot of advantages.
He had time to mold the team to his expectations and strategies, a big difference from last year.
Now that he knows his players, he's in a better position to make decisions for his team and do what it takes to bring the organization back into playoff contention.
Today, the coach announced an important change to the team that could have a positive long-term impact in the locker room.
Todd McLellan Announces New Alternate Captains For 2025-26 Season
With no surprise, Dylan Larkin is set to return as team captain, but the difference from last year will be in the alternates.
Patrick Kane's A has been removed.
Last season, six or seven players rotated the A on their jerseys, but McLellan decided to bring back the usual two-alternate format.
Indeed, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider will be the team's official alternates.
He announced his decision in a recent press conference:
"We'll have a captain and a couple of alternates, and that's where we'll be.
When I got here last year, I knew Larkin was the captain, but we had six, seven rotating A's. I didn't even know who wore them on any given night.
We're Original Six. All my years here (as an assistant coach), there was always a clear definition of who was going to go.
Those younger players are still evolving in that role, and they've got a lot of help around them.
I expect our younger letter wearers to lean on them. They all have good experience. And the ones that were wearing them, I don't expect them to change one bit. So I think we're in a good spot."
When I got here last year, I knew Larkin was the captain, but we had six, seven rotating A's. I didn't even know who wore them on any given night.
We're Original Six. All my years here (as an assistant coach), there was always a clear definition of who was going to go.
Those younger players are still evolving in that role, and they've got a lot of help around them.
I expect our younger letter wearers to lean on them. They all have good experience. And the ones that were wearing them, I don't expect them to change one bit. So I think we're in a good spot."
It may only be a letter on a jersey, but it will also play a role in Seider and Raymond developing as true leaders, sending a strong message about the trust placed in them to lead the team to a Stanley Cup.
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