Red Wings drop Dylan Larkin as team captain: Who will rock the 'C' patch next?

Larkin, 30, had been the team captain for almost six full years after he was given the 'C' patch on January 13, 2021. Now, the Red Wings will enter the upcoming season without a captain as they continue to handle the situation.

The team states that any progress involving Larkin's trade request and finding a new captain will continue once team CEO Chris Ilitch hires new hockey operations leadership.

Former general manager Steve Yzerman moved into a senior advisor role for Ilitch back in July.

Red Wings captain candidates

Usually, one of the alternate captains will step in as the team's new captain when there's a vacancy. For the Red Wings, this means the top two candidates are Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider.

Raymond, 24, is entering his sixth year in the NHL - all with the Red Wings. The Swedish winger has put up at least 25 goals and at least 40 assists in each of the past three seasons, with 25 goals and a team-leading 51 assists during this past year.

It would fall in line, age-wise, as Larkin was also named captain of the Red Wings when he was 24. 

As for Seider, 25, whom many think will be the choice, he has the chance to become the first Red Wings defenseman since the legendary Nicklas Lidstrom to rock the 'C'. 

He, like Raymond, is also entering his sixth season. Seider has played in every single regular season game for the Red Wings since making his debut at the start of the 2020-2021 season.

The German defenseman is also coming off a career year, posting a career-high in both goals (10) and assists (50, second-most on the team), placing fifth in Norris Trophy voting this past season. 

A third, but outlying, candidate is Ben Chiarot. The 35-year-old is entering his 14th season (fifth with the Red Wings) and will undoubtedly be the veteran choice. Chiarot already rocked the 'A' patch during his 2021-2022 season with the Montreal Canadiens and even on and off with the Red Wings. 

Chiarot hasn't missed more than six games in a single season for the Red Wings and could be a placeholder captain for the season before the team commits to someone younger for the long haul. However, Chiarot is under contract with the team for the next three seasons.

The vet put up five goals and 10 assists in 82 games while putting up 170 hits last season - two short of a career high. 

Another option that is creating buzz among fans as a favorite choice is forward Alex DeBrincat. The veteran winger led the Red Wings with 41 goals last season, tying a career high. Since joining Detroit three years ago, DeBrincat has emerged as a star for the team. 

The 28-year-old is entering his 10th year in the league. The argument against giving DeBrincat the 'C' is that he's in the final year of his four-year, $31.5 million contract. The team is truly committed to signing him to a new long-term deal. 

DeBrincat himself recently came out and said that he wants to stay with the Red Wings, but is putting off contract talk until the team finds a new GM. 

“When a new GM (is announced), I’m sure there’s going to be some conversations, but you know, as of right now, my opinion hasn’t changed,” said DeBrincat.

“I love playing for the Red Wings. I love wearing that jersey and battling with those guys out there. My intention is obviously to stay in Detroit. We’ll see what happens, I guess.”

And for someone who is openly stating he wants to stay with the Red Wings, while the now-former captain wants to leave, it could prove to be major brownie points for DeBrincat.