The Free Press’s Helene St. James suggests that the Red Wings delay naming a captain for another season this morning. St. James argues that the pandemic would take away from the magnitude of an event that deserves to be celebrated:
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman may want to change the plans he made last May, because his decision is worth more pomp and circumstance than the pandemic allows.
Yzerman, the longest serving captain in NHL history, has wanted to put a “C” on a Wings player before the start of the 2020-21 season, but that seems unlikely as COVID-19 continues to dominate every aspect of our lives.
It isn’t even so much that 2021 will be a shortened season, but that the announcement can’t be garner the attention it deserves. If it’s done at a news conference, it will be via Zoom. If it’s before a game, there’ll be few — if any — fans to cheer the team’s first captain since 2018.
Continued (paywall)
I don’t agree with HSJ. I think the pandemic has already robbed us of so much and delaying the naming of a new Red Wings captain…..ahem….Dylan Larkin, would be just one more disappointment. I, for one, welcome the announcement sooner than later.
Liar Liar HSJ, Mr GM Stevie Yzerman suggested this year, if it happens, is not a good year to pick a captain. He is right, maybe 3 rotating Vets or 3 Assistant Captains share the C.
Whatever Stevie Y Decides is fine by me.
She must be old enough to retire, I hope!!!
Yzerman said that last year when he rejoined the organization. He stated that Red Wings captains serve long term and he needed time to familiarize himself with the roster. At some point towards the end of the season, he said there would be a new captain announced before the next season.
Maybe that changed over the long offseason and got past me…but I haven’t heard a change in stance by him.
Steve said that he would be naming a captain prior to the 20-21 season during his first post-free agency Zoom call. We’ll see whether that bears fruit!