Updated 2x at 7:37 PM: The Red Wings’ beat writers are beginning to file their stories regarding Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s press conference from earlier this afternoon…
Of note from MLive’s Ansar Khan comes this regarding the Wings’ captaincy:
“We haven’t figured out exactly how we’ll roll that out, but our plan right now hasn’t changed as we had spoken about earlier in the offseason,” Yzerman said during a media Zoom availability.
Dylan Larkin is the obvious choice. It would be shocking if anyone else were named.
Larkin was been an alternate captain the past two seasons. Yzerman opted not to name a captain in 2019-20, wanting to get more familiar with the players. Larkin, Justin Abdelkader (bought out in October), Frans Nielsen and Luke Glendening were alternate captains.
Yzerman, the longest-serving captain in NHL history (22 seasons) said there more of a heightened sense of responsibility when someone is named captain.
“In most situations you try to react in a leadership role or a responsible role,” Yzerman said. “I just think you take a lot more things into consideration that you may not normally, whether it’s a call by an official or a situation off the ice with a teammate or just anything to do with the team. As a captain you get a little bit more sense of responsibility regarding every situation.”
The Free Press’s Helene St. James also weighs in regarding several topics:
European to Christmas Vacation
The Wings loaned multiple players to European teams, and some, like Filip Zadina and Michael Rasmussen, already have returned to Detroit. Yzerman said Gustav Lindstrom and Mathias Brome will be recalled. Moritz Seider and Joe Veleno are not eligible to be recalled from their Swedish Hockey League teams until their seasons are over. Players in the metro Detroit area have been skating at Little Caesars Arena since the start of December.
The Wings can officially begin training camp on Dec. 31.
Crammed schedule
The season is slated to start Jan. 13. The NHL has yet to release a schedule, but the Wings will play eight games against each of the Carolina Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators and Lightning in the temporarily realigned Central Division.
Yzerman has seen a preview of the schedule and said there’s 10 games in 18 days in January. That should get guys into game shape quickly, given there won’t be any exhibition games.
Update: Here’s even more from the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:
“I can’t predict what we’re going to be, but I hope we’re improved from last year,” Yzerman said Tuesday during a Zoom call with media. “How much I don’t know.
“We’ve made several changes and the players were very enthusiastic when we talked to them prior to signing with the team. That was very encouraging. There will be renewed enthusiasm. A majority of our players are on short-term contracts. They have a lot to play for, a lot of personal motivation.”
Enthusiasm around the NHL is building since the league and Players’ Association worked out final agreements last weekend, announcing a 56-game season beginning Jan. 13.
The Wings and six other teams that missed the playoffs will start training camp Dec. 31, with the rest of the league starting Jan. 3.
“I expect them (players) to be energetic and enthusiastic,” Yzerman said. “We have a lot of changes in our lineup. I expect the players to be in top physical condition, the best condition you can be in not playing games.”
Update #2: Here’s more from The Athletic’s Max Bultman:
Is the roster complete?
In short, not necessarily.
Yzerman said he’s still “poking around” to see if there any roster moves to be made, although he cautioned against sitting around “waiting for us to make a move or anything like that.”
Still, he’s looking for ways to “get ahead or improve,” and he plans to do so until the start of the regular season. That’s not exactly groundbreaking, but it’s worth noting nonetheless, as many continue to wonder whether he will make another trade, perhaps with a team in need of cap space, before the season starts.
As it stands, Detroit has more than $9 million in cap space.
