The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a lengthy report on Danny DeKeyser and Marc Staal being named alternate captains:
For Danny DeKeyser, specifically, you could tell it meant a lot.Being named an alternate captain, along with fellow defenseman Marc Staal, to captain Dylan Larkin, was special news for the Macomb native who grew up a Red Wings fan, and got the chance to play for his hometown team.
“Huge honor,” DeKeyser said after Thursday’s morning skate, as the Wings prepared to open the regular season at Little Caesars Arena. “It’s a team I’ve grown up watching my whole life and I had a dream growing up as a kid to play here. It’s pretty awesome and special for me, especially more so being named assistant captain.”
DeKeyser and Staal view the designations as high praise, but believe there are many other leaders on this team who will step up and lead this roster. It’s just that DeKeyser and Staal will happen to wear “A’s” on their sweaters, along with Larkin wearing the “C.”
“We have a lot of guys with a lot of experience in the room, guys like Nick Leddy and Sam Gagner, and obviously Staalsie,” DeKeyser said. “Whether you have a letter on your chest or not, it doesn’t always matter. Guys will lead and guys who’ve been around the league a long time, you have respect from the team and coaching staff, as well. Not much is going to change.”
Continued; WXYZ’s Jeanna Trotman also filed a report on DeKeyser and Staal’s remarks:
“Danny and Marc are very worthy of it. Both guys have been in this league for a long time,” said Blashill. “We’re really happy with both those guys to support Dylan Larkin. Ultimately, it won’t be one, two, or three guys. It’ll be a whole bunch of guys leading the way. We’ve got a lot of guys who have the right intention to do it right on a daily basis.”
Dekeyser is returning from back surgery and spent the offseason rehabbing and getting himself back to playing shape for the 2021 season. He says he is in full health and is honored to wear an alternate captain jersey.
“It’s a team that I’ve grown up watching my whole life,” Dekeyser. “I had a dream growing up as a kid to play here so it’s pretty awesome and pretty special to me. Especially even more so now being named an assistant captain.”
Blashill commended the way Dekeyser was able to come back from such an intense surgery and says it speaks volumes of the type of player he is. The head coach added that Dekeyser has been a “really good Red Wing for a long time.”
