Life after Lids

[VM1138 1,921]

I've been watching the players pretty closely wondering about this.

It's obvious it will be Zetterberg, but there are some other really good candidates for captain or the A.

I think all of you have missed the best candidate: Stuart. During the tough times this year Stuart has been interviewed a lot more than usual, and he's shown quite a bit of passion in them. Also, in a couple different articles it's been noted that Stuart is one of the leaders of the locker room.

So for 3 A's my vote goes for Datsyuk, Stuart and Rafalski (assuming Draper retires when Lidstrom does).

[Travis 576]

I've been watching the players pretty closely wondering about this.

It's obvious it will be Zetterberg, but there are some other really good candidates for captain or the A.

I think all of you have missed the best candidate: Stuart. During the tough times this year Stuart has been interviewed a lot more than usual, and he's shown quite a bit of passion in them. Also, in a couple different articles it's been noted that Stuart is one of the leaders of the locker room.

So for 3 A's my vote goes for Datsyuk, Stuart and Rafalski (assuming Draper retires when Lidstrom does).

Stuart has already been brought up a number of times.

[Shaman 713]

Its going to be Meech.

[Electrophile 3,554]

Hank would not have gotten the contract that he did if they weren't intent on making him captain when Nick retires. Pavs would continue being an alternate captain and as for the other A......Kronwall would be my guess.

[cupforwings 138]

Zetterberg; the guy just signed a 12 year deal...

[Wingsfan72 198]

It's been know publicly for years that Z is the next Captain.

This.

They literally said the year that Lids was named captain that when he retires Zetterberg will succeed him as team captain.

[ogreslayer 1,069]

The Wings will re-sign Lebda & give him the C...

It will absolutely be Z. If I remember correctly, there were stories floating around early in his career that pretty much stated that the organization was grooming him to be their future captain. It's a fait accompli once Lids walks away from the game. As for the A's, I could see Kronner & Rafi being next in line to join Pavs depending on when both Lids & Draper are done.

[king_malice 17]

So then most of you guys think we are only going to have 2 "A"'s instead of the 3 like we have now?

im sticking with my picks

Zetterberg "C"

Datsyuk"A"

Kronwall"A"

Stuart"A"

[dat's sick 1,002]

Is it too soon to give an A to Helm?

[ogreslayer 1,069]

Is it too soon to give an A to Helm?

I don't see them giving Lloyd Christmas an A any time soon.

From the Freep...

There’s little question Darren Helm is fast—but to teammates, he is also, hilariously, dumb. Or Dumber, actually.

Helm and Justin Abdelkader joined the Red Wings full-time in September, and as with hockey players, they immediately became known by monikers based on their last names—Helmer and Abs.

A few months later, they’re now known within the team as Lloyd Christmas (Helm) and Harry Dunne, the delightfully bumbling best friends of the movie “Dumb and Dumber.”

Edited March 24, 2010 by ogreslayer

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

It's been know publicly for years that Z is the next Captain.

that's what i thought the case was. i would have said Z anyways, but i can be counted as biased cuz Z's my favorite player, but i'd have him as captain and dats, kronwall and rafalski for his last couple years.

or they can just give it to howard

[Drake_Marcus 890]

It's been know publicly for years that Z is the next Captain.

Fair enough, but one has to consider that he's only going to be on the ice for about 72 games a year. Datsyuk's physical durability is definitely an asset in this respect.

[king_malice 17]

You could also argue though that Franzen and Datsyuk could be "C" if your going by contracts

Franzen just signed an 11yr deal

Datsyuk is here until 2014 and will be signed again no doubt

Zetterberg signed a 12yr deal

i still think it will be Zetterberg for "C" not because of his contract but because he is a leader and because of his play.

Zetterberg"C"

Datsyuk"A"

Kronwall"A"

Staurt/Franzen"A" maybe both of them who knows

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Lilja.

Close thread.

[redwingfan19 293]

Abdelkader would be my choice. Born and raised in michigan played all his hockey in michigan and will be a very good leader as he gets older. This guy has the red wings crest tattooed on his chest as demers would put it. Of course the wings would never do this and he would have to wait for Z to retire because he will get it after lids. I think Abs would have a real good chance at getting it after whoever gets it from Lids and It would be a good choice.

[lightthelamp13 0]

hint hint hint

- yeah, datsyuk was out that game too, but it's all zetterberg's.

[Uncle Danny 155]

C = Z

A = Dats

From there it gets a little dodgier in my mind. If Rafalski is still around (and I'm assuming Drapes has retired), then he'd be the logical next choice. But for the sake of argument, let's say Raf either retires or leaves the team.

I'm not sure I'm feeling the leadership from Stuart or Kronwall that many here seem to be. That's not a knock on either one, they're both hard working players and I love having both in the lineup. Maybe it's because I've been so spoiled with alternates named Shannahan, Lidstrom, Draper, etc (even Chelios and Fedorov!), but neither one cries out to me for an extra letter on their sweater.

That's not to say that I have a list of better alternatives. Franzen, while a force, also doesn't do it for me. He strikes me as too quiet (not that I'm in the dressing room, heh), and doesn't have nearly the level of skill that other "lead by example" types have shown (think: Lidstrom, Yzerman).

Also, wouldn't it make more sense to continue with the tradition of spreading the A's across lines and roles? Draper was an obvious candidate for an A when he got one, based on leadership alone, but I have to think that his role on the checking line was a factor as well.

Hmmm...So in summation, I have no freaking idea. So I'll just pull something out of my underpants and go with, ummm, Stuart. I doubt we'll continue with the triple A club, as I think that situation was unique given the respect afforded by Draper, and the talent/importance of both Dats and Z. There is no way anyone with an extra letter on their sweater right now didn't need to have that letter sewn on.

[Z and D for the C 712]

After the obvious two, the most likely candidates IMO are Kronwall, Rafalski and Filppula (I only really mention Filppula because he wore the A in some pre season games, so it's obviously a thought in the organization).

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

I would pick Z for next captain. Datsyuk deserves all the consideration in the world, but he's a quiet guy by nature and my Russian is about as good as his English. Which is to say, not very.

Looking ahead, I see Helmer as being Alternate material in the years ahead.

[wings1110 184]

C-Zetterberg

A-dats

A-Feanzen

A-Stuart/Kronwall/Rafalski

later in Abdelkaders career he will be some sort of captain, maybe after Rafalski retires?

[StormJH1 231]

All accounts point to Zetterberg, and once they got him signed long-term, that became a sure thing. I've had doubts about that in the past b/c he isn't as important to the team as Pavel is, but the language issue and the ability to communicate are part and parcel of that role.

For what it's worth, I wasn't sure Lidstrom was a verbal "leader" either, but (a) he had time to get groomed into the role; and (b) like Yzerman, he leads more by example than by screaming at people on the bench.

[BamaWing 37]

I'd be perfectly fine with Z or Dats wearing the C on the sweater. Were not gonna replace Lids with one person but I'm hoping we can replace him from a leadership standpoint by a group of players.

[king_malice 17]

Agreed Helm and Abby will both wear a letter one day after Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Rafalski are gone i also agree with Flip getting one later on to.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

C - Zetterberg

A - Dats

A - Stuart

A - Kronner

stuart makes sense to me based on the fact you need a north american in there for good measure. kronner speaks good english like lids. dats cause hes a boss, and z has to be captain based on his leadership and discipline. i think people are less apt to include stuart because of his numbers this year, but i dont see that happening again in years to come.

[jeff48109 474]

I don't really want to think how life will be like for the wings after Lids retires. I don't think there was a better player in the league to take over the captaincy from Stevie Y.