So who will be the new captain?
If you want to read any posts made specifically about Steve Yzerman, please check out one of the four below. I am still compiling reactions from the media, fans, and bloggers so expect that post later this evening.
Steve Yzerman: Heart of a Champion
Steve Yzerman Quote Sheet
Steve Yzerman retires
Behind the Jersey: No. 19
So who will be the new captain?
Most people can agree that the following are the top candidates to wear the “C” on their jersey for the Wings.
Nicklas Lidstrom
Brendan Shanahan
Kris Draper
Chris Chelios
Henrik Zetterberg
Personally, I think it’ll be either Lids or Drapes. Draper is the vocal leader of the team at least off the ice. He’s always the media go-to guy in whatever the circumstances. When I went to a practice and then a mock press conference down at JLA, they had two younger players available (Williams and Mowers) and then Draper. Lidstrom is our best player. He’s been with the Wings all 14 seasons that he has been in the NHL.
GM Ken Holland has spoken publicly that Lidstrom is the leading candidate for the captaincy.
Lidstrom, an assistant captain with Shanahan, said last season he’d be honored to be elevated to captain, but was quick to add the many other choices in the locker room. Still, Draper, who was at Yzerman’s news conference Monday, said Lidstrom would be a good choice.MLive.com also has an article about the candidates for the open position.“Nick is a guy who leads by example,” Draper said. “He just won his fourth Norris Trophy. He’s one of the best players in the game. He’s a leader.”
“Zetterberg will be a captain on this team one day,” Holland said. “Is it now? Is the time right? (But) if Brendan comes back, he’s been around a long time and he’s been a leader for us. Draper is a leading candidate. We have a lot of options.
“I want to see what Steve thinks, the staff thinks, talk to Mike and I have my own thoughts, and we’ll come to a conclusion. We certainly have candidates.”
“We’re fortunate having Steve here so long, he’s been a great role model as a leader and a lot of the foot soldiers who’ve followed him are ready to step up and take over,” Holland said. “They watched one of the greatest leaders and captains in the history of our sport.”“Whoever is (the next captain) sure is in tough,” Draper said. “But we have some great leaders in there. Stevie helped by showing what it takes to be a leader, what it takes to be prepared and be a professional.”
“I think Nick Lidstrom has got to be the leading candidate, but you can go to Kris Draper, Brendan Shanahan, even Chris Chelios on a short-term basis,” former Wings defenseman Larry Murphy said. “But the dark horse is Henrik Zetterberg. They had great success in naming a young captain in the past (with Yzerman), why not do it again? But the odds-on favorite would have to be Nick.”
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