Since the 2022-23 season, the Detroit Red Wings’ leadership has remained stable, led by captain Dylan Larkin. The alternate captains, all veterans acquired through free agency, include Ben Chiarot, Andrew Copp, and David Perron. While other players have occasionally worn the ‘A’ over the past two seasons, this core group has been the team’s primary on-ice leaders.
However, change is on the horizon as the 2024-25 season approaches. Perron has left the organization, signing a two-year deal with the Ottawa Senators. Although NHL teams technically require only a captain and two alternates, the Red Wings have often used three alternates for most of the past 20 seasons.
This raises the question: who will take over the ‘A’ from Perron? Fortunately for the Red Wings, they have plenty of strong candidates to choose from.
Patrick Kane
The entire hockey world took notice when Patrick Kane signed with the Red Wings a month into the 2023-24 season. After spending his career with the Chicago Blackhawks and undergoing hip surgery in the offseason, there were doubts about his ability to perform in Detroit. However, the 35-year-old Kane proved himself by scoring 47 points in 50 games. On the eve of becoming an unrestricted free agent, Kane re-signed with the Red Wings for another year.
As he enters his second season with Detroit, Kane seems ready to embrace the next phase of his career. Having won nearly everything in the NHL, including three Stanley Cup championships, his decision to re-sign with the Red Wings indicates a shift from chasing titles to achieving personal milestones and contributing to a winning culture.
In a media session following his re-signing, Kane expressed his willingness to take on a leadership role in a relatively inexperienced locker room. He mentioned, “Maybe I’m leaned on a little bit more by the coaching staff in certain areas, or even in the locker room or a leadership role, things like that. Obviously, I’m 35, going to be turning 36 this year. So, I’ve been around for quite a bit and feel like I can bring that leadership aspect to the group and just kind of help the group along, whether it’s in good times or bad times.”
Kane served as an alternate captain for the Red Wings during their visit to Chicago last season, a game where Blackhawks fans cheered for a Red Wings win because of Kane’s crucial performance. Before joining the Red Wings, he was an alternate captain for the Blackhawks from 2015 to 2023. Respected by his teammates and familiar with the journey the Red Wings aim to undertake, Kane has shown his appreciation for the city of Detroit and the Red Wings organization. What more could you ask for?
Moritz Seider
Since Chiarot, Copp, and Perron joined the team in the 2022 offseason, Moritz Seider is one of three players to have worn an ‘A’ on his sweater. Though it was only once during his rookie season, it reflects highly on his leadership skills, especially considering the Red Wings don’t typically assign significant roles to their youngest players. Now recognized as the team’s top defender, Seider stands a strong chance of becoming the team’s first German alternate captain.
Appointing Seider as an alternate captain would be symbolic for a few reasons. First, he was the initial player brought into the organization by general manager Steve Yzerman after Yzerman assumed his role in spring 2019. Yzerman has consistently expressed his desire to build around the young talent he has drafted, with Seider being the first step in that plan.
Second, as the team prepares to integrate more prospects and young players over the coming seasons, there will be a natural transition of leadership from the veterans to the younger players. With three seasons and a Calder Trophy to his name, Seider has already set a standard for future Red Wings defenders.
Seider is currently the longest-tenured defender on the team, known for his blend of skill and physicality, which many of Detroit’s defensive prospects aspire to replicate. His competitive drive off the ice further enhances his profile. As a restricted free agent, Seider is close to signing a new deal with the Red Wings, which will secure his presence for the foreseeable future. His stability and maturity in the NHL make him a prime candidate for the alternate captain role.
Michael Rasmussen
Pop quiz: Who is the Red Wings’ longest-tenured player? The answer is the team captain, Larkin. Now, who is the team’s second-longest tenured player?
The answer is Michael Rasmussen, the team’s first-round pick in the 2017 draft.
Rasmussen, along with Seider and Kane, has worn the ‘A’ on his sweater since 2022. He donned it once during a game in Vancouver against the Canucks (his hometown team from Surrey, British Columbia), which was a significant moment for him. Despite not being the most skilled or accomplished player on the team, the 25-year-old forward has endured much with the organization and represents the qualities the Red Wings seek in their next wave of players.
Michael Rasmussen isn't going to score 30 goals. He isn't going to take over games. But he is a stabilizng force on the middle 6, at wing and center. With a combination of speed, size, and physicality he is becoming increasingly hard to play against. Love what he brings #LGRW pic.twitter.com/W2nYxo2muV
— Brian Fisher (@BrianFisherLORW) January 25, 2023
Rasmussen is one of four remaining players in the organization drafted by Ken Holland, Yzerman’s predecessor. Initially hoped to become a big-bodied shutdown center, his development into a physical defensive forward wasn’t smooth, but he eventually became a valuable player for the Red Wings. His journey of working hard to become a useful NHL player, especially after being a top-10 pick, makes him a role model for future players, particularly those who might fall short of draft expectations.
Affectionately called “Moose” by fans, Rasmussen plays with grit and isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body on both ends of the ice. It’s no coincidence that Detroit’s playoff hopes faded a couple of seasons ago when he sustained a season-ending injury in late February, just a week before the 2023 trade deadline. His significance to the team was further solidified when he signed a four-year extension this past February. While he may not be the first player thought of as a team leader, in many ways, he already is one.
Christian Fischer
Christian Fischer was one of the more underrated additions to the team last season, embodying the “fourth line grinder with a ton of heart” archetype that Red Wings fans cherish. Despite only scoring 19 points, his role wasn’t to be a major offensive contributor. Instead, his nearly two hits per game and even plus/minus rating, despite playing primarily in the defensive zone, highlight his value.
Fischer exemplifies the ultimate team player, prioritizing team success over personal glory. Whether grinding along the boards or boosting his teammates from the bench, he consistently contributes. After seven seasons with the Arizona Coyotes, Fischer seamlessly integrated into the Red Wings’ locker room. This was perhaps best illustrated when he accidentally dropped an F-bomb while discussing Larkin’s return in the season’s final weeks.
Like Kane, Fischer’s future in Detroit is uncertain, which might influence the decision on assigning the ‘A’. However, if the organization seeks someone who would go to war for his teammates, Fischer is an ideal candidate. He’s a heart-and-soul player, the type that often makes an excellent leader both on and off the ice.
Lucas Raymond
Regarding Larkin’s return to the lineup, no player stood up more during his absence than Lucas Raymond. As the highest-drafted player of the Red Wings’ rebuild, Raymond appeared to be a burgeoning superstar late in the season, playing a crucial role in keeping Detroit in the playoff mix until the final moments. Leaders need to step up in critical situations, and Raymond did just that consistently last season.
At 22, Raymond is the youngest player listed here and has been the youngest on the Red Wings’ roster since joining in Fall 2021. From the start, he has shown a fierce competitive spirit and a relentless drive to improve. While last season’s 72-point campaign is still fresh in our memories, it’s easy to forget his less promising sophomore year. His improvement throughout the season showcases his dedication and hard work, qualities the Red Wings hope their prospects will emulate as they climb the ranks and strive to realize their NHL potential.
The decision-makers for Team Sweden likely noticed his efforts. After completing his third season with the Red Wings, Raymond represented his country at the World Championships, an annual tournament akin to a mini-Olympics. With Erik Karlsson as team captain, Raymond served as an alternate captain alongside Victor Hedman for the second consecutive year. If he’s already wearing an ‘A’ for Sweden, how long until he dons one for the Red Wings?
Since the Red Wings selected him with the fourth pick in the 2020 draft, Raymond has been a crucial player for the organization. He embodies much of what Yzerman aims to build in Detroit, and watching him score critical goals late in the season felt like witnessing a leader emerge. For a team in need of new leadership, there is genuine optimism that he is ready to carry the torch.
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