With captain Dylan Larkin officially submitting his short, three-team trade list to general manager Steve Yzerman. The Detroit Red Wings are heading toward a massive identity crisis. Larkin has been the undisputed face of his hometown team, dealing with a decade-long playoff drought. If Yzerman pulls the trigger on a blockbuster move to send him to the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, or Vegas Golden Knights. It forces the front office to answer a massive question; who steps up to become the next face of this franchise?
Yzerman has never named a next-gen leader, and now they head to a post-Larkin era for the first time in 11 seasons; they require a foundation built on homegrown talent. So, the future of the Red Wings must rest on a co-leadership core featuring Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider.
Raymond & Seider should lead the new era of Red Wings hockey
The case for Raymond taking over the leadership up front is undeniable. The young Swedish winger has consistently elevated his game, proving he can drive offense, play under immense pressure, and serve as a clutch producer when the team needs it most. On the blue line, Seider already commands the team's identity. He plays a heavy, mean, and highly skilled game that perfectly mirrors the competitive edge Yzerman values.
Taking the captaincy away from a local icon is a brutal pill for the fanbase to swallow, but handing the leadership keys to a Raymond and Seider partnership makes the most sense. Ideally, the captaincy would go to Seider, with Raymond being the first assistant captain. As a tandem, they would lead the new era of Red Wings hockey.
The return in a Larkin deal would almost certainly bring back a mix of futures, picks, or a younger roster player. Someone like Florida’s Anton Lundell, for example, would be the type of piece who could step straight into the lineup and help stabilize things right away.
From there, it becomes more about Raymond and Seider taking on bigger roles, both on the ice and in the room. That shift alone changes the feel of the team. However, if the return from the Larkin deal is good, they may not take a step back. In fact, it may be exactly what they need to punch their ticket to the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
