Todd McLellan Reveals Who Is Really Leading Red Wings After Dylan Larkin Loses Captaincy

The Detroit Red Wings entered the 2026-27 season without a captain for the first time in years, but head coach Todd McLellan is making it clear that the team is not operating without leadership. Instead of immediately handing Dylan Larkin's former title to another player, McLellan has turned to a group of veterans and young stars to help guide a franchise attempting to overcome a turbulent offseason. According to NHL.com's Nicholas J. Cotsonika , McLellan has established regular leadership meetings involving several key Red Wings players, including Moritz Seider, Alex DeBrincat, Justin Faulk, Ben Chiarot, and Keegan Kolesar.