hockeyfanland.com

The question has been on the minds of Motown fans since Nicklas Lidstrom hung up his skates in May: Who succeeds the future Hall of Famer as Detroit Red Wings captain?

Veteran forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are the obvious candidates, but Jordan Hoy of Wings fan site OctopusThrower.com makes a compelling case for hard-hitting defenseman Niklas Kronwall.

"...Kronwall brings something to the table that neither Zetterberg nor Datsyuk offer -- a foreboding presence..," Hoy writes, noting that Kronwall, 31, is the youngest of the three and is under contract for another six seasons. "When considering the physical nature of the last two Stanley Cup champions (LA and Boston), and the style of play in the NHL, stitching a "C" on Kronwall's #55 jersey would be a declaration to the rest of the league that a new attitude era has arrived in Hockeytown..."

The HockeyFanLand Insight:

Niklas Kronwall definitely deserves consideration for Detroit Red Wings captaincy. Jordan is right this player does have a lasting impact on the game every night.  However, my fear is, handing Kronwall the  " C" could have a negative impact on his playing style... he might try to get away from what has made him successful because of the pressure of leadership... Trust me, it has happened before with players that play with his intensity.. 

In the long run, Zetterberg is the safe bet for Detroit's next captain. The same old veteran leadershipt he Red Wings are used too. No one would have to step out of their comfort zone...