The Zermanator
In Yzerman We Trust
- Jan 21, 2013
- 3,397
- 1,208
How has Larkin shown to be a better leader in the NHL than Karlsson? This is his first year as the clear leader of the team and we literally lost almost every single night. And I doubt Karlsson asks for this it was hypothetical. Also why shouldn't Karlsson be considered to be captain anyway day one? Because he hasn't lost a bunch of games with us the past three years?
Look at what Doughty (an alternate captain) was saying near the end of the season. How he wished they could get all their games done and over with at once. It was a really pathetic display, IMO.
Larkin, on the other hand, gave it his all every single night. No matter what the scoreboard said, no matter if they were already eliminated, nothing mattered. Every single night Larkin was the best player on the team and he provided an example to everyone else. That's a leader.
Karlsson was a similar leader to Larkin in Ottawa. But when you consider Larkin's history and experience with the team, he has bought into everything from day 1, then that tips the scales decidedly in his favour.
I don't know if Larkin is a better captain than Karlsson in a vacuum. But Larkin is the leader of the Detroit Red Wings, regardless of what's on his chest.