Shortly after the Detroit Red Wings signed Dylan Larkin to a new five-year
deal, general manager Ken Holland divulged some pessimistic news on Henrik
Zetterberg. The back of Detroit's heart-and-soul captain has not healed up as
previously hoped, which could put Zetterberg's 2018-19 season in jeopardy.

In the press conference which followed the announcement of Larkin's new deal,
Holland noted:

I have talked to his agent a number of times over the course of the summer and
I know he';s had a tough summer, hasn';t been able to train anywhere near close
 to what he';s been able to train in past summers due to his back, so there';s
a real unknown right now with Henrik Zetterberg.

With that being said, it would not be surprising to see the Red Wings begin the
 2018-19 season without Zetterberg - the first without the Swedish star since
the Stanley Cup-winning 2001-02 campaign. What does that mean for the
rebuilding organization?Red Wings'; Roster Without Zetterberg

When the Red Wings line up for their opening-night game against Columbus, a
handful of players will have the opportunity to step into larger roles without
Zetterberg around. Before we dive into those contributions, here's how
Detroit's lines could shape up in the beginning:

2018-19 Detroit Red Wings Forwards

LWCRW

Anthony ManthaDylan LarkinGustav Nyquist

Andreas AthanasiouFrans NielsenMichael Rasmussen

Thomas VanekDarren HelmFilip Zadina

Justin AbdelkaderLuke GlendeningTyler Bertuzzi

Martin Frk

Luke Witkowski

2018-19 Detroit Red Wings Defense & Goalies

LDRDG

Jonathan EricssonTrevor DaleyJimmy Howard

Danny DeKeyserMike GreenJonathan Bernier

Niklas KronwallNick Jensen

Joe Hicketts

After being tasked with a shutdown role last season, Frans Nielsen would most
likely be counted on to produce more offense while playing against top
competition. Without Zetterberg in the lineup, he would also need to mentor
either Michael Rasmussen or Filip Zadina on the ins and outs of daily NHL life.
 The veteran center was originally signed to replace Pavel Datsyuk (to a
degree) and will need to step into a leadership role once year three with the
Red Wings begins.

Another change would be to shift Darren Helm back to center after spending the
past few seasons on the wing. Previously called the league's best third-line
center, Helm will need to improve on his 44.1 faceoff winning percentage from
the 2017-18 season. He'll also need to contribute more defensively-one of the
reasons why he was locked up long-term-while maintaining his offensive
production.Related: Diving Into the Detroit Red Wings'; No-Trade ClausesFrans
Nielsen will need to contribute top-six scoring numbers if the Red Wings have
to compete without Henrik Zetterberg. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Finally, Zadina (Detroit';s No. 1-ranked prospect) would have a better shot at
making the team if Zetterberg had to call it quits. The appropriate ice time
for the 2018 first-round pick and No. 3-ranked prospect Rasmussen would be
available as they adjust to the NHL game. Detroit could also opt to keep Evgeny
 Svechnikov or David Pope (No. 8- and No. 15-ranked prospects, respectively)
instead - this would allow Zadina to play in the AHL and not burn a year off of
 his entry-level deal.Transition to Dylan Larkin's Lead

In addition to Nielsen and Helm's increased roles, Larkin will rightfully
become Detroit's go-to player as the club';s No. 1 center and most talented
forward. From power play zone entries to last-minute ice time, the
Waterford-native will be heavily leaned upon in Zetterberg's absence.Dylan
Larkin will be Detroit';s No. 1 center with or without Henrik Zetterberg in the
 lineup. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

But can Larkin handle the pressure of being the Red Wings' most important
player? If he's going to become captain one day, he'll need to learn how to
handle Hockeytown's expectations quickly. At the very least, he'll have a great
 supporting cast in terms of veteran leadership to help him transition into the
 top player that the organization expects him to be.

If he is indeed anointed as captain, this will be the first time that the Red
Wings have named a captain in his 20s since Steve Yzerman took the reigns as a
21-year-old. Both Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg had a handful of
seasons under their belts before taking on the captain's role. For an
organization that prides itself on stability and tradition, this would take a
step into a new era of Red Wings hockey: reliance on a youth core, which is
exactly what the rebuild needs.Change in Red Wings' Organizational Values?

With Zetterberg gone, the Red Wings will be left with a massive leadership
void. Sure, Larkin will step up. Kronwall, Nielsen, Mike Green, Jonathan
Ericsson, and Justin Abdelkader will help, too. But a season without the
long-time captain will be a major test for the veteran leadership theory that's
 been a central tenet of Red Wings management for years.

How will the Red Wings respond? How does that compare with expectations?Ken
Holland has invested a lot in veteran leadership for his young players. Will
that plan backfire or pay dividends for the Red Wings? (Photo by Dave
Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

Success could reaffirm Holland's decision to bring back Green and Thomas Vanek.
 Failure could push the Red Wings to dive deeper into the rebuild or bring in
other veteran leaders to instill a winning culture. Proper attribution of
qualitative and quantitative metrics will be more critical now than ever with
Detroit undergoing a sudden culture change in the middle of a prolonged
rebuild.Related: Red Wings Prospects Ready to Take Veterans'; Jobs?

Whether it's this year or next, a day will come when Zetterberg is not on
Detroit's roster. How they respond will have major implications for the
rebuild, organizational governance, and the future of Hockeytown.How do you
think the Detroit Red Wings will fare without Henrik Zetterberg? Comment below.

The post Red Wings Without Zetterberg appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

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