Detroit Red Wings: Why Tyler Bertuzzi should be the next captain

With the Detroit Red Wings searching for the next candidate to serve as captain for the team, they should consider having Tyler Bertuzzi fill the vacancy.

Tyler Bertuzzi has been nothing short of phenomenal for the Detroit Red Wings this season. With his offensive success and grit, he is gaining respect and notoriety throughout the NHL. All of these factors together have made Bertuzzi not just a top two-line forward, but also a leading candidate to fill the captaincy role for the Red Wings.

Ever since former captain Henrik Zetterberg retired in the summer of 2018, the Red Wings have been without a captain and are looking for somebody to fill the vacant role. While names like Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha have been thrown around as the frontrunners for the position, a player like Bertuzzi would likely be the most fitting.

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The 24-year-old Bertuzzi is a product of the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL, where he has won a Calder Cup and played with a good chunk of the current Red Wings lineup.

In the AHL, he was instilled with the values of the Red Wings’ organizations. On the same note, Bertuzzi has experience playing with both AHL and NHL players, therefore he is able to relate to them.

Not only was he developed by the Red Wings’ culture and organization, but he was also coached up by his uncle and former Red Wing Todd Bertuzzi. With these skills together, Bertuzzi has not only evolved to a great player on the ice but also has learned what it takes to be a true professional off the ice.

One thing he excels at where a lot of his teammates struggle at is being physical while still being productive offensively. Bertuzzi does not shy away from sticking up for himself or his teammates as shown through his fights with Ian Cole and Xavier Ouellet. By being able to do both, he truly leads by example and would set a great example for players coming in as well as shaping the culture.

Overall, Bertuzzi is the consummate teammate and exactly what the Red Wings need from a captain.  If management truly wants to have a player qualified to lead, they will name Bertuzzi as the captain.