DETROIT -- For only the second time since 1986, the Detroit Red Wings will have a new captain, when the NHL returns to action later this month.

An NHL source confirmed with ESPN that forward Henrik Zetterberg is expected to be named the next captain of the Red Wings, replacing the retired Nicklas Lidstrom.

Lidstrom wore the "C" since 2006, becoming the first European captain to win the Stanley Cup. Before him, Steve Yzerman was the longtime captain of the Red Wings.

Zetterberg, who has grown into one of the more outspoken members of the Detroit dressing room, was an alternate captain during Lidstrom's captaincy.

The Sweden native has spent the lockout playing in Switzerland where he had 16 goals and 16 assists in 23 games for Zug. He's entering his tenth season with the Red Wings and coming off a comparably quiet season in which he scored 22 goals to go with 47 assists. His 69 points were his lowest total since the 2006-07 season.