Red Wings legend Darren McCarty talks Yzerman’s return In an interview with the Tribune, Red Wings legend talks about new role with team

In this Aug. 21 photo, retired Detroit Red Wings hockey star Darren McCarty speaks during an interview at his podcast studio in Franklin. ( In this Aug. 21 photo, retired Detroit Red Wings hockey star Darren McCarty speaks during an interview at his podcast studio in Franklin. ( Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Red Wings legend Darren McCarty talks Yzerman’s return 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

With 30 days until the Detroit Red Wings initially drop the puck on the 2019-20 season, many competing perspectives exist surrounding the team.

On one hand, Detroit finished with the fourth fewest points of any team in the NHL last year, which does not adhere to typical Red Wings standards. Additionally, the club will be without the leadership of longtime alternate captain Niklas Kronwall this season after the defenseman announced his retirement on Tuesday, so the blue line depth will take a hit as well.

But amid this trying time exists optimism.

Kronwall's absence allows young, puck-moving defenseman such as Filip Hronek and Dennis Cholowski to grow into larger roles on the team. And even more critical, over the offseason Steve Yzerman announced his return to Detroit to fill the general manager position, a role which he successfully executed for the past eight years with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

According to one longtime teammate of Yzerman, The Captain's return has the potential to immediately shift the Red Wings organization into a higher gear.

"Steve Yzerman comes back and we're talking about the man," Darren McCarty told the Tribune. "He has the ability to lead men and to lead people, which what I mean by that is you want to be better because you don't want to let the guy down. And it's not because he's nice, it's because he's honest and he will give everything he has, and it's lead by example."

For a team without the presence of 15-year Red Wing Kronwall, this leadership will be pivotal as Detroit continues to rebuild. However, McCarty has spent a wealth of time around the team recently, and the four-time Stanley Cup winner sees several shades of himself in current Red Wings prospect and Grand Rapids Griffins winger Givani Smith.

"There's a lot of young talent," McCarty said. "Some are going to take time to develop. There's a guy in Grand Rapids right now named Givani Smith, ... he is the type of guy where he has the ability to play the physical game. He has to be a presence while learning the game, how to skate, how to be that physical presence."

As a member of the infamous "Grind Line," McCarty understands the value of harnessing grit in one's playing style. This area is where he believes Smith can make an impact on the Red Wings in due time.

"He's the one I really have an eye on because he's the one in the organization that I can relate to," McCarty said. "He's smart and it's work. He works his butt off. He's going to be good, and I told him, 'You have this value that there's a piece that you can add to this team.'"

Currently, McCarty is continuing to add value to the Red Wings team without lacing up his skates as the former player is working on a promotional directive to unite fans and generate excitement for the upcoming season.

"I've been doing a lot of stuff with the season ticket holders," McCarty said. "I love what I do with the Wings, I'm on the PR ... marketing front. I'll be hosting season ticket holders out at a Tigers game and just meeting the fans and getting everybody ready because the thing is it's culture.

"It's just in the rink, in the organization and in the city," McCarty said. "They all have relationships and friendships through the organizations, so that's what I see with my role — to facilitate everybody pulling for each other."

McCarty will join legions of Red Wings fans in pulling for the club when Detroit opens its regular season on Saturday, Oct. 5, on the road against the Nashville Predators.