DETROIT – Daniel Alfredsson was used to being captain of the Ottawa Senators.

It was a role that fit for 14 seasons, but not anymore. Now he’s just a player for the Detroit Red Wings, absent a letter on his jersey and the responsibility that comes with it.

That’s something Alfredsson is still getting used to 10 games into the season. The day before facing his former team for the first time, the 40-year-old right-winger made it clear that he didn’t mind the burden of being the captain but couldn’t say it didn’t feel like that at times.

On the Red Wings, Alfredsson can defer to captain Henrik Zetterberg and other veterans like Pavel Datsyuk, Niklas Kronwall and Johan Franzen. That has allowed him to focus on individual preparation for games and to worry about his own play instead of serving as a team spokesman.

Alfredsson, who has one goal and eight assists in his first 10 games for Detroit, called his start “so-so.” He has played in various spots in the lineup and is expected to again be with Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi for Wednesday’s game against Ottawa.

With the Senators, Alfredsson was the de facto first-line right-winger. Not being in that spot is also something he’s adjusting to.