Detroit Red Wings is an ice hockey team based in Detroit. It was founded in 1926 and Detroit Red Wings is one of the Original Six teams, along with Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. Original Six term means that those six teams competed NHL before its 1967 expansion.

Detroit Team History

Detroit Red Wings was founded in 1926, first name of team was Detroit Cougars (1926-30) then Detroit Falcons (1930-32) and then Detroit Red Wings (1932-present). Detroit Red Wings have win 11 Stanley Cups – most of any franchise based in USA. Detroit have had ups and downs in the history – Between 1931 – 1965 they missed playoffs only four times and won 7 Stanley Cups (1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955). Between 1966 – 1983 the Red Wings made the playoffs only two times. Then between 1983-2016 they made the playoffs 30 times in 32 seasons and won four Stanley Cups (1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008). Detroit reached the finals 2009, but this time Pittsburgh Penguins won 3-4. Nowadays Detroit Red Wings is one of the weakest teams of NHL and they have now missed playoffs four times in a row.

Detroit Red Wings’ Owners and Staff

Currently, the General Manager of Detroit Red Wings is Steve Yzerman. The current head coach Jeff Blashill was appointed to his position in 2015. The team is owned by company called Ilitch Holdings. Detroit Red Wings has two minor league affiliates, those being Grand Rapids Griffins in AHL league and Toledo Walleye in ECHL league.

Gordie Howe – “Gordie Howe hat trick”

Gordie Howe was on of the greatest player of all time. He played 25 seasons with the Red Wings – starting in 1946 and retiring in 1971. After that Howe came back 1973 to played in WHA-league. He played one season in NHL with Hartford Whalers (1979-80) – Gordie Howe was 52 years old then. Gordie Howe won 4 Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. He won 6 Art Ross Trophies and 5 Hart Memorial Trophies.

Gordie Howe owns many NHL records, for example: Most NHL regular season games played (1767) and most NHL seasons played (26, tied with Chris Chelios). Gordie Howe is first in the Red Wings history in points, goals and games played and second in assists. Gordie Howe was famous for his scoring and physical strength – still today is used namesake “Gordie Howe hat trick”: a goal, an assist and a fight in the same game.

Steve Yzerman – Loyal captain

Steve Yzerman was drafted 1983 by the Red Wings (4th overall). He played his entire NHL career with Detroit Red Wings – 22 seasons and 1514 games. He made 1755 (692 + 1063) points to the Red Wings during that period. Steve Yzerman was a longest-serving captain for a team in NHL history (19 seasons, 1303 games). Steve Yzerman won 3 Stanley Cups (1997, 1998, 2002). He is current GM of the Detroit Red Wings.

Nicklas Lidstrom – reliable defenceman

Nicklas Lidström is widely regarded as one of the greatest defencemen in NHL – especially modern era of it. Lidström played his entire NHL-career (20 seasons) with Detroit Red Wings – the Red Wings never missed playoffs during his career. Lidström is four-time Stanley Cup winner and seven-time Norris Trophy winner. He also hade on Conn Smythe Trophy as a best player of NHL playoffs (2002). Lidström played 1564 games with the Red Wings and made 1142 (264+878) points at those games. He was first European-born captain of a Stanley Cup winning team.

Other famous names

Alex Delvecchio played his entire NHL-career (24 seasons) with the Red Wings. He won 3 Stanley Cups with the Red Wings and served as team captain for twelve years. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk were key players, when Red Wings’ latest Stanley Cup was won (2008). Sergei Fedorov played 13 seasons with the Red Wings and he won 3 Stanley Cups. When talking about goalies in Detroit Red Wings, few names appears – Terry Sawchuk was a legend and won 3 Stanley Cups with Detroit. Sawchuk won also 4 Vezina Trophies.