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10 Interesting Facts About the Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings franchise was founded and joined the NHL in 1926, following the dismantling of the Western Hockey League. The new franchise purchased the players of the Victoria Cougars - from the defunct WHL - and kept their nick-name, becoming the "Detroit Cougars" from 1926-30. In 1930, the team was renamed the "Detroit Falcons" for two seasons and finally took on the name "Detroit Red Wings" in 1932 when James Norris bought the team. Norris was reponsible for hiring Jack Adams to coach the Detroit Red Wings, and Adams became a key figure in Red Wings history, spending 36 years with the club in either a coaching or general manager position.
The longest game in NHL history took place on March 24, 1936, during a playoff game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Maroons. The teams battled through 116 minutes and 30 seconds of overtime. Rookie Moderre "Mud" Bruneteau would score in the 6th overtime period to win the game at 2:25 am.
In 1946 the Red Wings signed young Gordie Howe from Floral, Saskatchewan, paying him $2,600 in his rookie season. Though he got off to a slow start, things picked up in his 2nd season when he was put on a line with Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay to form what would become one of the great lines in NHL history—the "Production Line". The "Production Line" led Detroit to 4 Stanley Cups and 7 straight 1st place finishes between 1948–1956, a feat never equaled in NHL history, In 1949–50, the trio finished 1-2-3 in league scoring (which has never been done since) and in 1951, along with stellar goaltending by Terry Sawchuk went undefeated in the playoffs.
During the 1952 post-season, a playoff tradition known as the "Octupus throw" began in Detroit when an owner of a local fish market threw an octupus from the stands onto the ice. The eight legs were considered symbolic of the eight wins it took to win the Stanley Cup at the time. Though the league has attempted to eliminate the practice, it still occurs today during playoffs, usually after the national anthem or a Red Wings goal. (fyi..the octopuses which are named "Al" after the Red Wings head ice manager are usually boiled beforehand to reduce the amount of "slime" coating and lessen the time required to clean up the ice and prevent further delay!)
Though the Detroit Red Wings have one of the most successful track records in NHL history, the period between 1967 and 1983 is one Red Wings fans would sooner forget. Over this period the team only made the playoffs twice, and only managed to win 1 series and went through 14 head coach changes. This dark period for the franchise is often referred to as the "Dead Wings" era.
Steve Yzerman, who the Wings drafted in 1983, made an immediate impact in Detroit leading the team in scoring in his rookie year. At the age of 21 he was named captain of the Red Wings, a position he held for the next 20 years making him the longest serving captain in NHL history. He also managed to post 692 goals, and 1063 assists for a total of 1755 career points making him the second highest scorer in Red Wings history (next to Gordie Howe) and 6th highest in the NHL alltime. He also led Red Wings to 3 Stanley Cup championships before retiring in 2006.
During the period between 1994–95 and 2007–08 seasons, the Detroit Red Wings won the Presidents Trophy an impressive 6 times!
As of 2010, the Red Wings have made it to the playoffs the last 18 seasons in a row. This is the longest current streak of post-season appearances in all of American professional sports.
The Detroit Red Wings have won more Stanley Cup championships than any other American NHL franchise, and are third in total Stanley Cup victories, behind the Montreal Canadiens who have won 23 and Toronto Maple Leafs with 13.
Throughout their storied franchise history, Detroit fans have had the pleasure of watching many legends wear the Red Wings jersey. In fact, they currently have 49 former players that have been inducted into the hockey hall of fame (3rd to only Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens). The Detroit Red Wings all time leading scorer is none other than "Mr Hockey" Gordie Howe with 786 goals - 1023 assists - 1809 points throughout his 1687 game career. He is followed by Steve Yzerman who notched 692 goals and 1063 assists for 1755 pts in his 1514 game career. Third on that list is Red Wings legend Alex Delvecchio, who managed 456 goals and 825 assists for a 1281 point total over his 1549 game career.
...and here are some more quick facts submitted by our awesome members
- During a November 21, 2005, game against the Nashville Predators, defenseman Jiri Fischer suffered a heart seizure and collapsed on the bench. The game was canceled because of his seizure marking the first time in NHL history a game had been postponed by injury.
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