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Detroit Red Wings Team History

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Detroit Red Wings




  • 1932
  • 1936-1937
  • 1943 - 1950 - 1952
  • 1954 - 1955
  • 1997 - 1998
  • 2002 - 2008
  • Detroit Red Wings 1932

    Red Wings Born

    In 1932, the NHL let grain merchant James E. Norris, who had made two previous unsuccessful bids to buy an NHL team, purchase the Falcons. Norris’ first act was to choose a new name for the team the Red Wings. Earlier in the century, Norris had been a member of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, a sporting club with cycling ...
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  • Stanley Cup 1936 Detroit Red Wings

    Stanley Cup Winner 1936 & 1937

    Stanley Cup – 1937 The 1937 Stanley Cup Finals NHL championship series was contested by the defending champion Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers in their fifth Final series appearance. Detroit would win the series 3-2 to win their second and second-straight Stanley Cup. Stanley Cup – 1936 The 1936 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested ...
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  • Stanley Cup 1952

    Stanley Cup Winner 1943 – 1950 – 1952

    Stanley Cup – 1952 The 1952 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens in the first of the four Detroit-Montreal Final series of the 1950s. The Canadiens were appearing in their second straight Finals series, while Detroit was returning after winning the 1950 Final. The Red Wings would win the ...
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  • Stanley Cup - Detroit Red Wings 1955

    Stanley Cup Winner 1954 – 1955

    Stanley Cup – 1955 The 1955 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Montreal Canadiens, appearing in their fifth of ten straight Finals and the defending champion Detroit Red Wings, in the fourth Detroit-Montreal Final series of the 1950s and the second consecutively. The Wings would win the series 4-3 to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup ...
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  • 1998-red-wings Stanley Cup

    Stanley Cup Winner 1997 – 1998

    Stanley Cup – 1998 The 1998 Stanley Cup Finals NHL championship series was contested by the Western Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals. It was the 105th year of the Stanley Cup being contested. It was the Capitals’ first appearance in a Stanley Cup Final since the franchise’s inception ...
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  • red-wings-2008 Stanley Cup

    Stanley Cup Winner 2002 – 2008

    Stanley Cup – 2008 The 2008 Stanley Cup Final was the best-of-seven NHL championship series of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs contested between the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins. This was Detroit’s 23rd appearance in the Final and its first since winning the Cup in 2002. This was Pittsburgh’s third appearance in ...
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History of the Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most storied franchises in professional sports. Founded in 1926 as the Detroit Cougars, they have been a part of NHL history for nearly 100 years. The team has won 11 Stanley Cups and boasts some of the greatest players to ever play hockey, including Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, and Nicklas Lidstrom.

Throughout their long history, the Red Wings have had many highs and lows. In their first few seasons, they were known as an average team that rarely made it into playoff contention; however this changed when Jack Adams took over head coaching duties from 1930-1947 – during his tenure, he led them to seven Stanley Cup Championships! This success continued through the 1950s with additional championships under Ted Lindsay’s leadership before slumping again until 1967 when legendary coach Scotty Bowman was hired - leading them to four more titles between 1997-2002!

The current era is marked by another period of success: since the 2009/10 season (when Mike Babcock became head coach) they have reached at least second-round playoff action every year except the 2013/14 campaign where injuries plagued the squad throughout the entire year - resulting in missing out on postseason altogether! Despite these setbacks, though there remains hope amongst fans that this new core group can bring back glory days once again soon enough... especially now with newly appointed GM Steve Yzerman who played such an integral role in winning those cup wins earlier 2000s decade!.

Overall, it is clear why so many people around the world consider themselves diehard followers of‘ the Winged Wheel’ – not only do they boast incredible legacies but also remain competitive today despite all odds stacked against them due to various factors ranging from salary cap constraints to injury plague etcetera… Here’s hoping the future will be just bright for the beloved franchise here in Motor City USA!!





Established
1926

City
Detroit

League History
1926 – Present / National Hockey League

Team History
1932 – Present / Detroit Red Wings
1930 – 1932 / Detroit Falcons
1926 – 1930 / Detroit Cougars

Nickname
Red Wings – After purchasing the Detroit Falcons in 1932, James Norris renamed the team after the “Winged Wheelers,” the nickname of the Montreal Hockey Club for which he once played.

Championship
Stanley Cups 11
2008, 2002, 1998, 1997, 1955, 1954, 1952, 1950, 1943, 1937, 1936

Arena
2017 - Present / Little Caesars Arena
1979 – 2016 / Joe Louis Arena
1927 – 1979 / Detroit Olympia

*Ontario*
1926 – 1927 / Windsor Arena

Owner
2018 – Present / Ilitch Holdings
1982 – 2017 / Mike Ilitch
1955 – 1982 / Bruce Norris
1952 – 1955 / Marguerite Norris
1933 – 1952 / James E. Norris
1931 – 1933 / Creditors’ Committee
1926 – 1931 / Charles A. Hughes

Who is the greatest Detroit Red Wings?
  • Add your greatest player

To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.

Retired Number
1 / Terry Sawchuk
4 / Red Kelly
5 / Nicklas Lidstrom
7 / Ted Lindsay
9 / Gordie Howe
10 / Alex Delvecchio
12 / Sid Abel
19 / Steve Yzerman
99 / Wayne Gretzky

*Blue is this team’s history

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