Steam Group

Detroit Redwings (Rdwngs)

Profile _

Welcome to Hockeytown

Since December 18, 2007

10 Members

Michigan, United States

(redwings.nhl.com)

History:

1920s

The roots of the Red Wings go all the way back to the old Western Hockey League, where the Victoria (British Columbia) Cougars were members until their roster was sold to a group from Detroit on September 25, 1926. The Detroit group had been awarded an NHL franchise on May 15, 1926.

The team began to play as the Detroit Cougars in the fall of 1926 while playing its home games in Windsor, Ontario. Despite the fact that the Victoria Cougars had won the Stanley Cup in 1925 and were Cup finalists in 1926, the Detroit Cougars finished 12-28-4; the NHL's worst record for the 1926-27 season.

Not only did the team struggle on the ice, but it performed poorly on the ledger sheet as well where the Cougars were more than $80,000 in debt.

Help came, the following season, in the form of Jack Adams as the team's coach and general manager. Adams had played in the old Pacific Coast league and in the NHL with the Toronto St. Pats and the Ottawa Senators. Adam's tenure as coach and GM would last until the 1962-63 season, when Sid Abel took over.

The team also moved into the brand new Olympia Stadium for the 1927-28 season. A Detroit and professional hockey landmark, the Olympia would serve as the home for the franchise through the midway point of the 1979-80 season. With Adams at the helm, the team made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history (1928-29). However, they were still among the NHL's have-nots and perpetually close to bankruptcy.

Present:
With his NHL-record ninth Stanley Cup as a head coach, Bowman stepped down, retiring after nine seasons behind the Red Wings bench.

After Dominik Hasek announced his retirement following the 2001-02 Stanley Cup Championship, the Red Wings signed veteran goaltender Curtis Joseph to replace Hasek.

Several Red Wings reached major milestones throughout the season, including Brett Hull recording his 700th goal on February 10 against the San Jose Sharks (Evengi Nabokov). Hull became the sixth player in NHL history to reach this prestigious mark. He finished the season with 716 goals, for fifth best all-time.

Despite finishing the regular season with the second best record in the Western Conference and third best overall, Detroit was swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Lidstrom won his third consecutive Norris, Steve Yzerman was awarded the Masterton Trophy for perseverance after returning to the Detroit line-up late in the regular season following off-season knee surgery. Brendan Shanahan was named the King Clancy Memorial Award winner for his humanitarian efforts and Darren McCarty was awarded with the NHL Foundation Player Award for his contributions in the community.

*Disclaimer. This group is for purposes to promote the Detroit Red Wings hockey team and for fans to visit and have fun. No profits are made from this group.