The Original Six Dominance

Lore & Background

The Red Wings were one of the three strongest teams of the Original Six era, along with Montreal and Toronto. Detroit missed the playoffs only three times between 1942 and 1967. The team's dominance was aided by its ability to claim Southwestern Ontario as part of its recruiting territory, giving it an advantage over the other American-based teams (Boston, Chicago, New York), though not as strong an advantage as the Canadian teams had.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Olympia Stadium was thick with smoke and anticipation in 1952. Gordie Howe skated toward the blue line, stickhandling past two defenders with effortless grace. The crowd roared as he passed to Sid Abel, who buried the puck into the net. It was another night where Detroit proved they were the kings of the ice.

Reader's Guide

The Red Wings' five Stanley Cup wins during the Original Six era place them third among the six teams. The team's success was part of a period when the top four teams advanced to the playoffs, and the standings were very static. Detroit's owner James E. Norris also effectively owned the Chicago Black Hawks and was the largest stockholder in the New York Rangers, reflecting the monopolistic practices tolerated by the league.

Did You Know?

• Detroit missed the playoffs only three times during the Original Six era (1942–1967).
• The Red Wings won five Stanley Cup titles in the Original Six era, behind Montreal (10) and Toronto (9).
• Detroit claimed Southwestern Ontario as part of its recruiting territory, giving it an edge over other U.S.-based teams.
• Red Wings owner James E. Norris also effectively owned the Chicago Black Hawks.