The Original Six Dominance
The Red Wings were a dominant force in the Original Six era, winning five Stanley Cups and missing the playoffs only four times in 25 seasons.
The Original Six era (1942–1967) featured the Detroit Red Wings as one of the six teams that composed the NHL for 25 seasons. During this period, Detroit won five Stanley Cup titles, behind only Montreal (10) and Toronto (9).
Quick Facts
- Era period
- 1942–1967
- Stanley cups won
- 5
- Head coach/manager
- Jack Adams
- Iconic player
- Gordie Howe
- Home arena
- Olympia Stadium
- League structure
- Original Six
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 four 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.
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.
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