Kris Draper

Four-time Stanley Cup champion and Selke Trophy winner who spent 17 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

Kris Draper is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current director of amateur scouting and assistant general manager for the Detroit Red Wings. He played 17 seasons for the Red Wings during his 20-year NHL career, which also included time with the Winnipeg Jets. Draper is a four-time Stanley Cup champion (all with Detroit), a Frank J. Selke Trophy winner, and scored over 100 goals in his NHL career with the Red Wings.

Quick Facts

Position: Centre
Shoots: Left
Played for: Winnipeg Jets; Detroit Red Wings
League: NHL
Born: 24 May 1971
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Draft: 62nd overall
Drafted by: Winnipeg Jets

Lore & Background

Draper grew up in West Hill, Ontario, and played minor hockey for the Don Mills Flyers. He was drafted by the Windsor Spitfires in the 1988 OHL Priority Selection and played for the Spitfires after being drafted, while also representing Canada's national junior team. He was selected 62nd overall in the 1989 NHL entry draft by the Winnipeg Jets. After playing just 20 NHL games for the Jets over three seasons (1990–91 to 1992–93), he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1993 for $1.

He became a fixture in Detroit, known as the 'One Dollar Man,' and was a member of the famous 'Grind Line' with Kirk Maltby and either Joe Kocur or Darren McCarty. On May 29, 1996, he was checked from behind by Claude Lemieux, causing severe facial injuries. The hit led to the 'Brawl in Hockeytown' in 1997. Draper has publicly stated he has forgiven Lemieux.

He won the Selke Trophy in 2003–04. He played his 1,000th game in a Red Wings uniform on March 17, 2009. He retired on July 26, 2011, after 1,157 games and four Stanley Cup championships.

Reader's Guide

Draper was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics. He was named an alternate captain of the Red Wings during the 2006–07 season. On October 25, 2007, he signed a three-year, $4.75 million contract extension. He became the fifth player to play 1,000 games in a Red Wings uniform. After retiring, he joined the Red Wings' front office as special assistant to the general manager. On July 11, 2019, he was promoted to director of amateur scouting, and on July 5, 2023, to assistant general manager.

Did You Know?

Draper played 222 playoff games, ranking him tenth in most career playoff games played.
His son Kienan was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL entry draft.
Draper also plays competitive pickleball, including at Grand Rapids' Beer City Open.