Detroit Red Wings

Lore & Background

The franchise began in 1926 when the NHL approved a franchise for a Detroit group. The new team purchased the players of the Western Hockey League's Victoria Cougars and adopted their nickname. The Detroit Cougars played their first season at Border Cities Arena in Windsor, Ontario, before moving into the Detroit Olympia for the 1927–28 season. In 1932, James E. Norris purchased the team and renamed them the Red Wings, adopting a red version of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association's winged-wheel logo. Jack Adams, who became the face of the franchise for 36 years as coach or general manager, led the team to its first playoff series victory in 1933. The Red Wings won their first Stanley Cup in 1936, repeating in 1937. They made three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals in the early 1940s, winning in 1943. Gordie Howe joined the team in 1946 and later formed the 'Production Line' with Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay. The team won back-to-back Cups in 1954 and 1955, defeating the Montreal Canadiens both times in seven-game series. Between the 1931–32 and 1965–66 seasons, the Red Wings missed the playoffs only four times. They struggled from 1966–67 to 1982–83, making the playoffs only twice. From 1983–84 to 2015–16, they made the playoffs 30 times in 32 seasons, including 25 straight from 1990–91 to 2015–16, which became the longest active streak in North American professional sports. Since 1983–84, they have won the Stanley Cup four times (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008). However, since 2015–16, the Red Wings have failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of the past ten seasons, the longest active drought in the league.

Reader's Guide

The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most notable franchises in NHL history, both for their longevity as an Original Six team and for their sustained success. Their 11 Stanley Cup championships are the most of any U.S.-based franchise, and they rank third overall among active teams behind only the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. The team's history includes periods of dominance, such as the early decades when they missed the playoffs only four times in 35 seasons, and the modern era from 1983–84 onward, when they made the playoffs 30 times in 32 seasons. Their 25-year playoff streak from 1990–91 to 2015–16 was the longest active streak in North American professional sports. The Red Wings have also been a cultural touchstone in Detroit, with the area referred to as 'Hockeytown'—a registered trademark owned by the franchise since 1996. The team's legacy includes legendary figures such as Gordie Howe, Jack Adams, and the Production Line, as well as iconic arenas like the Olympia and Joe Louis Arena. Their move to Little Caesars Arena in 2017 marked a new chapter, though the team has faced a prolonged playoff drought since 2015–16.

Did You Know?

• The Red Wings were originally named the Detroit Cougars after purchasing the players of the Victoria Cougars.
• The team's winged-wheel logo is a red version of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association's emblem.
• Gordie Howe, one of the greatest players in hockey history, joined the Red Wings in 1946.
• The Red Wings have a 10-season playoff drought, the longest active in the NHL.