The recent Wings-Pens game was much more than your average regular season game at the Joe. With storylines of past players meeting back up in the rink, and some anger boiling over from last season, the latest match-up between Motown and Steeltown ended up with an unfamiliar ending from last season. For this season though, high scoring has been a huge warning flag for those hoping for a repeat.
This game was one of those epic games that comes along every 10 years or so. Not since the famed Wings-Avs fight night on one March evening have teams battled in a game that only counts for two points when it’s all said and done. Following 60-plus minutes, the Pens finally came out with a gutsy 7-6 OT victory by the tremendous play of Jordan Staal.
The Wings, who at one point led by three goals, played sloppy coming home and the young Pittsburgh players made them easily pay. For a rare opportunity for Detroit fans to see their home squad over these past few weeks, both teams clearly did not disappoint. With questions continuing to surround Osgood and Conklin, fans may shortly be hoping to see a new face in net.
Rumors have been flying around Detroit for years now that Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch wants to build a new hockey arena behind his Fox Theatre. According to sources, the Ilitches have been amassing property in the area for the past decade.
Forbes Magazine recently reported that the Red Wings are the fourth most valuable NHL franchise, valued at $303 million. “Next year the Red Wings have to decide if they want to extend their lease on Joe Louis Arena,” Forbes reported, ”which is extremely lucrative for the team because it allows ownership to run the arena, nearby Cobo Arena, and the parking garage for both facilities for just $450,000 a year.”
The fact that their lease is expiring and that the city is trying desperately to expand the Cobo convention center to accomodate the annual Auto Show could make the move more likely. However, the Ilitches will likely seek massive government subsidies for a new arena project and local coffers are currently empty.
The number one team in terms of net worth are the Wings’ rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, valued at $448 million. The Leafs’ gate receipts were $78 million compared to the Red Wings’ $54 million.
If I were a betting man, I would put my money on the assumption that the blue prints for a new Red Wings arena have already been drawn up and that the Ilitches are simply waiting for the right political opportunity to strike. The plan will be sold as “economic development” for Detroit and the Ilitches will be praised for their “civic pride” and commitment to the city. Any budget shortfalls will be supplemented by revenues from the Ilitch’s Motor City Casino.
There will not be much resistence this time around compared to the move out of Tiger Stadium. The question is whether or not the Red Wings will be able to raise ticket prices at a new arena in a weak economy to an even higher level than they are now at The Joe.
Detroit Red Wings legend, Alex Delvecchio, didn’t learn to skate until he was twelve years old. That’s a remarkably late age for any Canadian boy — let alone one who would become one of hockey’s greatest players.
Delvecchio played for the Wings from 1951 through 1974. He holds the NHL records for seasons played and games played in a career spent with only one team. His name appears three times on the Stanley Cup for the years 1952, 1954 and 1955. He played in an amazing thirteen All-Star Games: 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1967 — a total surpassed by only five players.
Delvecchio was the Red Wings’ team captain for twelve years, a mark surpassed only by Steve Yzerman. He ranks second in Red Wings’ history in games played and third in points, goals and assists. He remains 8th all-time in NHL history in games played and 27th in points scored.
Delvecchio was the third man in the Red Wings incredible “Production Line” along with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. The Red Wings retired Delvecchio’s number 10 in 1991 — and it will forever hang in their rafters.
You’ll enjoy this interview with him as he shares stories from his childhood and his playing days. What a class act.
Gordie Howe is known throughout the sports world simply as “Mr. Hockey.” His incredible career dates back to 1946, when at the age of 18, he debuted at right wing for the still young Detroit Red Wings franchise.
This video clip captures Howe’s early days with footage dating back to the 1950s. You’ll catch a glimpse or two of old Olympia Stadium and be reminded why Mr. Howe’s elbows helped make him famous.
Steve Yzerman has been retired for a while now, but he’s still the number one selling custom Detroit Red Wings jersey. This is truly impressive because the Wings just won a Stanley Cup without him on the ice. To think that he out sells the current championship players is nothing short of remarkable — but it speaks volumes for the respect and affection the fans have for Yzerman.
This amazing video was put together by one of Stevie’s biggest fans. It’s safe to say that Hockeytown will never forget its Captain. Enjoy.
During the 1996 NHL Western Conference Finals, Colorado Avalanche player Claude Lemieux layed a dirty hit on Detroit Red Wing Kris Draper. Lemieux checked Draps from behind and sent him flying into the boards face first. Draper broke his jaw and suffered other injuries from the incident. The hit went largely unanswered until March 26, 1997 at Joe Louis Arena.
That day, one of the bloodiest fights in NHL history ensued as Igor Larionov, Darren McCarty, Mike Vernon, Brendan Shanahan and other Red Wings more than evened the score. It was a brawl for the ages.
Many believe the fight helped inspire the Red Wings to later win their first Stanley Cup Championship in forty years.
Watch this incredible video clip that captures the entire affair. It’s a wonder no one went to jail.
Eleven Stanley Cup championship banners now hang from the rafters at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.
Last night’s banner raising ceremony was a reminder to the world that the Detroit Red Wings remain hockey’s most dynamic team — and that Detroit has truly earned its self-aggrandizing title of Hockeytown.
For the most part, the Wings have become the New York Yankees of hockey. A large market and devoted fans have allowed owner Mike Ilitch to maintain an NHL dynasty. Perhaps this year’s championship proved that more than any other because it was the first in the post-Stevie Yzerman era.
Despite the opening loss, the 2008-09 season is sure to be one to remember as the Red Wings shoot for back-to-back championships.
The Detroit Red Wings Henrik Zetterberg hoists the 2007-08 Stanley Cup.
As you might have guessed by the sight of darkness coming earlier and a bitter chill in the air, hockey season is officially upon us. Tonight the Red Wings will fittingly raise their 11th Stanley Cup banner to the rafters before a game against the next team in line amongst all-time Cup winners. It is also fitting that this game is against the same Maple Leafs team which seemingly has not played a game in Detroit since Doug Gilmour and Felix Potvin were wearing the blue and white sweater. Even with the Leafs struggling and in a current state of flux this is still a great rivalry and bound to be a great game.
Tonight begins a long journey that Wings fans have been waiting to relive since those final seconds in the Igloo. Detroit is favored almost unanimously to win the Cup for a 12th time this season, just in time to decide the fate of a number of fan favorites namely Zetterberg. Much like another certain sports franchise in Detroit owned by Mr. Ilitch, this team too carries the weight of tremendous expectations on their shoulders. For goodness sake, this team has to make a decision whether Marian Hossa or Henrik Zetterberg will join Rafalski, Lidstrom, Datsyuk and Holmstrom on power plays. That’s like asking a dog which treat they like best - it doesn’t matter, this team is incredible with either player alone in the lineup.
2008-9 is supposed to be the year that the Canadiens end a 16-year streak and win the Cup in their 100th year of existence. This is supposed to be the year which an Original Six rivalry is renewed between these two storied franchises for hockey’s greatest prize. This scenario is nothing new to Wings fans who have seen media members find any and every reason not to support them this season. For the fans of this town, the only result in June will be Gary Bettman saying… “Nick Lidstrom, come and raise the Stanley Cup.”
Is Detroit Red Wings star Gordie Howe the greatest hockey player of all time? We think so. And so do the other legends of hockey interviewed in this video clip.
From the Legends of Hockey series, this video is full of great archival footage of Howe throughout his amazing career — as well as great scenes from Detroit’s Olympia Stadium.
If you had been reading the paper today in regards to Detroit’s ever-changing automotive industry, it was hard to avoid the news of Chrysler heavily considering selling off the Dodge Viper brand. When the Viper first sprouted on the market over a decade ago it was considered the latest hot car to come out of Motown automotive plants. In order to help spur this success, marketing dollars were put into a minor league hockey team that played out of the Palace. In 1994, Detroit had a cheaper alternative to the Red Wings. For a few short years, the Detroit Vipers provided hockey fans with a second option in our town.
The atmosphere at first was mixed. Nobody knew what to think of the free hockey puck giveaways or the plum and pea green uniforms. In order to drive some excitement in the area, the players highlighted were Darryl Williams and John Craighead - two players who had a real mean streak on the ice. The team won the division in their first year including a victory over Wayne Gretzky’s exhibition team. Benefiting directly from the NHL player’s strike, the Vipers began to draw huge numbers through the Palace turnstiles.
The success continued even as players returned to the NHL and the Wings set an NHL record by winning 62 in 1995-6. The next season saw the Vipers defeat the Long Beach Ice Dogs to win the Turner Cup, mere days apart from the Wings taking their first title in 42 years. Gordie Howe then showed up the next season in a horrific publicity stunt that was both overhyped and sad to watch. The season then ended with a pre-game brawl before Game 7 of the Turner Cup finals where the start of the game was delayed as the ice had to be resurfaced from all of the blood.
Losing seasons and a declining interest in another hockey minor league led to the Bloomfield Hills-based IHL to shut its doors for good. For seven seasons, the Vipers provided an alternative hockey atmosphere that was extremely fan-friendly and exciting to watch. In hearing today’s announcement I couldn’t help to think of what a strange time it was for hockey in this town.
