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• The Detroit Red Wings play in the Central Division of the National Hockey League's Western Conference.

  The Wings were honored by the Sporting News in September of 2009, being named the NHL team of the decade. Additionally, head coach Mike Babcock, general manager Ken Holland and captain Nick Lidstrom were named NHL coach, general manager and player of the decade respectively.

• Fast Facts

  1. Owner: Mike Ilitch
  2. General Manager: Ken Holland
  3. Coach: Mike Babcock
  4. Inaugural season: 1926
  5. Finals appearances: 24
  6. Stanley Cups: 11 (last in 2008)
  7. Home: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
  8. Became the first team in NHL history to record nine-consecutive 100-point seasons in 2009 http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?game...

• Early History

  The team was originally founded in 1925 and played their first season in 1926 as the Detroit Cougars. In 1927, the team moved to Olympia Arena, where they played under coach Jack Adams over the next 20 years.

  The team underwent two name changes in the early 1930s, first to the Detroit Falcons in 1930 then to the Detroit Red Wings in 1932. In 1936, the Wings won their first Stanley Cup Championship in the history of the franchise.

• Howe Years

  In 1946, Hockey Hall of Fame player Gordie Howe joined the Red Wings, to play alongside fellow legends Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay in what was called "The Production Line." This crew led the team to four championships over six seasons, starting in 1949.

• Yzerman Years

  In 1984, a 21-year-old Steve Yzerman was named captain of the Wings. He led the team to their first championship in 42 years by winning the Cup in 1997. The Wings would repeat as champions under Yzerman in 1998 and 2002.

• Lidstrom Years

  Following the 2006 season, Yzerman announced his retirement and a few months later defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom was named team captain. In 2008, he became the first European born player ever to lead a team as captain to the Stanley Cup.

• 2009 Stanley Cup Run

  In the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Red Wings defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks to become the 2009 Eastern Cup Champions. In a repeat of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, the Wings once again squared off against the Pittsburgh Penguins, whom they defeated to become the 2008 Stanley Cup Champions. The Red Wings however fell to the Penguins in the 2009 finals in seven games.

• Legend of the Octopus

  It has been a tradition in Detroit, or Hockeytown as fans call it, to throw a raw octopus on the ice following a good play or game. The tradition began back in 1952, with the octopus representing the eight wins required to take the championship at the time.

  In 2008, the NHL announced that the Wings would be fined $10,000 if an octopus is swung around by ice manager Al Sobotka, while he was on the ice. Sobotka still however is permitted to twirl the creature after he leaves the playing surface.

• Players and Alumni

  Below is a list of players who are either currently or formally on the team roster.

• Goalies

  • Ty Conklin
  • Chris Osgood

• Defensemen

  • Chris Chelios
  • Jonathan Ericsson
  • Niklas Kronwall
  • Brett Lebda
  • Nicklas Lidstrom
  • Andreas Lilja
  • Derek Meech
  • Brian Rafalski
  • Brad Stuart

• Forwards

  • Dan Cleary
  • Pavel Datsyuk
  • Kris Draper
  • Valtteri Filppula
  • Johan Franzen
  • Darren Helm
  • Tomas Holmstrom
  • Marian Hossa
  • Jiri Hudler
  • Tomas Kopecky
  • Kirk Maltby
  • Darren McCarty
  • Mikael Samuelsson
  • Henrik Zetterberg

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Steve Yzerman | Gordie Howe | Nicklas Lidstrom | Dominik Hasek | Henrik Zetterberg | Nashville Predators | Detroit Pistons | Detroit Tigers | Detroit Lions | Chicago Blackhawks | St. Louis Blues | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL Winter Classic | NHL Trade Rumors | Vintage NHL Jerseys | Barry Melrose | Mike Babcock | Todd McLellan | Stanley Cup Playoffs 2009 | Stanley Cup Finals

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