Detroit Red Wings Hockey Club, commonly referred to as Detroit Red Wings or simply Red Wings, is one of the most iconic and successful hockey clubs in the world. Founded in 1926 as Detroit Cougars, it changed its name to Detroit Red Wings in 1932. The club is based in Detroit, Michigan, USA, and plays its home matches at the famous Little Caesars Arena, which has a seating capacity of over 19,500.
Detroit Red Wings has a rich history, boasting 11 Stanley Cup Championships, six Conference Championships, and numerous other domestic and international trophies. The club enjoyed its most successful era under legendary manager Jack Adams, who led Red Wings to seven Stanley Cup finals and three Championships between 1927 and 1962.
Known for its attacking style of play, the club has nurtured some of hockey’s greatest talents, including Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidström, and Pavel Datsyuk. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances, Detroit Red Wings remains one of the world’s most valuable hockey clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence American and world hockey.
Detroit Red Wings is one of the most popular hockey clubs in the world, with one of the highest average home attendances in North America. The club states that its worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Detroit Red Wings Fan Club (DRWFC), in at least 24 countries. The club takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Detroit Red Wings has 75 million fans worldwide. The club has the third highest social media following in the world among sports teams (after L.A. Lakers and New York Yankees), with over 82 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Detroit Red Wings had the loudest fans in the National Hockey League.
Detroit Red Wings was formed in 1926 as Detroit Cougars by the Norris family. The team initially played games against other local teams, but on 20 November 1926, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing the colours of the city—red and white—they were defeated 2–0 by Boston Bruins.
During the Original Six era, the Detroit Red Wings had an excellent run. They won the Stanley Cup in 1950, 1952, 1954, and 1955, cementing their reputation as one of the most successful teams in the NHL. The driving force behind this success was the Production Line, a line made up of Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Sid Abel, which is considered one of the best lines in hockey history.
On 3 July 2006, Steve Yzerman announced that he was to retire as a player at the end of the hockey season, but would remain at the club as a vice president and alternate governor. He retired as the most decorated player in hockey history. The club announced the next day that Dallas Stars manager Mike Babcock would replace him from 1 July, having signed a six-year contract. Nicklas Lidstrom took over as captain 10 months later, on 22 April 2007, when Babcock was hired after a poor season in which the club failed to defend their Stanley Cup title and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1990.
Originally funded by the Victoria Coulson, the team became a part of the National Hockey League in 1926 and sold shares to local supporters via an application form. In 1932, majority ownership passed to two local businessmen who invested significantly to save the team from bankruptcy, including future team president James E. Norris. After his death in 1952, the team faced challenges yet again but was saved by Bruce Norris, who assumed control of the team after investing significantly. Bruce promoted his sister, Marguerite, to the board in 1955, but died six years later; the Norris family retained ownership of the team through Bruce's wife, Marion, but the position of chairman passed to former player Jack Adams.
Promoted to the board a few years after the 1956 playoffs, Bill Gadsby, a friend of Gordie Howe, began acquiring shares in the team; for an investment of approximately $50,000, he accumulated a significant shareholding and took control in January 1966. When Marion Norris died in January 1982, her shares passed to Bruce Norris, who sold a percentage of his shares to Bill Gadsby's son, Ed, in 1983; Ed Gadsby went on to become chairman upon his father's death in 1985. Media tycoon Mike Ilitch attempted to buy the team in 1982, but did not meet Gadsby's asking price. In 1982, chairman Ed Gadsby attempted to sell the team to George Steinbrenner for $20 million, but the sale fell through and Steinbrenner joined the board of directors instead.
The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most distinguished teams in the NHL in terms of championships won. The team's first trophy was the Stanley Cup, which they secured in 1936. In 1937, they secured their second Stanley Cup and have since gone on to win a total of 11 Cups - the third most in the league. The Red Wings have also won a record 19 division championships and six Presidents' Trophies, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.
Domestic
Detroit Red Wings History: A comprehensive history of the Detroit Red Wings, their achievements, key players, and iconic moments. https://www.nhl.com/redwings/team/history
Detroit Red Wings Statistics: Detailed statistics of the Detroit Red Wings, including Stanley Cup victories, conference championships, and division championships. https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/
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