Red Wings Continue Tradition Of Excellence In 2006-07

 

NHL PR

 

The Detroit Red Wings have clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 16th consecutive season, the latest milestone for a franchise that has set a standard for sustained excellence not only in the National Hockey League but for all of North American major pro sports. The New York Yankees, who have qualified for the Major League Baseball playoffs in each of the past 12 seasons, have the next-longest streak.

In addition, the Red Wings reached the 100-point mark last Thursday, marking their seventh consecutive season of 100 points or more and surpassing the stretch of six such seasons amassed by the Edmonton Oilers during the Wayne Gretzky era from 1981-82 through 1986-87. The Montreal Canadiens, who recorded an NHL-record eight consecutive 100-point seasons from 1974-75 through 1981-82, are the only NHL team with a longer streak.

Despite two seemingly devastating off-season exits -- the retirement of Hockeytown legend Steve Yzerman and the departure through free agency of Brendan Shanahan, the NHL’s active leader among goal scorers with 626 -- the Red Wings (45-19-11, 101 points) have remained in contention for the Presidents' Trophy, which goes to the club finishing the regular season with the League's best record. Detroit, which has won the trophy five times in the past 11 seasons, trails the Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators by two points with seven games remaining on the schedule. The Red Wings’ drive for first place overall includes nationally-televised games tonight against Anaheim on VERSUS, TSN and RDS (7 p.m., ET), Thursday at Nashville on HD Net (8 p.m., ET) and Sunday at Columbus on NBC (12:30 p.m., ET).

Longest Current Streak Of Reaching The Postseason

NHL
16 Detroit Red Wings, 1990-91 to 2006-07 (already clinched this season)

MLB
12 New York Yankees, 1995 to 2006

NBA
10 San Antonio Spurs, 1997-98 to 2006-07 (already clinched this season)
9 Indiana Pacers, 1997-98 to 2005-06

NFL
5 Indianapolis Colts, 2002 to 2006


The team’s on-ice success has been reflected at the gate, where the home sellout streak at Joe Louis Arena stands at 448 regular-season and playoff games, covering 11-plus years and three Stanley Cups. With capacity at 'The Joe' listed at just over 20,000, more than 8.9 million fans have passed through the turnstiles in that span.

How have they done it? Observers point to a number of factors:

Continuity

Ken Holland has served in the Red Wings' front office since 1985 and has been the club's general manager since July, 1997. Assistant GM Jim Nill joined the front office in 1994. Each brought considerable amateur and pro scouting experience to the job, expertise that has paid considerable dividends.

Entry Draft

The Red Wings have built successfully through the Entry Draft despite the fact that they have had only one Top 20 selection since 1992 – the least among all NHL clubs. The team used the choice on defenseman Jakub Kindl, who was selected 19th overall in 2005 and who continued his development with the OHL Kitchener Rangers in 2006-07.

Top-20 Selections In NHL Entry Draft Since 1992

16 NY Islanders, Washington
15 Edmonton
14 Montreal
13 Anaheim, Buffalo, Chicago, Florida, Phoenix, San Jose
12 Calgary, Los Angeles
11 Ottawa, Tampa Bay
10 Carolina, Colorado, NY Rangers, Vancouver
9 Pittsburgh
8 Atlanta, Boston, Nashville, Toronto
7 Columbus, Minnesota
6 New Jersey
5 Philadelphia
4 Dallas, St. Louis
1 Detroit

Nine players on the current roster, including four-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom and leading scorers Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, were Detroit selections in the Entry Draft and have worn the red-and-white jersey throughout their career. Another regular, defenseman Brett Lebda, was signed as an undrafted free agent after playing college hockey at Notre Dame.

The Red Wings discovered many of these players far off the beaten path and made them late-round Entry Draft steals. As an example, consider the Red Wings' top line of Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom:

Player Draft Note Birthplace

Tomas Holmstrom 257th overall in 1994 Pitea, Sweden
Pavel Datsyuk 171st overall in 1998 Sverdlovsk, Russia
Henrik Zetterberg 210th overall in 1999 Njurunda, Sweden

Trades

Longtime linemates Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby were acquired in under-publicized trades in 1993 and 1996, respectively. Veteran defensemen Chris Chelios and Mathieu Schneider were added at the trade deadline in 1999 and 2003. More recently, 2007 trade-deadline acquisition Kyle Calder has flourished with the Red Wings after struggling earlier in the season.

Free Agents

While the free-agent signing of goaltender Dominik Hasek last summer was met with some skepticism, the 42-year-old, six-time Vezina Trophy winner has posted one of the best seasons of his NHL career -- a 35-11-5 record, 2.13 goals-against average and six shutouts. Forward Dan Cleary, an unheralded signing in 2005-06 following stops in Chicago, Edmonton and Phoenix, has resurrected his career in Motown; his 20 goals are six more than his previous single-season high.

 

 

Photo: Brett Lebda © Michail Boncea (HV)