Editing Detroit Red Wings

{{Short description|National Hockey League team in Michigan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NHL team
| team_name = Detroit Red Wings
| current = 2024–25 Detroit Red Wings season
| bg_color = background:#FFFFFF !important; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid !important; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid !important;
| text_color = #000000
| logo_image = Detroit Red Wings logo.svg
| conference = [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern]]
| division = [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic]]
| founded = 1926
| history = '''Detroit Cougars'''<br />[[1926–27 NHL season|1926]]–[[1929–30 NHL season|1930]]<br />'''Detroit Falcons'''<br />[[1930–31 NHL season|1930]]–[[1931–32 NHL season|1932]]<br />'''Detroit Red Wings'''<br />[[1932–33 NHL season|1932]]–present
| arena = '''[[Little Caesars Arena]]'''
| city = [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]
| uniform_image = ECA-Uniform-DET.png
| uniform_image_size = 150px
| team_colors = Red, white<ref>{{cite news|last=Regner|first=Art|title="Ask Art": Red Wings Mailbag|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-mailbag-338577314|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=DetroitRedWings.com|date=December 9, 2022|access-date=November 14, 2023|quote=Plus, the next alternate jersey will embrace the history, tradition, and the red and white colors, which the franchise has always worn since 1926.|archive-date=November 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114032738/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-mailbag-338577314|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=DetroitRedWings|author=Detroit Red Wings|number=490894595073794049|date=July 20, 2014|title=@MarkMitchell30 Pantone 186}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Red Wings to wear uniform patch to honor Gordie Howe|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/gordie-howe-patch-on-red-wings-uniforms/c-282170096|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|date=September 27, 2016|access-date=November 28, 2022|quote=They will wear a white "9" patch on their red home jerseys and a red "9" patch on their white road jerseys.|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216132642/https://www.nhl.com/news/gordie-howe-patch-on-red-wings-uniforms/c-282170096|url-status=live}}</ref><br />{{color box|#C8102E}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| media_affiliates = [[FanDuel Sports Network Detroit]]<br />[[WXYT-FM|97.1 The Ticket]]
| owner = [[Ilitch Holdings, Inc.]]
| general_manager = [[Steve Yzerman]]
| head_coach = [[Todd McLellan]]
| captain = [[Dylan Larkin]]
| minor_league_affiliates = [[Grand Rapids Griffins]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]])<br />[[Toledo Walleye]] ([[ECHL]])
| stanley_cups = '''11''' ([[1936 Stanley Cup Finals|1935–36]], [[1937 Stanley Cup Finals|1936–37]], [[1943 Stanley Cup Finals|1942–43]], [[1950 Stanley Cup Finals|1949–50]], [[1952 Stanley Cup Finals|1951–52]], [[1954 Stanley Cup Finals|1953–54]], [[1955 Stanley Cup Finals|1954–55]], [[1997 Stanley Cup Finals|1996–97]], [[1998 Stanley Cup Finals|1997–98]], [[2002 Stanley Cup Finals|2001–02]], [[2008 Stanley Cup Finals|2007–08]])
| conf_titles = '''6''' ([[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95]], [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97]], [[1997–98 NHL season|1997–98]], [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]], [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09]])
| presidents'_trophies = '''6''' ([[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95]], [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96]], [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]], [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]], [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]])
| division_titles = '''19''' ([[1933–34 NHL season|1933–34]], [[1935–36 NHL season|1935–36]], [[1936–37 NHL season|1936–37]], [[1987–88 NHL season|1987–88]], [[1988–89 NHL season|1988–89]], [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92]], [[1993–94 NHL season|1993–94]], [[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95]], [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96]], [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]], [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]], [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]], [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]], [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]], [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07]], [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]], [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09]], [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11]])
| website = {{URL|nhl.com/redwings}}
}}
The '''Detroit Red Wings''' (colloquially referred to as the '''Wings''')<ref>{{cite web|first=Helene|last=St. James|title=Detroit Red Wings to part ways with Kyle Quincey, Brad Richards|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/05/19/detroit-red-wings-brad-richards/84585926/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=May 19, 2016|access-date=April 8, 2024|archive-date=May 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529133003/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/05/19/detroit-red-wings-brad-richards/84585926/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=Growing confidence, maturity spurring Red Wings' strong start|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2021/10/28/growing-confidence-maturity-spurring-detroit-red-wings-strong-start/8583113002/|website=The Detroit News|date=October 28, 2021|access-date=April 8, 2024|url-access=subscription|archive-date=April 8, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240408084837/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2021/10/28/growing-confidence-maturity-spurring-detroit-red-wings-strong-start/8583113002/|url-status=live}}</ref> are a professional [[ice hockey]] team based in [[Detroit]]. The Red Wings compete in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) as a member of the [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic Division]] in the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Teams|url=https://www.nhl.com/info/teams/|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 1, 2024|archive-date=April 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404205755/https://www.nhl.com/info/teams/|url-status=live}}</ref> The franchise is one of the so called [[Original Six]] teams of the league.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=670654 |title=4 of the NHL's Original 6 – Chicago, Detroit, Boston, New York Rangers – among 8 still in playoffs |date=May 14, 2013 |access-date=August 26, 2013 |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927214823/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=670654 |url-status=live}}</ref> Founded in [[1926–27 NHL season|1926]], the team was known as the '''Detroit Cougars''' until [[1929–30 NHL season|1930]]. For the next two seasons, the team was named the '''Detroit Falcons''', before changing their name to the Red Wings in [[1932–33 NHL season|1932]].<ref name="Guide">{{cite book |title=[[NHL Official Guide & Record Book|NHL Official Guide & Record Book 2015]] |author=National Hockey League |year=2014 |publisher=Triumph |isbn=978-1-62937-011-8 |page=57}}</ref>

The Red Wings have won the most [[Stanley Cup]] championships of any NHL franchise based in the United States (11),<ref>{{cite web|title=Stanley Cup Champions and Finalists|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-stanley-cup-champions-winners-complete-list-287705398|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|date=June 13, 2023|access-date=April 1, 2024|archive-date=April 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401214045/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-stanley-cup-champions-winners-complete-list-287705398|url-status=live}}</ref> and are third overall amongst active teams in total Stanley Cup championships, behind the [[Montreal Canadiens]] (24) and [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] (13). The Wings played their home games at [[Joe Louis Arena]] from 1979 until 2017, after playing for 52 years at [[Olympia Stadium]]. They moved into [[Little Caesars Arena]] beginning with the 2017–18 season. The Red Wings are one of the most popular and successful franchises in the NHL; fans and sports commentators refer to the Detroit area as "[[Hockeytown]]", which has been a registered trademark owned by the franchise since 1996.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fee|first=Kevin|title=Detroit Snatches 'Hockeytown ' name from Warroad, Minn.|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-54598019.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105190411/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-54598019.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |publisher=Knight Ridder/ Tribune Business news |access-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref>

Between the [[1931–32 NHL season|1931–32]] and [[1965–66 NHL season|1965–66]] seasons, the Red Wings missed the playoffs only four times. They struggled between the 1966–67 and 1982–83 seasons, only making the playoffs twice in that stretch. After that, however, from 1983–84 to 2015–16, they made the playoffs 30 times in 32 seasons, including 25 straight from 1990–91 to 2015–16 (not including the canceled [[2004–05 NHL season|2004–05 season]]); in [[2005–06 NHL season|2006]], this became the longest active [[List of NHL franchise post-season appearance streaks|streak of postseason appearances]] in all of North American professional sports and finished tied for the third-longest streak in NHL history. Since 1983–84, the Red Wings have tallied six [[Presidents' Trophy|regular season first-place finishes]] and have won the Stanley Cup four times ([[1997 Stanley Cup Finals|1997]], [[1998 Stanley Cup Finals|1998]], [[2002 Stanley Cup Finals|2002]], and [[2008 Stanley Cup Finals|2008]]).

==History==
{{further|History of the Detroit Red Wings}}

===Early years (1926–1949)===
[[File:1926 27 Detroit Cougars.png|thumb|Team photo from Detroit's inaugural season ([[1926–27 NHL season|1926–27]]). The franchise was known as the Detroit Cougars from 1926 to 1930.]]
Following the [[1926 Stanley Cup playoffs]], during which the [[Western Canada Hockey League|Western Hockey League]] (WHL) was widely reported to be on the verge of folding,<ref>{{Cite book| author=Coleman, Charles L. | title=The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1926 inc. |year=1966 |publisher=National Hockey League |location=Montreal, Quebec |page= 498}}</ref> the NHL held a meeting on April 17 to consider applications for expansion franchises, at which it was reported that five different groups sought a team for Detroit.<ref>{{Cite book| author=Coleman, Charles L. | title=The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1926 inc. |year=1966 |publisher=National Hockey League |location=Montreal, Quebec |page=508}}</ref> During a subsequent meeting on May 15, the league approved a franchise to the Townsend-Seyburn group of Detroit and named [[Charles A. Hughes]] as governor.<ref>{{Cite book| author=Coleman, Charles L. | title=The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 2, 1927–1946 inc. |year=1969 |publisher=National Hockey League |location=Sherbrooke, PQ |page= 7}}</ref> WHL owners [[Frank Patrick (ice hockey)|Frank]] and [[Lester Patrick]] made a deal to sell the league's players to the NHL and cease league operations. The new Detroit franchise purchased the players of the WHL's [[Victoria Cougars]], who had won the Stanley Cup in 1925 and had made the Finals the previous winter, to play for the team. The new Detroit franchise also adopted the Cougars' nickname in honor of the folded franchise.<ref>{{Cite book| author=Coleman, Charles L. | title=The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 2, 1927–1946 inc. |year=1969 |publisher=National Hockey League |location=Sherbrooke, PQ |pages=8–9}}</ref>

Since no arena in Detroit was ready at the time, the Cougars played their [[1926–27 Detroit Cougars season|first season]] at the [[Border Cities Arena]] in [[Windsor, Ontario]].<ref name="1920s Cougars">{{cite web|title=Written History 1920s – Detroit Red Wings|url=https://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43765|website=NHL.com|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=July 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702184728/http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43765|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Nathan|last=Bierma|title=Windsor Arena, first home of the Red Wings, is still standing — for now|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/windsor-arena-first-home-red-wings-still-standing-now/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=February 28, 2018|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018102934/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/windsor-arena-first-home-red-wings-still-standing-now/|url-status=live}}</ref> For the [[1927–28 NHL season|1927–28 season]], the Cougars moved into the new [[Detroit Olympia]], which would be their home rink until December 15, 1979.<ref name=Olympia>{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Ferkovich|title=When the Red Wings said goodbye to Olympia Stadium|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/red-wings-said-goodbye-olympia-stadium/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=January 7, 2017|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=September 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909010201/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/red-wings-said-goodbye-olympia-stadium/|url-status=live}}</ref> This was also the first season behind the bench for [[Jack Adams]], who would be the face of the franchise for the next 36 years as either coach or general manager.<ref name=Adams>{{cite web|first=Tony|last=Wolak|title=Jack Adams, the Man and the Award|url=https://thehockeywriters.com/jack-adams-the-man-the-award/|website=The Hockey Writers|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906183931/http://thehockeywriters.com/jack-adams-the-man-the-award/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Cougars made the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in [[1928–29 NHL season|1929]], with [[Carson Cooper]] leading the team in scoring.<ref name="1920s Cougars"/><ref>{{cite web|title=1928-29 Detroit Cougars Roster and Statistics|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DTC/1929.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906223949/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DTC/1929.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Cougars were outscored 7–2 in the two-game series with the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]].<ref name="1929 Cougars">{{cite web|title=1928-29 Detroit Cougars Schedule and Results|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DTC/1929_games.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906224926/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DTC/1929_games.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1930, the Cougars were renamed the Falcons, but their woes continued, as they usually finished near the bottom of the standings, even though they made the playoffs again in [[1931–32 NHL season|1932]].<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web|url=https://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43758|title=Written History 1930s – Detroit Red Wings|website=NHL.com|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=January 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108093559/http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43758|url-status=live}}
|2={{cite web|title=1930-31 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1931.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033853/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1931.html|url-status=live}}
|3={{cite web|title=1931-32 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1932.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907032928/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1932.html|url-status=live}}
|4={{cite web|title=1931-32 Detroit Falcons Schedule and Results|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DTF/1932_games.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033800/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DTF/1932_games.html|url-status=live}}
}}</ref>

In 1932, the NHL let [[grain trade|grain merchant]] [[James E. Norris]], who had made two previous unsuccessful bids to buy an NHL team, purchase the Falcons. Norris' first act was to rename the team; earlier in the century, Norris had been a member of the [[Montreal Amateur Athletic Association]] (MAAA), a multi-sport club whose winged-wheel emblem derived from its cycling roots, and [[Montreal Hockey Club|whose hockey team]] won the first Stanley Cup in 1893. Norris decided that a red version of the MAAA "[[Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers|Winged Wheelers]]" logo would be perfect for a team playing in the "Motor City", and on October 5, 1932, the club was renamed the Detroit Red Wings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How did they get to be the Red Wings? |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Jamie |website=LiveAbout |url=https://www.liveabout.com/how-did-they-become-red-wings-2778717 |access-date=January 22, 2020 |archive-date=March 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327160356/https://www.liveabout.com/how-did-they-become-red-wings-2778717 |url-status=live}}</ref> Norris also placed coach Jack Adams on a one-year probation for the [[1932–33 NHL season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Legends of Hockey – Spotlight – One on One with Jack Adams|url=https://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononep195901.shtml|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|date=November 24, 2006|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034014/https://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononep195901.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Adams managed to pass his probationary period by leading the Red Wings to their first-ever playoff series victory, over the [[Montreal Maroons]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1933 NHL Stanley Cup Quarter-Finals: DET vs. MTM|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1933-detroit-red-wings-vs-montreal-maroons-quarter-finals.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907075517/https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1933-detroit-red-wings-vs-montreal-maroons-quarter-finals.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The team then lost in the semifinals to the [[New York Rangers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1933 NHL Stanley Cup Semi-Finals: DET vs. NYR|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1933-detroit-red-wings-vs-new-york-rangers-semi-finals.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907032632/https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1933-detroit-red-wings-vs-new-york-rangers-semi-finals.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[1933–34 NHL season|1934]], the Red Wings made the [[1934 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] for the first time, with [[John Sorrell (ice hockey)|John Sorrell]] scoring 21 goals over 47 games and [[Larry Aurie]] leading the team in scoring.<ref>{{cite web|title=1933-34 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1934.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 7, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803130016/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1934.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] defeated the Red Wings in the Finals, winning the best-of-five series in four games to claim their first title.<ref name="1930s champs">{{cite web|title=Stanley Cup Champions 1930-1939|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-stanley-cup-champions-1930-1939/c-287934514|publisher=National Hockey League|date=January 1, 2017|access-date=September 7, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907214607/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-stanley-cup-champions-1930-1939/c-287934514|url-status=live}}</ref> Two seasons later, the Red Wings won their first Stanley Cup in [[1935–36 NHL season|1936]], defeating Toronto in four games.<ref name="1930s champs"/> Detroit repeated as Stanley Cup champions in [[1936–37 NHL season|1937]], winning over the Rangers in the full five games.<ref name="1930s champs"/> In 1938, the [[Montreal Canadiens]] and the Red Wings became the first NHL teams to play in Europe, playing in [[Paris]] and [[London]]. The Wings played nine games against the Canadiens and went 3–5–1. They did not play in Europe again until the preseason and start of the [[2009–10 NHL season]], in Sweden, against the [[St. Louis Blues]].<ref>{{Cite web|first=Clark|last=Rasmussen|title=Red Wings End Preseason with 6-2 Win over Farjestad|url=https://www.detroithockey.net/news/2009/09/30/red-wings-end-preseason-with-6-2-win-over-farjestad/|publisher=DetroitHockey.Net|date=September 30, 2009|access-date=December 23, 2009|quote=The Red Wings were involved in the NHL's first foray into Europe, visiting Paris and London alongside the Montreal Canadiens in 1938. The two teams played nine games with the Wings going 3-5-1 in the series.|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223190506/https://www.detroithockey.net/news/2009/09/30/red-wings-end-preseason-with-6-2-win-over-farjestad/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Gordie Howe 1946-47.jpg|thumb|upright|Making his NHL debut in 1946, [[Gordie Howe]] played alongside [[Sid Abel]] and [[Ted Lindsay]] from 1947 to 1951, forming the [[Production Line (ice hockey)|Production Line]].]]
The Red Wings made the Stanley Cup Finals in three consecutive years during the early 1940s.<ref name="1940s Wings">{{cite web|title=Written History 1940s – Detroit Red Wings|url=https://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43757|website=NHL.com|access-date=September 7, 2017|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108105515/http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43757|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[1940–41 NHL season|1941]], they were swept by the [[Boston Bruins]], and in [[1941–42 NHL season|1942]], they lost a seven-game series to Toronto after winning the first three games.<ref name="1940s Wings"/> However, in [[1942–43 NHL season|1943]], with [[Mud Bruneteau]] and [[Syd Howe]] scoring 23 and 20 goals, respectively, Detroit won their third Stanley Cup by sweeping the Bruins.<ref name="1940s Wings"/><ref>{{cite web|title=1942-43 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1943.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 7, 2017|archive-date=September 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908064736/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1943.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Through the rest of the decade, the team made the playoffs every year, and reached the Finals three more times.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web|title=1943-44 Detroit Red Wings Schedule and Results|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1944_games.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=March 4, 2024|archive-date=July 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718112942/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1944_games.html|url-status=live}}
|2={{cite web|title=1944-45 Detroit Red Wings Schedule and Results|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1945_games.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=March 4, 2024|archive-date=March 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327160422/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1945_games.html|url-status=live}}
|3={{cite web|title=1945-46 Detroit Red Wings Schedule and Results|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1946_games.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=March 4, 2024|archive-date=March 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304185451/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1946_games.html|url-status=live}}
|4={{cite web|title=1946-47 Detroit Red Wings Schedule and Results|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1947_games.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=March 4, 2024|archive-date=March 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327160434/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1947_games.html|url-status=live}}
}}</ref><ref name="1948 Wings">{{cite web|title=1947-48 Detroit Red Wings Schedule and Results|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1948_games.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=March 4, 2024|archive-date=May 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529230746/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1948_games.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1949 Wings">{{cite web|title=1948-49 Detroit Red Wings Schedule and Results|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1949_games.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=March 4, 2024|archive-date=March 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327162604/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1949_games.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[1946–47 NHL season|1946]], one of the greatest players in hockey history came into the NHL with the Red Wings. [[Gordie Howe]], a right winger from [[Floral, Saskatchewan]], only scored seven goals and 15 assists in his first season, and would not reach his prime for a few more years.<ref>{{cite web|title=The life of 'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe: A timeline|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/gordie-howe-mr-hockey-timeline-moments/c-280930698|publisher=National Hockey League|date=June 10, 2016|access-date=September 7, 2017|archive-date=September 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908064804/https://www.nhl.com/news/gordie-howe-mr-hockey-timeline-moments/c-280930698|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also the last season as head coach for Adams, who stepped down after the season to concentrate on his duties as general manager and was succeeded by minor league coach [[Tommy Ivan]].<ref name="Production Line">{{cite web|first=J. Conrad|last=Guest|title=Tommy Ivan devised Red Wings' famous "Production Line"|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/tommy-ivan-devised-red-wings-famous-production-line/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=January 22, 2013|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=June 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625234945/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/tommy-ivan-devised-red-wings-famous-production-line/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Gerald|last=Eskenazi|title=Tommy Ivan, 88, Executive For Two Hockey Champions|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/27/sports/tommy-ivan-88-executive-for-two-hockey-champions.html|website=The New York Times|date=June 27, 1999|access-date=September 7, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916134214/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/27/sports/tommy-ivan-88-executive-for-two-hockey-champions.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By his second season, Howe was paired with [[Sid Abel]] and [[Ted Lindsay]] to form what would become one of the great lines in NHL history: the "[[Production Line (ice hockey)|Production Line]]".<ref name="Production Line"/> Lindsay's 33 goals propelled the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were swept by the Maple Leafs.<ref name="1948 Wings"/> Detroit reached the Finals again the following season, only to be swept again by Toronto.<ref name="1949 Wings"/>

===Gordie Howe era (1950–1966)===
During the [[1949–50 NHL season|1950]] semifinals, [[Leo Reise Jr.]] scored the winning goal in overtime, which prevented the Maple Leafs from winning four straight championships.<ref name="1950 Wings">{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Bak|title=When the Red Wings won the Cup for Gordie|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/when-the-red-wings-won-the-cup-for-gordie/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=April 14, 2015|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=October 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028044353/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/when-the-red-wings-won-the-cup-for-gordie/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the Finals, the Red Wings defeated the New York Rangers in seven games. In Game 7, [[Pete Babando]] scored the game winner in double overtime.<ref name="1950 Wings"/> After the game, Lindsay skated around the Olympia ice with the Stanley Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/winter02/hockey/story?id=1340012|title=Hockey's all-time greatest games|work=ESPN.com|date=February 24, 2002|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=November 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118035249/http://www.espn.com/olympics/winter02/hockey/story?id=1340012|url-status=live}}</ref>

After being upset by the Montreal Canadiens in the [[1950–51 NHL season|1951]] semifinals, Detroit won its fifth Stanley Cup in [[1952 Stanley Cup Finals|1952]], sweeping both the Maple Leafs and the Canadiens, with the Production Line of Howe, Abel and Lindsay joined by second-year goaltender [[Terry Sawchuk]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1950-1951 Season|url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/season/1950-1951|website=NHL.com|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420011749/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/season/1950-1951|archivedate=April 20, 2023|access-date=September 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name="1952 Wings">{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Bak|title=1951-52 Stanley Cup Champions: The greatest team in Red Wings' history|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/1951-52-stanley-cup-champions-greatest-team-red-wings-history/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=December 6, 2014|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=November 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103145121/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/1951-52-stanley-cup-champions-greatest-team-red-wings-history/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Bob|last=Duff|title=Terry Sawchuk: 100 Greatest NHL Players|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/terry-sawchuk-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-284174960|publisher=National Hockey League|date=January 1, 2017|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908201147/https://www.nhl.com/news/terry-sawchuk-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-284174960|url-status=live}}</ref> Detroit became the first team in 17 years to go undefeated in the playoffs.<ref name="1952 Wings"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Moore|title=Those Marauding Montreal Maroons|url=https://thehockeywriters.com/those-marauding-montreal-maroons/|website=The Hockey Writers|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908202141/https://thehockeywriters.com/those-marauding-montreal-maroons/|url-status=live}}</ref> They also scored 24 playoff goals, compared to Toronto and Montreal's combined total of 5.<ref>{{cite web|title=1951-52 Detroit Red Wings Schedule and Results|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1952_games.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908202118/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1952_games.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Abel left the Red Wings for Chicago during the off-season, and his spot on the roster was replaced by [[Alex Delvecchio]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Lapointe|title=Sid Abel, 81, a Hockey Star On a Famed Red Wings Line|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/10/sports/sid-abel-81-a-hockey-star-on-a-famed-red-wings-line.html|website=The New York Times|date=February 10, 2000|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909010428/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/10/sports/sid-abel-81-a-hockey-star-on-a-famed-red-wings-line.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Bak|title=Hall of Famer Delvecchio captained the Red Wings for 12 seasons|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/hall-famer-delvecchio-captained-red-wings-12-seasons/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=December 14, 2014|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=February 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203063607/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/hall-famer-delvecchio-captained-red-wings-12-seasons/|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 1952, James E. Norris died.<ref name=Maguerite>{{cite web|title=Marguerite Norris: first woman named on the Stanley Cup|url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/marguerite-norris-first-woman-named-on-the-stanley-cup|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904002559/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/marguerite-norris-first-woman-named-on-the-stanley-cup|url-status=live}}</ref> He was succeeded as team president by his daughter, [[Marguerite Norris|Marguerite]], which made her the first woman to head an NHL franchise.<ref name=Maguerite/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/14/obituaries/marguerite-norris-hockey-team-president-67.html|title=Marguerite Norris, Hockey Team President, 67|date=May 14, 1994|website=The New York Times|access-date=July 29, 2018|archive-date=July 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729081942/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/14/obituaries/marguerite-norris-hockey-team-president-67.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:1952 Detroit Red Wings.jpg|left|thumb|Team photo of the 1952 Detroit Red Wings]]
Following another playoff upset in [[1952–53 NHL season|1953]] at the hands of the Bruins,<ref>{{cite web|first=Brad|last=Kurtzberg|title=Ranking the 10 Most Disappointing Teams in NHL History|url=https://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/1722126-ranking-the-10-most-disappointing-teams-in-nhl-history|website=Bleacher Report|date=July 31, 2013|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909232940/http://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/1722126-ranking-the-10-most-disappointing-teams-in-nhl-history|url-status=live}}</ref> the Red Wings won back-to-back Stanley Cups, beating the rival powerhouse Montreal Canadiens. Both of the Stanley Cup Finals played between the two teams were decided in seven games. The seventh game during the [[1953–54 NHL season|1954 Stanley Cup Finals]] was won with one of the oddest cup winning goals ever, when the 5'7" left winger [[Tony Leswick]], known more for his relentless checking than scoring prowess, shot a puck towards the Montreal goal from the middle of the ice. Habs defenseman [[Doug Harvey (ice hockey)|Doug Harvey]] tried to gain control of the wobbly puck with his glove but instead redirected it past Montreal goalie [[Gerry McNeil]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=44029|title=1953 - 1954 Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Season|website=NHL.com|publisher=Detroit Red Wings|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318114155/http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=44029|url-status=live}}</ref> The repeat of the series [[1954–55 NHL season|the season after]] was closely contested, as all seven games were won by the home team, with Detroit taking the seventh game. Montreal was sorely lacking its all-star [[Maurice Richard]], who was suspended after hitting a linesman during the regular season, and the Red Wings' stars carried their team, as Lindsay scored four goals in a single game and Howe scored 20 points during the playoffs, 12 of which during the Finals, all new records in the league.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=44030|title=1954 - 1955 Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Season|website=NHL.com|publisher=Detroit Red Wings|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318114146/http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=44030|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 1954–55 season ended a run of seven straight regular season titles, an NHL record.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Holmes|title=Red Wings are only team to ever win seven consecutive NHL league titles|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/red-wings-team-ever-win-seven-consecutive-nhl-league-titles/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=December 16, 2016|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=October 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027075929/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/red-wings-team-ever-win-seven-consecutive-nhl-league-titles/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the 1955 off-season, Marguerite Norris lost an intra-family power struggle, and was forced to turn over the Red Wings to her younger brother [[Bruce Norris (ice hockey)|Bruce]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Gene|last=Myers|title=New Gordie Howe book recounts Detroit Red Wings' decline after 1950s|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2014/09/11/new-gordie-howe-book-recounts-red-wings-decline-after-1950s-dynasty/15431555/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=September 11, 2014|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909052958/http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2014/09/11/new-gordie-howe-book-recounts-red-wings-decline-after-1950s-dynasty/15431555/|url-status=live}}</ref> Detroit and Montreal once again met, in the [[1955–56 NHL season|1956 Stanley Cup Finals]], but this time the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, their first of five in a row.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stanley Cup No. 8|url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/Stanley-Cup-No-8|website=NHL.com|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321203140/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/Stanley-Cup-No-8|archivedate=March 21, 2023|access-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref> In [[1956–57 NHL season|1957]], Lindsay, who had scored 30 goals and led the league in assists with 55, teamed up with Harvey to help start the [[National Hockey League Players' Association]] (NHLPA).<ref>{{cite web|title=1956-57 NHL Leaders|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1957_leaders.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909232751/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1957_leaders.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Liz|last=Mullen|title=The making of a union|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/01/23/Labor-and-Agents/NHLPA.aspx|website=SportsBusiness Journal|date=January 23, 2017|access-date=September 8, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909053446/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/01/23/Labor-and-Agents/NHLPA.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, he and [[goaltender]] [[Glenn Hall]] were promptly traded to Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|title=5 Most Important trades in NHL History|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/5-most-important-trades-in-nhl-history/c-4710|publisher=National Hockey League|date=December 12, 2011|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909233221/https://www.nhl.com/news/5-most-important-trades-in-nhl-history/c-4710|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[1958–59 NHL season|1959]], the Red Wings missed the playoffs for the first time in 21 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vintage NHL Original Six Programs|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/all-time-original-six-vintage-nhl-programs/c-284943134|publisher=National Hockey League|date=January 1, 2017|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910040721/https://www.nhl.com/news/all-time-original-six-vintage-nhl-programs/c-284943134|url-status=live}}</ref> However, within a couple of years, the franchise was able to rejuvenate itself. The Red Wings made the Finals in four of the next six years between [[1960–61 NHL season|1961]] and [[1965–66 NHL season|1966]].<ref name="1960s Wings">{{cite web|title=Written History 1960s – Detroit Red Wings|url=https://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43761|website=NHL.com|publisher=Detroit Red Wings|access-date=September 9, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310131215/http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43761|url-status=live}}</ref> However, they came away empty-handed.<ref name="1960s Wings"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Bak|title=Sid Abel's Wings Fell Short in four Stanley Cup Finals|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/sid-abels-wings-fell-short-four-stanley-cup-finals/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=November 11, 2014|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=October 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026162047/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/sid-abels-wings-fell-short-four-stanley-cup-finals/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==="Dead Wings" era (1967–1982)===
[[File:Detroit December 2015 59 (Joe Louis Arena).jpg|thumb|On December 27, 1979, the Red Wings played their first game at [[Joe Louis Arena]], moving from the [[Detroit Olympia]].]]
Only a year after making the Finals, the Red Wings finished a distant fifth, 24 points out of the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|title=1966-67 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1967.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910221319/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1967.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the beginning of a slump that they would not emerge from in almost 20 years. This period is derisively known as the "Dead Wings" era.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2772756|title=The Original Six: Detroit Red Wings|last=Burnside|first=Scott|date=February 21, 2007|work=ESPN.com|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310132051/https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2772756|url-status=live}}</ref>

One factor in the Red Wings' decline was the end of the old development system.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Original Six|url=http://www.hockeycentral.co.uk/nhl/history/nhl-orgsix.php|website=Hockeycentral|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-date=July 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728095657/http://www.hockeycentral.co.uk/nhl/history/nhl-orgsix.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Another factor was [[Ned Harkness]], who was hired as coach in [[1970–71 NHL season|1970]] and was promoted to general manager midway through the season. A successful college hockey coach, Harkness tried to force his two-way style of play on a veteran Red Wings team resistant to change. They chafed under his rule in which he demanded short hair and no smoking, and put other rules in place regarding drinking and phone calls.<ref name="brokenwings">{{Cite magazine | url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1971/01/18/poor-broken-wings/ | title=Poor Broken Wings | author=Mulvoy, Mark | magazine=Sports Illustrated | date=January 18, 1971 | access-date=June 29, 2008 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102070652/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084495/2/index.htm | archive-date=January 2, 2013}}</ref> Harkness was forced to resign in 1974, ending the period colloquially referred to as "Darkness with Harkness".<ref>{{cite web|first=Stu|last=Hackel|title=The Morning Skate: Ned Harkness and the Fall of the Red Wings|url=https://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/the-morning-skate-ned-harkness-and-the-fall-of-the-red-wings/|website=The New York Times|date=September 22, 2008|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910221257/https://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/the-morning-skate-ned-harkness-and-the-fall-of-the-red-wings/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Howe>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Holmes|title=The controversial final year of Gordie Howe's career with the Red Wings|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/02/07/now-playing-defense-gordie-howe/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=February 7, 2016|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223214055/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/02/07/now-playing-defense-gordie-howe/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0_tJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2523,1297315&hl=en|title=Harkness Resigns|author=Daily Wire Services|work=The Michigan Daily|date=February 7, 1974|access-date=May 22, 2018|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310132526/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0_tJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2523,1297315&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the expansion season of [[1967–68 NHL season|1967–68]], the Red Wings acquired longtime star left-winger [[Frank Mahovlich]] from the defending Cup champions in Toronto. Mahovlich would go on a line with Howe and Delvecchio, and in [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69]], he scored a career-high 49 goals and had two All-Star seasons in Detroit.<ref>{{cite web|first=Stu|last=Hackel|title=Frank Mahovlich: 100 Greatest NHL Players|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/frank-mahovlich-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-284312184|publisher=National Hockey League|date=January 1, 2017|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912011552/https://www.nhl.com/news/frank-mahovlich-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-284312184|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1969|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28936|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=June 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615014036/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28936|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1970|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28937|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=June 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615001759/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28937|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Mahovlich was traded to Montreal in [[1970–71 NHL season|1971]], while Howe announced his retirement the same year.<ref name=Howe/><ref name=Trades>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Williams|title=Ranking the 5 Biggest Trades in Detroit Red Wings History|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1976207-ranking-the-5-biggest-trades-in-detroit-red-wings-history|website=Bleacher Report|date=February 27, 2014|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=September 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911205056/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1976207-ranking-the-5-biggest-trades-in-detroit-red-wings-history|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout the decade, the Red Wings were hampered due to a number of factors.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Holmes|title=When the wheels fell off the Red Wings in the 1970s|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/01/26/wheels-fell-off-red-wings-1970s/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=January 26, 2016|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223192156/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/01/26/wheels-fell-off-red-wings-1970s/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 27, 1979, during the [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80 season]], the Red Wings officially began playing at the [[Joe Louis Arena]] after leaving the Olympia, where they had played since 1927.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gregg|last=Krupa|title=The Final Period Begins for Joe Louis Arena|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/10/17/final-period-begins-joe-louis-arena/92218854/|website=The Detroit News|date=October 17, 2016|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419043239/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/10/17/final-period-begins-joe-louis-arena/92218854/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1982, after 50 years of family ownership, Bruce Norris sold the Red Wings to [[Mike Ilitch]], founder of the pizza chain [[Little Caesars]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Written History 1980s – Detroit Red Wings|url=http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43763|website=Detroit Red Wings|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310132048/http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43763|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Steve Yzerman era (1983–2006)===
In [[1983 NHL entry draft|1983]], the Red Wings drafted [[Steve Yzerman]], a center from the [[Peterborough Petes]], with their first-round pick. He led the team in scoring in [[1983–84 NHL season|his rookie year]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Kimelman|title=Best pick at No. 4: Steve Yzerman, Red Wings|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/best-pick-at-no-4-steve-yzerman-red-wings/c-675168|publisher=National Hockey League|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912012607/https://www.nhl.com/news/best-pick-at-no-4-steve-yzerman-red-wings/c-675168|url-status=live}}</ref> That season, with [[John Ogrodnick]], [[Ivan Boldirev]], [[Ron Duguay]], and [[Brad Park]], Detroit made the playoffs for the first time in six years,<ref>{{cite web|title=1983-84 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1984.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912012632/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1984.html|url-status=live}}</ref> with Park ended up winning the [[Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Brad Park Stats and News|url=https://www.nhl.com/player/brad-park-8450206|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912012021/https://www.nhl.com/player/brad-park-8450206|url-status=live}}</ref> He was later asked to coach the Red Wings after they fired [[Harry Neale]] 35 games into the [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86 season]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Holmes|title=When Mike Ilitch found a new head coach for the Red Wings on Christmas Eve|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/03/10/when-mike-ilitch-found-a-new-head-coach-for-the-red-wings-on-christmas-eve/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=March 10, 2016|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223194735/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/03/10/when-mike-ilitch-found-a-new-head-coach-for-the-red-wings-on-christmas-eve/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tripi |first=Bob |date=December 30, 1985 |title=The Detroit Red Wings fired Coach Harry Neale today... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/12/30/The-Detroit-Red-Wings-fired-Coach-Harry-Neale-today/9925504766800/ |access-date=August 20, 2023 |website=[[United Press International]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tripi |first=Bob |title=The burden now falls on Brad Park to do... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/12/31/The-burden-now-falls-on-Brad-Park-to-do/1720504853200/ |access-date=August 20, 2023 |website=[[United Press International]]}}</ref> however, he was fired on June 3, 1986, after they finished last place with a 17–57–6 record for only 40 points, the worst record in the league.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{Cite web |title=Brad Park was fired Tuesday as coach and director... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/06/03/Brad-Park-was-fired-Tuesday-as-coach-and-director/3001518155200/ |access-date=August 20, 2023 |website=UPI}}
|2={{Cite web |title=1985-86 Detroit Red Wings Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1986.html |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=Hockey-Reference.com |archive-date=September 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912055344/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1986.html |url-status=live}}
|3={{Cite web |date=March 21, 1986 |title=NHL Roundup - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/03/21/NHL-Roundup/2760511765200/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=UPI}}
|4={{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Dave Bartkowiak |date=March 2, 2020 |title=The 10 worst Detroit Red Wings seasons in history |url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2019/12/10/the-10-worst-detroit-red-wings-seasons-in-history/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=WDIV |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127232329/https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2019/12/10/the-10-worst-detroit-red-wings-seasons-in-history/ |url-status=live}}
|5={{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Ansar |date=December 29, 2008 |title=Red Wings were NHL's worst team in 1985-86 |url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2008/12/red_wings_were_nhls_worst_team.html |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=mlive |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127203228/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2008/12/red_wings_were_nhls_worst_team.html |url-status=live}}
|6={{Cite web |last=Kulfan |first=Ted |title=Red Wings are bad, but will they be worst in franchise history? |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/03/02/detroit-red-wings-bad-but-they-worst-franchise-history/4923044002/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=The Detroit News |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127203452/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/03/02/detroit-red-wings-bad-but-they-worst-franchise-history/4923044002/ |url-status=live}}
|7={{Cite news |last=Bultman |first=Max |title=How does this Red Wings season stack up with the worst in NHL history? |url=https://theathletic.com/1573904/2020/01/31/how-does-this-red-wings-season-stack-up-with-the-worst-in-nhl-history/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=The Athletic |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127203448/https://theathletic.com/1573904/2020/01/31/how-does-this-red-wings-season-stack-up-with-the-worst-in-nhl-history/ |url-status=live}}
}}</ref> This was the same year that the Red Wings added [[Enforcer (ice hockey)|enforcer]] [[Bob Probert]], one of the most familiar faces of the team during the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|first=Brendan|last=Savage|title=Proof that Bob Probert was NHL heavyweight fight champ|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2017/08/the_best_of_bob_proberts_fight.html|website=MLive|date=August 1, 2017|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923223356/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2017/08/the_best_of_bob_proberts_fight.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Steve Yzerman (Columbus OH, 2005).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Named team captain in 1986, [[Steve Yzerman]] captained the Red Wings until his retirement in 2006.]]
In the [[1986–87 NHL season|1986–87 season]], with Yzerman, now the captain following the departure of [[Danny Gare]], joined by [[Petr Klima]], [[Adam Oates]], [[Gerard Gallant]], defenseman [[Darren Veitch]], and new head coach [[Jacques Demers]], the Red Wings won a playoff series for only the second time in the modern era.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web|first=Matt|last=Eichel|title=Steve Yzerman: NHL's All-Time Great Leaders, Part II|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25638-steve-yzerman-nhls-all-time-great-leaders-part-ii|website=Beacher Report|date=May 27, 2008|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234144/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/25638-steve-yzerman-nhls-all-time-great-leaders-part-ii|url-status=live}}
|2={{cite web|title=Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Danny Gare|url=http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12682|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234137/http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12682|url-status=dead}}
|3={{cite web|title=Detroit Red Wings Captains|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/captains.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234412/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/captains.html|url-status=live}}
}}</ref><ref name="1987 Wings">{{cite web|title=1986-87 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1987.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234313/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1987.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They made it all the way to the conference finals against the powerful [[Edmonton Oilers]], but lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions in five games.<ref name="1987 Wings"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Stu|last=Hackel|title=1986-87 Oilers voted No. 5 Greatest NHL Team|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/1987-edmonton-oilers-greatest-nhl-teams/c-289684980|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 31, 2017|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234146/https://www.nhl.com/news/1987-edmonton-oilers-greatest-nhl-teams/c-289684980|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[1987–88 NHL season|1988]], they won their first division title in 23 years. They did so, however, in a relatively weak division, as no other team in the Norris finished above .500.<ref>{{cite web|title=1987-88 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1988.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044535/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1988.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As was the case in the previous season, they made it to the conference finals only to lose again to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Oilers in five games.<ref>{{cite web|first=Stu|last=Hackel|title=1987-88 Oilers voted No. 4 Greatest NHL Team|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/1988-edmonton-oilers-greatest-nhl-team/c-289750554|publisher=National Hockey League|date=June 3, 2017|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913043759/https://www.nhl.com/news/1988-edmonton-oilers-greatest-nhl-team/c-289750554|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[1988–89 NHL season|1989]], Yzerman scored a career-best 65 goals, but Detroit was upset in the first round by the Chicago Blackhawks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5844|title=Steve Yzerman's hockey statistics profile|publisher=hockeyDB.com|access-date=June 21, 2008|archive-date=December 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227235715/http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5844|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1988-89 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1989.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044539/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1989.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Kiley|title=Hawks Roll In Clincher|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-04-14-8904040555-story.html|website=Chicago Tribune|date=April 14, 1989|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407011612/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-04-14-8904040555-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The following season, Yzerman scored 62 goals, but the team missed the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|title=1989-90 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1990.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044014/https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1990.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jordan|last=Hoy|title=1989-1990: A Look Back At The Wings' Last Losing Season|url=https://thehockeywriters.com/1989-1990-look-back-wings-last-losing-season/|website=The Hockey Writers|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044447/https://thehockeywriters.com/1989-1990-look-back-wings-last-losing-season/|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the season, Demers was fired and was replaced by [[Bryan Murray (ice hockey)|Bryan Murray]] as the new head coach.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Stubbs|title=Former coach Demers rooting for Red Wings|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/jacques-demers-rooting-for-red-wings/c-279979580|publisher=National Hockey League|date=March 29, 2016|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913183207/https://www.nhl.com/news/jacques-demers-rooting-for-red-wings/c-279979580|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Murray>{{cite web|first=Helene|last=St. James|title=Former Red Wings coach, GM Bryan Murray, who started playoff streak, dies|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/08/12/red-wings-mourn-p/562270001/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=August 12, 2017|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913193736/http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/08/12/red-wings-mourn-p/562270001/|url-status=live}}</ref> Murray was unable to get them back over .500, but they returned to the playoffs.<ref name=Murray/><ref>{{cite web|title=1990-91 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1991.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=April 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425033550/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1991.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Yzerman was joined by [[Sergei Fedorov]], who would be an award-winner and frequent all-star for the team during the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|first=Stu|last=Hackel|title=Sergei Fedorov: 100 Greatest NHL Players|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sergei-fedorov-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-285497404|publisher=National Hockey League|date=January 1, 2017|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913232205/https://www.nhl.com/news/sergei-fedorov-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-285497404|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991, the team signed free agent [[Ray Sheppard]], who would score a career-best 52 goals three years later.<ref>{{cite web|title=SPORTS PEOPLE: HOCKEY; Detroit Signs Sheppard|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/06/sports/sports-people-hockey-detroit-signs-sheppard.html|website=The New York Times|date=August 6, 1991|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913232308/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/06/sports/sports-people-hockey-detroit-signs-sheppard.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Ray Sheppard|url=http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11491|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913231626/http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11491|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1993, the Red Wings acquired top defenseman [[Paul Coffey]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Lisa|last=Dillman|title=Carson Returns; Coffey to Detroit : Kings: The trade also involves four other players. Gretzky is said to be saddened by the deal.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-30-sp-1780-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=January 30, 1993|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926131519/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-30-sp-1780-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Also joining the Red Wings around this time were draft picks [[Vladimir Konstantinov]], [[Nicklas Lidström|Nicklas Lidstrom]], [[Vyacheslav Kozlov]], [[Darren McCarty]], and [[Chris Osgood]].<ref name=Konstantinov>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Farber|title=Where are they now? Vladimir Konstantinov|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/where-are-they-now-vladimir-konstantinov/c-468350|website=NHL.com|date=July 8, 2009|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913232122/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/where-are-they-now-vladimir-konstantinov/c-468350|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings' Nicklas Lidstrom looking to make it happen in 18th season|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2009/10/red_wings_nicklas_lidstrom_loo.html|website=MLive|date=October 1, 2009|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923234418/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2009/10/red_wings_nicklas_lidstrom_loo.html|url-status=live}}
|2={{cite web|title=Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Vyacheslav Kozlov|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=10831|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913231640/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=10831|url-status=live}}
|3={{cite web|title=Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Darren McCarty|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11058|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914034429/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11058|url-status=live}}
|4={{cite web|first=Todd|last=Beam|title=Osgood retires|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/osgood-retires/c-569641|website=Detroit Red Wings|date=July 19, 2011|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005000257/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/osgood-retires/c-569641|url-status=live}}
}}</ref>

====The Russian Five and back-to-back Stanley Cups (1994–1998)====
In [[1993–94 NHL season|1993]], former Montreal Canadiens coach [[Scotty Bowman]] was hired as the new head coach.<ref>{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Bak|title=Remembering Scotty Bowman's first season with the Red Wings|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2014/11/02/remembering-scotty-bowmans-first-season-red-wings/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=November 2, 2014|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223195058/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2014/11/02/remembering-scotty-bowmans-first-season-red-wings/|url-status=live}}</ref> In his second season, the [[1994–95 NHL lockout|lockout]]-shortened [[1994–95 NHL season]], Bowman guided Detroit to its first Finals appearance in 29 years, only to be swept by the [[New Jersey Devils]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Bak|title=Remembering the Wings' strike-shortened 1994-95 season|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2013/01/15/remembering-the-red-wings-strike-shortened-1994-1995-season/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=January 15, 2013|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223200602/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2013/01/15/remembering-the-red-wings-strike-shortened-1994-1995-season/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Best moments in Joe Louis Arena history: No. 9|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/03/30/joe-louis-arena-memorable-moments/99704970/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004192252/http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/03/30/joe-louis-arena-memorable-moments/99704970/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Yannis|title=1995 STANLEY CUP FINALS; New Jersey and the Cup - Perfect Together|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/25/sports/1995-stanley-cup-finals-new-jersey-and-the-cup-perfect-together.html|website=The New York Times|date=June 25, 1995|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=May 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526145426/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/25/sports/1995-stanley-cup-finals-new-jersey-and-the-cup-perfect-together.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96 season]], the Red Wings won a then NHL record 62 games. However, after defeating the St. Louis Blues in seven games, they would fall in the conference finals to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the [[Colorado Avalanche]].<ref name="1996 Wings">{{cite web|first=Tony|last=Wolak|title=The Greatest Detroit Red Wings Team Not to Win the Stanley Cup|url=https://thehockeywriters.com/the-greatest-detroit-red-wings-team-not-to-win-the-stanley-cup/|website=The Hockey Writers|date=March 15, 2016|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914222721/https://thehockeywriters.com/the-greatest-detroit-red-wings-team-not-to-win-the-stanley-cup/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Lapointe|title=After 104 Minutes, Colorado Wins the Cup|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/11/sports/after-104-minutes-colorado-wins-the-cup.html|website=The New York Times|date=June 11, 1996|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914220300/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/11/sports/after-104-minutes-colorado-wins-the-cup.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Kimelman|title=Pastrnak hat trick helps Bruins top Flyers, set NHL wins record at 63|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-philadelphia-flyers-game-recap/c-343082544|website=NHL.com|date=April 9, 2023|access-date=April 17, 2023|archive-date=April 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410012748/https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-philadelphia-flyers-game-recap/c-343082544|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[1996–97 NHL season|The following season]], the Red Wings acquired [[Brendan Shanahan]] and [[Larry Murphy (ice hockey)|Larry Murphy]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Yannis|title=Whalers Finally Trade Shanahan for Coffey|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/10/sports/whalers-finally-trade-shanahan-for-coffey.html|website=The New York Times|date=October 10, 1996|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915023311/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/10/sports/whalers-finally-trade-shanahan-for-coffey.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Corey|last=Masisak|title=No. 4: Murphy proved a steal for Wings in '97|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/no-4-murphy-proved-a-steal-for-wings-in-97/c-554037|publisher=National Hockey League|date=February 24, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=May 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519021730/https://www.nhl.com/news/no-4-murphy-proved-a-steal-for-wings-in-97/c-554037|url-status=live}}</ref> In the playoffs, they would defeat the St. Louis Blues, the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]] and the Avalanche in the first three rounds. In the Finals, the Red Wings swept the [[Philadelphia Flyers]]. It was their first Stanley Cup since 1955, breaking the longest drought (42 years long) in the league at that time. [[Mike Vernon (ice hockey)|Mike Vernon]] was awarded the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings relish memories of night they ended 42-year Stanley Cup drought in 1997|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2012/06/red_wings_50.html|website=MLive|date=June 7, 2012|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927201405/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2012/06/red_wings_50.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Misfortune befell the Red Wings six days after their championship; defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov, one of the members of the "[[Russian Five]]", suffered a [[Traumatic brain injury|brain injury]] in a [[limousine]] accident, and his career came to an abrupt end.<ref name=Konstantinov/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/14/sports/two-red-wings-injured-one-seriously-in-crash.html|title=Two Red Wings Injured, One Seriously, in Crash|last=Lapointe|first=Joe|date=June 14, 1997|website=The New York Times|access-date=July 29, 2018|archive-date=January 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102060900/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/14/sports/two-red-wings-injured-one-seriously-in-crash.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1998 Wings">{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Stubbs|title=1997-98 Red Wings voted No. 6 Greatest NHL Team|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/1998-detroit-red-wings-greatest-nhl-teams/c-289674486|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 31, 2017|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914220208/https://www.nhl.com/news/1998-detroit-red-wings-greatest-nhl-teams/c-289674486|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, the team dedicated the [[1997–98 NHL season|1997–98 season]] to him.<ref name="1998 Wings"/> The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in four games, this time over the [[Washington Capitals]], and Konstantinov was brought onto the ice in his wheelchair so he could touch it.<ref name="1998 Wings"/>

====Superstar acquisitions and more success (1999–2006)====
The following season, the Red Wings appeared to be poised to win a third consecutive Stanley Cup when they acquired three-time [[Norris Trophy]] winner [[Chris Chelios]] from his hometown Chicago Blackhawks in March 1999.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jared|last=Clinton|title=Blackhawks rebuild began with botched Chelios trade that was never supposed to happen|url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/blackhawks-rebuild-began-with-botched-chelios-trade-which-was-never-supposed-to-happen|website=The Hockey News|date=November 27, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915023539/http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/blackhawks-rebuild-began-with-botched-chelios-trade-which-was-never-supposed-to-happen|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="1999 trades">{{cite web|first=Helene|last=Elliott|title=Red Wings Wheel and Make Deals|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-24-sp-20551-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=March 24, 1999|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803232312/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-24-sp-20551-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Also acquired at the trade deadline were defenseman [[Ulf Samuelsson]], winger [[Wendel Clark]], and goaltender [[Bill Ranford]].<ref name="1999 trades"/> Despite high aspirations, however, Detroit would end up losing in the conference semifinals to Colorado in six games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Avs End Wings' Cup Dreams|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/avs-end-wings-cup-dreams/|work=CBS News|date=May 18, 1999|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915023259/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/avs-end-wings-cup-dreams/|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[1999–2000 NHL season|2000]], the Red Wings would finish second in the Central Division. Just like the previous season, however, they would lose to the Avalanche in the Western Conference semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web|title=1999-2000 NHL Hockey Standings|url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/1999|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=October 3, 2017|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183244/https://www.nhl.com/standings/1999|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Avalanche Rolls Over Red Wings|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/avalanche-rolls-over-red-wings-1.281250|website=Newsday|agency=Associated Press|date=May 5, 2000|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003174624/http://www.newsday.com/sports/avalanche-rolls-over-red-wings-1.281250|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Stanley Cup Red Wings and Bush.jpg|thumb|The Red Wings were invited to the White House in November 2002, after winning the [[2002 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup]].]]
In [[2000–01 NHL season|2001]], Detroit, the NHL's second-best team in the regular season, were upset in the playoffs by the [[Los Angeles Kings]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2000-01 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2001.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731235651/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2001.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Thomas|last=LaRocca|title=Timeline: LAKings.com's Best of the 2000s|url=https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/timeline-lakings-coms-best-of-the-2000s/c-510646|website=NHL.com|publisher=Los Angeles Kings|date=December 20, 2009|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916010650/https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/timeline-lakings-coms-best-of-the-2000s/c-510646|url-status=live}}</ref> During the ensuing off-season, the team acquired goaltender [[Dominik Hašek|Dominik Hasek]] (the defending [[Vezina Trophy]] winner) and forwards [[Luc Robitaille]] and [[Brett Hull]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hasek Traded to Red Wings|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jul-01-sp-17412-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|date=July 1, 2001|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921044713/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jul-01-sp-17412-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Crowe|title=Robitaille Is Feeling Lucky|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-oct-20-sp-59525-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=October 20, 2001|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920185623/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-oct-20-sp-59525-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=HOCKEY; The Red Wings Sign Hull|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/23/sports/hockey-the-red-wings-sign-hull.html|website=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=August 23, 2001|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916094803/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/23/sports/hockey-the-red-wings-sign-hull.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Russian prospect [[Pavel Datsyuk]] also joined the team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Pavel Datsyuk|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=16510|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916053357/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=16510|url-status=live}}</ref> Strengthened by the additions, the Red Wings posted the league's best record in the [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02 regular season]] and defeated Colorado in seven games in the conference finals after beating the [[Vancouver Canucks]] and St. Louis Blues in rounds one and two.<ref name="2002 Wings">{{cite web|first=Wayne|last=Coffey|title=2001-02 Red Wings voted No. 10 Greatest NHL Team|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2002-detroit-red-wings-greatest-nhl-teams/c-289645006|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 29, 2017|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916052931/https://www.nhl.com/news/2002-detroit-red-wings-greatest-nhl-teams/c-289645006|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings then went on to capture another Stanley Cup, in five games, over the [[Carolina Hurricanes]], with Nicklas Lidstrom winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' MVP.<ref name="2002 Wings"/> Bowman and Hasek both retired after the season.<ref>{{cite web|first=Lonnie|last=White|title=Bowman Goes Out on Top|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-14-sp-nhl14-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=June 14, 2002|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921034246/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-14-sp-nhl14-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Lapointe|title=HOCKEY; After Winning Cup, Hasek Leaves His Crease|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/26/sports/hockey-after-winning-cup-hasek-leaves-his-crease.html|website=The New York Times|date=June 26, 2002|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916095930/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/26/sports/hockey-after-winning-cup-hasek-leaves-his-crease.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2002 off-season saw the Red Wings promote associate coach [[Dave Lewis (ice hockey)|Dave Lewis]] to the head coach position after Bowman's retirement.<ref>{{cite web|title=N.H.L.: ROUNDUP; Red Wings Sign Lewis To Succeed Bowman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/18/sports/nhl-roundup-red-wings-sign-lewis-to-succeed-bowman.html|website=The New York Times|date=July 18, 2002|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916225604/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/18/sports/nhl-roundup-red-wings-sign-lewis-to-succeed-bowman.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the market for a new starting goaltender after Hasek's retirement, they signed [[Curtis Joseph]] from the Toronto Maple Leafs to a three-year, $24&nbsp;million deal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings sign goalie Joseph to three-year contract|url=http://a.espncdn.com/nhl/news/2002/0701/1401226.html|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=July 1, 2002|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916225358/http://a.espncdn.com/nhl/news/2002/0701/1401226.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Also new to the lineup was highly touted Swedish prospect [[Henrik Zetterberg]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Lapointe|title=HOCKEY; New Coach, With Classic Lines, Is Ready to Roll With Red Wings|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/09/sports/hockey-new-coach-with-classic-lines-is-ready-to-roll-with-red-wings.html|website=The New York Times|date=October 9, 2002|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916225639/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/09/sports/hockey-new-coach-with-classic-lines-is-ready-to-roll-with-red-wings.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings finished the season second in the Western Conference, which pitted them in the [[2003 Stanley Cup playoffs|2003 playoffs]] against the seventh-seeded Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.<ref>{{cite web|title=2002-2003 NHL Hockey Standings|url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/2002|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305204239/https://www.nhl.com/standings/2002|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit falls to second seed in West|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=230406004|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 6, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926205500/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=230406004|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Ducks>{{cite web|title=Ducks-Red Wings Playoff History|url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-red-wings-playoff-history/c-469669|website=NHL.com|publisher=Anaheim Ducks|date=April 28, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916182721/https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-red-wings-playoff-history/c-469669|url-status=live}}</ref> The Mighty Ducks shocked the ice hockey world when they swept the Red Wings in four games en route to a [[2003 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] appearance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ducks knock off defending champs in four games|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=230416025|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 21, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170303/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=230416025|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Devils dominant at home again to win Cup|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=230609011|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=June 10, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328191641/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=230609011|archive-date=March 28, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref>

In the off-season, long time Red Wing Fedorov signed with the Mighty Ducks as a free agent.<ref>{{cite web|title=HOCKEY; Fedorov Leaves Wings To Sign With Ducks|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/20/sports/hockey-fedorov-leaves-wings-to-sign-with-ducks.html|website=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=July 20, 2003|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917075701/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/20/sports/hockey-fedorov-leaves-wings-to-sign-with-ducks.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, Hasek opted to come out of retirement and join the Red Wings for the [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04 season]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Diamos|title=HOCKEY; Hasek to Return to Red Wings|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/09/sports/hockey-hasek-to-return-to-red-wings.html|website=The New York Times|date=July 9, 2003|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=December 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229190217/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/09/sports/hockey-hasek-to-return-to-red-wings.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Joseph, despite being one of the highest-paid players in the NHL, spent part of the season in the minor leagues.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Farber|title=Dominator Or Cujo? Detroit will have to find an ending to its goaltending soap opera by choosing Dominik Hasek or Curtis Joseph to lead its quest for the Stanley Cup|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2004/01/26/359599/dominator-or-cujo-detroit-will-have-to-find-an-ending-to-its-goaltending-soap-opera-by-choosing-dominik-hasek-or-curtis-joseph-to-lead-its-quest-for-the-stanley-cup|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=January 26, 2004|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=September 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916225422/https://www.si.com/vault/2004/01/26/359599/dominator-or-cujo-detroit-will-have-to-find-an-ending-to-its-goaltending-soap-opera-by-choosing-dominik-hasek-or-curtis-joseph-to-lead-its-quest-for-the-stanley-cup|url-status=live}}</ref> Hasek himself would be sidelined with a groin injury.<ref name=Hasek>{{cite web|title=Dominik Hasek returns to Detroit|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/dominik-hasek-returns-to-detroit-1.593847|website=CBC Sports|date=July 31, 2006|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925051139/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/dominik-hasek-returns-to-detroit-1.593847|url-status=live}}</ref> Notwithstanding, the Red Wings would finish atop of the Central Division and the NHL standings.<ref>{{cite web|title=2003-2004 NHL Hockey Standings|url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/2003|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922051649/https://www.nhl.com/standings/2003|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2003-04 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2004.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419074415/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2004.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings eliminated the [[Nashville Predators]] in six games in the first round of the [[2004 Stanley Cup playoffs|2004 playoffs]], which led to a second round match-up with the [[Calgary Flames]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings turn down Predators in noisy Music City|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20040417_DET@NSH|website=CBS Sports|date=April 17, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170336/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20040417_DET@NSH|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref> The teams split the first four games, and headed to Detroit for a pivotal Game 5, which the Red Wings lost 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=Conroy scores only goal of the game|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=240501005|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 1, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170304/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=240501005|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> They were then eliminated two nights later in Calgary by the same score in overtime.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Kreiser|title=Martin Gelinas made playoff history for Flames|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-centennial-martin-gelinas-made-playoff-history/c-289203126|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 3, 2017|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=November 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117233302/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-centennial-martin-gelinas-made-playoff-history/c-289203126|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings did not play in the [[2004–05 NHL season|2004–05 season]] due to the [[2004–05 NHL lockout|lockout]], which canceled the entire NHL season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lockout over salary cap shuts down NHL|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=1992793|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=February 16, 2005|access-date=January 10, 2019|archive-date=October 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029151835/http://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=1992793|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Red Wings vs Blue Jackets.jpg|thumb|The Red Wings during a game in the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]]. They would go on to win that season's [[Presidents' Trophy]].]]
On July 15, 2005, [[Mike Babcock]], former head coach in Anaheim, became the new head coach for the Red Wings.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Kreiser|title=July 15: Red Wings hire Babcock|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/this-date-in-nhl-history-july-15/c-281139794|publisher=National Hockey League|date=July 15, 2017|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918020839/https://www.nhl.com/news/this-date-in-nhl-history-july-15/c-281139794|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 21, 2005, defenseman [[Jiří Fischer|Jiri Fischer]] went into [[cardiac arrest]] and collapsed on the bench during a game against the Nashville Predators.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings player stable after collapse|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2005/11/21/red-wings-player-stable-after-collapse/|website=The Denver Post|agency=Associated Press|date=November 21, 2005|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918022357/http://www.denverpost.com/2005/11/21/red-wings-player-stable-after-collapse/|url-status=live}}</ref> The game was canceled because of his injury and was made up on January 23, 2006.<ref name="make up">{{cite web|title=Up by one to start, Preds beat Wings in 'do-over' game|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=260123027|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=January 23, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170301/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=260123027|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> This was the first time in NHL history a game had been postponed due to an injury.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jared|last=Clinton|title=Blizzards and boxing: postponed games throughout the NHL's history|url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/blizzards-and-boxing-postponed-games-throughout-the-nhls-history|website=The Hockey News|date=November 21, 2014|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918022035/http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/blizzards-and-boxing-postponed-games-throughout-the-nhls-history|url-status=live}}</ref> While the game was played for the full 60 minutes, the Predators were allowed to maintain their 1–0 lead from the original game and won 3–2.<ref name="make up"/> The Red Wings won the [[Presidents' Trophy]] with a 58–16–8 record, earning them 124 points and secured home ice advantage for the entire playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|title=2005-2006 NHL Hockey Standings|url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/2005|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221203249/https://www.nhl.com/standings/2005|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2005-06 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2006.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520143937/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2006.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They opened the [[2006 Stanley Cup playoffs|2006 playoffs]] against the Edmonton Oilers with a 3–2 overtime victory at Joe Louis Arena, but the Oilers won four of the next five games to take the series.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maltby's second goal helps Wings nip Oilers in double OT|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=260421005|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 22, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170318/https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=260421005|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Oilers use four third-period goals to oust top-seeded Red Wings|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=260501006|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 2, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170255/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=260501006|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref>

Continuing the shakeup of the Red Wings roster, the off-season saw the departure of Brendan Shanahan, the return of Dominik Hasek and the retirement of Steve Yzerman.<ref name=Hasek/><ref>{{cite web|title=Shanahan agrees to deal with Rangers|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2514278|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=July 10, 2006|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183545/http://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2514278|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Longtime Red Wings captain Yzerman retires|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2508103|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=July 3, 2006|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929231315/http://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2508103|url-status=live}}</ref> Yzerman retired with the distinction of having been the longest-serving team captain in NHL history.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Kreiser|title=Follow the leader: The NHL's 10 best captains|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/follow-the-leader-the-nhls-10-best-captains/c-640779|publisher=National Hockey League|date=September 1, 2012|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183554/https://www.nhl.com/news/follow-the-leader-the-nhls-10-best-captains/c-640779|url-status=live}}</ref>

===The "Euro-Twins" era (2006–2017)===
The Red Wings opened the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07 season]] with Nicklas Lidstrom as the new captain.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lidstrom to reportedly replace Yzerman as captain|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2558523|work=ESPN.com|agency=ESPN.com news services|date=August 25, 2006|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922051808/http://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2558523|url-status=live}}</ref> The team retired Yzerman's jersey number 19 on January 2, 2007.<ref name=Yzerman>{{cite web|title=Red Wings retire Yzerman's No. 19 jersey|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-retire-yzermans-no-19-jersey/c-286520|website=NHL.com|agency=Associated Press|date=January 2, 2007|access-date=January 23, 2020|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310131601/https://www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-retire-yzermans-no-19-jersey/c-286520|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings finished first in the Western Conference and tied for first in the NHL with the [[Buffalo Sabres]], but the Sabres were awarded the Presidents' Trophy because they had more wins.<ref>{{cite web|title=2006-2007 NHL Hockey Standings|url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/2006|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922052044/https://www.nhl.com/standings/2006|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2006-07 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2007.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=May 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519192020/http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2007.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Presidents Trophy Buffalo Bound|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/presidents-trophy-buffalo-bound/c-437481|website=Sabres.com|date=April 7, 2007|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922051952/https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/presidents-trophy-buffalo-bound/c-437481|url-status=live}}</ref> Detroit advanced to the third round of the [[2007 Stanley Cup playoffs|2007 playoffs]] after defeating Calgary and the [[San Jose Sharks]] both in six games, coming back to win three-straight after the Sharks had a 2–1 series lead.<ref>{{cite web|title=Franzen's double-OT goal earns Red Wings spot in next round|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270422003|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 23, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402080229/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270422003|archive-date=April 2, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cheechoo's power-play goal lifts Sharks past Red Wings|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270430018|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170327/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270430018|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Samuelsson scores twice, Hasek blanks Sharks in Wings' clincher|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270507018|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 8, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170250/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270507018|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> The Red Wings would then lose to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks in the conference finals in six games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ducks win first Stanley Cup in franchise history|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270606025|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=June 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718001256/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270606025|archive-date=July 18, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Niklas Kronwall with Stanley Cup.jpg|thumb|[[Niklas Kronwall]] handed over the [[Stanley Cup]] to [[Jiří Hudler|Jiri Hudler]] after the Red Wings defeated the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] in the [[2008 Stanley Cup Finals]].]]
To start the 2007–08 campaign, Zetterberg recorded at least a point in each of Detroit's first 17 games, setting a club record.<ref>{{cite web|title=Perron scores twice in Blues' four-goal second period|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=271113019|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=November 13, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926205456/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=271113019|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> The Wings cruised to the playoffs, where they faced the Nashville Predators.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007-08 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2008.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921000504/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2008.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After goaltender Dominik Hasek played poorly in Games 3 and 4 of the series, both losses, head coach Mike Babcock replaced him with Chris Osgood.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wings seek net gains with Osgood|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/wings-seek-net-gains-with-osgood-1.764962|website=CBC Sports|date=April 18, 2008|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-date=October 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022090206/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/wings-seek-net-gains-with-osgood-1.764962|url-status=live}}</ref> Osgood never left the net for the remainder of the playoffs, as the Red Wings came back in that series in six games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wings advance to Western semifinals after Osgood blanks Preds with 20 saves|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=280420027|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926171839/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=280420027|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> In the second round, they swept the Colorado Avalanche in four games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings finish off Avalanche|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-may-02-sp-nhl2-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=May 2, 2008|access-date=August 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821045023/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-may-02-sp-nhl2-story.html|archive-date=August 21, 2024}}</ref> They then went on to the [[2008 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] after defeating the Dallas Stars in six games in the conference finals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings fly toward Finals|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/05/19/red-wings-fly-toward-finals/|website=The Denver Post|agency=Associated Press|date=May 19, 2008|access-date=August 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520202959/https://www.denverpost.com/2008/05/19/red-wings-fly-toward-finals/|archive-date=May 20, 2018}}</ref> The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup against the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] in Game 6 on June 4, 2008, by the score of 3–2. This was the Red Wings' fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years and their 11th overall in franchise history.<ref name="2008 Wings">{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings win Game 6, capture Stanley Cup|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2008/06/detroit_red_wings_3_pittsburgh_1.html|website=MLive|date=June 4, 2008|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927213544/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2008/06/detroit_red_wings_3_pittsburgh_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Zetterberg scored the winning goal in the decisive game, and was also named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.<ref name="2008 Wings"/> Lidstrom became the first non-North American player to captain a Stanley Cup-winning team.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Khan|title=Red Wings' Lidstrom becomes first European captain to win Stanley Cup|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2008/06/lidstrom_becomes_first_europea.html|website=MLive|date=June 4, 2008|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001709/http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2008/06/lidstrom_becomes_first_europea.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 2, 2008, the Red Wings announced the signing of [[Marián Hossa|Marian Hossa]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hossa signs one-year deal with Stanley Cup champs|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3470849|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=July 2, 2008|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-date=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190811/http://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3470849|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 1, 2009, the Red Wings played the Chicago Blackhawks in the second [[2009 NHL Winter Classic|NHL Winter Classic]] at Chicago's [[Wrigley Field]], defeating them 6–4.<ref>{{cite web|first=Pat|last=Borzi|title=Red Wings Dominate Blackhawks at Frigid Wrigley Field|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/sports/hockey/02wrigley.html|website=The New York Times|date=January 1, 2009|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921002007/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/sports/hockey/02wrigley.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Although they finished second in the conference to the San Jose Sharks, the Wings became the first team in NHL history to top 100 points in nine straight seasons.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008-09 NHL Summary|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2009.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-date=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920191017/https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2009.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Roose|title=Wings set new standard for 100-point seasons|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/wings-set-new-standard-for-100-point-seasons/c-467737|website=Detroit Red Wings|date=March 16, 2009|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921000512/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/wings-set-new-standard-for-100-point-seasons/c-467737|url-status=live}}</ref> In the playoffs, the Red Wings swept the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]], then defeated the eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks in a hard-fought seven-game series.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings score on power play in final minute to finish off Blue Jackets|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290423029|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926171841/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290423029|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cleary's late goal ends Ducks' rally as Red Wings advance to West finals|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290514005|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170234/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290514005|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> They took on the vastly improved Chicago Blackhawks in the conference finals, winning in five games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helm goal lifts Red Wings into Stanley Cup finals|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290527005|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170338/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290527005|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> The Red Wings would face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Finals for a second consecutive year, but this series would feature a different outcome as the Penguins defeated the Red Wings in seven games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fleury robs Wings in final seconds to secure Stanley Cup for underdog Penguins|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290612005|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=June 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613150223/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=290612005|archive-date=June 13, 2017|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> The Red Wings became only the second NHL team to lose the Stanley Cup at home in Game 7.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Kreiser|title=Game 7 history isn't on Penguins' side|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/game-7-history-isnt-on-penguins-side/c-280797660|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 25, 2016|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001513/https://www.nhl.com/news/game-7-history-isnt-on-penguins-side/c-280797660|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Red Wings began the [[2009–10 NHL season]] in [[Stockholm]], losing both games to the St. Louis Blues 4–3 and 5–3, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blues sweep Wings in Stockholm|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/blues-sweep-wings-in-stockholm-1.813064|website=CBC Sports|agency=Associated Press|date=October 3, 2009|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010051542/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/blues-sweep-wings-in-stockholm-1.813064|url-status=live}}</ref> They were plagued by injuries throughout the season and lost the second most man games to injury, with only the last place Edmonton Oilers losing more.<ref name=Injuries>{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Burnside|title=Red Wings: 10 Things You Need To Know|url=http://www.espn.com/nhl/preview2010/team/_/name/det|work=ESPN.com|date=October 4, 2010|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921192943/http://www.espn.com/nhl/preview2010/team/_/name/det|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Edmonton Oilers Injury Report 2009-10|url=https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/edmonton-oilers-injury-report-2009-10/c-430126|website=Edmonton Oilers|date=April 11, 2010|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921192715/https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/edmonton-oilers-injury-report-2009-10/c-430126|url-status=live}}</ref> The beginning of the season was a struggle for the Red Wings, with key players out of the lineup, including Zetterberg, [[Tomas Holmström|Tomas Holmstrom]], [[Johan Franzén|Johan Franzen]], [[Valtteri Filppula]] and [[Niklas Kronwall]].<ref name=Injuries/> After the Olympic break, Detroit posted a record of 13–3–2 and earned 28 points, the most by any team in the NHL.<ref>{{cite web|first=Pierre|last=LeBrun|title=Why you can't ignore second-half numbers|url=http://www.espn.com/nhl/blog/_/name/lebrun_pierre/id/5079099/pierre-lebrun-blog-revisiting-second-half-records-playoffs-loom|work=ESPN.com|date=April 5, 2010|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922050756/http://www.espn.com/nhl/blog/_/name/lebrun_pierre/id/5079099/pierre-lebrun-blog-revisiting-second-half-records-playoffs-loom|url-status=dead}}</ref> This run helped them secure the fifth playoff seed in the Western Conference. This, however, was the first time the Red Wings did not have home ice advantage in a playoff series in ten seasons.<ref>{{cite web|title=2009-2010 NHL Hockey Standings|url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/2009|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915160252/https://www.nhl.com/standings/2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Ansar |title=Red Wings prepare for the unusual: opening playoffs on the road |url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2010/04/red_wings_prepare_for_opening.html |access-date=March 6, 2025 |website=mlive |date=April 11, 2010}}</ref> Detroit won their first-round playoff series over the [[Arizona Coyotes|Phoenix Coyotes]] in seven games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coyotes' dream season ends as Red Wings roll on with rout|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=300427024|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170329/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=300427024|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> In the second round, they would be defeated by the San Jose Sharks in five games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marleau, Thornton punch Sharks' ticket for conference finals|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=300508018|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170258/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=300508018|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Nicklas Lidstrom 2010-01-31.JPG|thumb|left|upright|[[Nicklas Lidström|Nicklas Lidstrom]] during the [[2009–10 NHL season|2009–10 season]]. Named captain in 2006, he maintained the position until his retirement in 2012.]]
A healthier Red Wings team finished the [[2010–11 NHL season]] with a 47–25–10 record and 104 points to win the Central Division title.<ref>{{cite web|title=2010-2011 NHL Hockey Standings|url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/2010|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922195401/https://www.nhl.com/standings/2010|url-status=live}}</ref> They once again faced the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round of the playoffs, this time sweeping them 4–0.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Marshall|title=Red Wings win 6-3, finish sweep of Coyotes|url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/red-wings-win---finish-sweep-of-coyotes/article_6dd83294-11bb-557c-a178-266d9714a435.html|website=The Oakland Press|date=April 21, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=September 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927050200/https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/red-wings-win---finish-sweep-of-coyotes/article_6dd83294-11bb-557c-a178-266d9714a435.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Red Wings then went on to face the Sharks in round two. After losing the first three games of the series, the Red Wings won three consecutive games to force a Game 7, becoming just the eighth team in NHL history to accomplish the feat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings score three in the 3rd period to force Game 7|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=310510005|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926205450/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=310510005|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Noah|last=Trister|title=Red Wings force Game 7 after being down 3-0 to Sharks|url=https://nypost.com/2011/05/11/red-wings-force-game-7-after-being-down-3-0-to-sharks/|website=New York Post|agency=Associated Press|date=May 11, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922195723/http://nypost.com/2011/05/11/red-wings-force-game-7-after-being-down-3-0-to-sharks/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings lost Game 7 to the Sharks by a score of 3–2 and were eliminated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharks hold off Red Wings in Game 7, reach West final|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20110512_DET@SJ|website=CBS Sports|date=May 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170319/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20110512_DET@SJ|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref>

During the 2011 off-season, Red Wings defenseman [[Brian Rafalski]] retired.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings' Brian Rafalski retires|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=6587379|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 25, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923095704/http://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=6587379|url-status=live}}</ref> Detroit soon signed free agent defenseman [[Ian White (ice hockey)|Ian White]] to take his place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Red Wings sign veteran defenceman Ian White to two-year contract|url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/detroit-red-wings-sign-veteran-defenceman-ian-white-to-two-year-contract|website=The Hockey News|date=July 2, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923095455/http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/detroit-red-wings-sign-veteran-defenceman-ian-white-to-two-year-contract|url-status=live}}</ref> Long-time Red Wings Chris Osgood and [[Kris Draper]] also announced their retirement from hockey, with both soon taking positions within the club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chris Osgood retires with 401 wins|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/6783760/chris-osgood-detroit-red-wings-retires-nhl|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=July 19, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923051005/http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/6783760/chris-osgood-detroit-red-wings-retires-nhl|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit's Kris Draper Retires|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/sports/hockey/detroits-kris-draper-retires.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/sports/hockey/detroits-kris-draper-retires.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited|website=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=July 26, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Detroit signed goaltender [[Ty Conklin]] for his second stint with the team.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings agree to one-year contract with Ty Conklin to back up Jimmy Howard|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2011/07/red_wings_agree_to_one-year_co.html|website=MLive|date=July 20, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118113957/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2011/07/red_wings_agree_to_one-year_co.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Tragedy struck the organization and the rest of the NHL with the [[2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash]], which killed former Red Wings assistant coach [[Brad McCrimmon]] and defenseman [[Ruslan Salei]], who had joined [[Lokomotiv Yaroslavl|the KHL team]] during the summer. [[Stefan Liv]], a former Red Wings goaltending prospect, was also among the fatalities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russian jet carrying Lokomotiv of KHL crashes, 43 dead|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/6939064/russian-jet-carrying-lokomotiv-khl-crashes-43-dead|work=ESPN.com|agency=ESPN.com news services|date=September 8, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923050712/http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/6939064/russian-jet-carrying-lokomotiv-khl-crashes-43-dead|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Victims of 2011 Lokomotiv plane crash|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/victims-of-2011-lokomotiv-plane-crash/c-640860|publisher=National Hockey League|date=September 7, 2012|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923050813/https://www.nhl.com/news/victims-of-2011-lokomotiv-plane-crash/c-640860|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings then added a patch to the left arm of their uniforms with the trio's initials.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings Offer Special Jersey Patch To Honor Fallen Players|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/red-wings-offer-special-jersey-patch-to-honor-fallen-players/|website=CBS Detroit|date=November 15, 2011|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=November 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103000905/https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/red-wings-offer-special-jersey-patch-to-honor-fallen-players/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the season, the Red Wings won an NHL-record 23 consecutive home games.<ref name="Home streak">{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Roose|title=Streak comes to disappointing end|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/streak-comes-to-disappointing-end/c-618567|website=Detroit Red Wings|date=February 23, 2012|access-date=October 5, 2017|archive-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006012251/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/streak-comes-to-disappointing-end/c-618567|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jeff Z.|last=Klein|title=In a First-Rate Thriller, a Record Streak Ends|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/sports/hockey/red-wings-23-game-home-winning-streak-is-ended.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/sports/hockey/red-wings-23-game-home-winning-streak-is-ended.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited|website=The New York Times|date=February 23, 2012|access-date=September 22, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Red Wings also made the NHL playoffs, extending their streak of 21-straight playoff appearances, as the fifth seed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wings clinch playoff berth for team-best 21st straight year with rout|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400047874|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=March 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170237/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400047874|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2011-2012 NHL Hockey Standings|url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/2011|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701055552/https://www.nhl.com/standings/2011|url-status=live}}</ref> They were defeated in five games by their opening round opponent, the Nashville Predators.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Legwand, Predators top Red Wings in five games|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400259148|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170334/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400259148|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> On May 31, 2012, Nicklas Lidstrom retired.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hedger|first=Brian|title=Seven-time Norris Trophy winner Lidstrom retires|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/seven-time-norris-trophy-winner-lidstrom-retires/c-633292|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 31, 2012|access-date=May 31, 2012|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311131641/https://www.nhl.com/news/seven-time-norris-trophy-winner-lidstrom-retires/c-633292|url-status=live}}</ref>

Zetterberg was named successor to Lidstrom as team captain.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Wings name Henrik Zetterberg as captain|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-name-henrik-zetterberg-as-captain/c-650507|publisher=National Hockey League|date=January 15, 2013|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924044920/https://www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-name-henrik-zetterberg-as-captain/c-650507|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 1, 2012, the first day of the NHL free agency period, the Red Wings signed Swiss forward [[Damien Brunner]] to a one-year, entry-level contract; forward [[Jordin Tootoo]] to a three-year, $5.7&nbsp;million contract; and goaltender [[Jonas Gustavsson]] to a two-year, $3&nbsp;million deal.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings' Mike Babcock high on Damien Brunner, views him as a top-six forward right away|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2012/06/red_wings_coach_mike_babcock_h.html|website=MLive|date=June 23, 2012|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812215533/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2012/06/red_wings_coach_mike_babcock_h.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings sign disturber Jordin Tootoo to three-year deal worth $1.9 million per season|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2012/07/red_wings_sign_disturber_jordi.html|website=MLive|date=July 1, 2012|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124042419/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2012/07/red_wings_sign_disturber_jordi.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Hancock|title=Monster in Motown: Red Wings sign Jonas Gustavsson|url=https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2012/7/1/3130024/monster-in-motown-red-wings-sign-jonas-gustavsson|website=Winging It In Motown|date=July 1, 2012|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924044926/https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2012/7/1/3130024/monster-in-motown-red-wings-sign-jonas-gustavsson|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Holland Zetterberg Babcock.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ken Holland]] and [[Mike Babcock]] named [[Henrik Zetterberg]] as the team captain in 2013.]]
The team won their final four games of the [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13 season]] to earn the seventh seed of the playoffs. The Red Wings' 3–0 victory over the Dallas Stars on April 27, 2013, preserved their streak of 22 consecutive playoff appearances. As the seventh seed in the [[2013 Stanley Cup playoffs|2013 playoffs]], the Red Wings faced the second-seeded Anaheim Ducks.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings in playoffs for 22nd consecutive season after beating Dallas, 3-0, will face Anaheim|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2013/04/red_wings_in_playoffs_for_22nd.html|website=MLive|date=April 27, 2013|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927202344/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2013/04/red_wings_in_playoffs_for_22nd.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They survived a fierce battle that included four overtime games, winning the series 4–3 after a 3–2 Game 7 victory in Anaheim.<ref>{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Stubits|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-on-hockey/22229812/red-wings-advance-past-ducks-as-veterans-lead-way-in-game-7|title=Red Wings advance past Ducks as veterans lead way in Game 7|work=CBSSports.com|date=May 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205102755/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/22229812/red-wings-advance-past-ducks-as-veterans-lead-way-in-game-7|archive-date=February 5, 2016|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref> The next round pitted the Red Wings against the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks. Despite jumping out to a 3–1 series lead, the Red Wings would ultimately lose to the eventual Stanley Cup champions in seven games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hawks eliminate Wings in OT, advance to Western finals|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20130529_DET@CHI|website=CBS Sports|agency=CBSSports.com wire reports|date=May 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309023839/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20130529_DET@CHI|archive-date=March 9, 2017|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Blackhawks mount furious rally to win Stanley Cup|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20130624_CHI@BOS/blackhawks-mount-furious-rally-to-win-stanley-cup|website=CBS Sports|date=June 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170328/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20130624_CHI@BOS/blackhawks-mount-furious-rally-to-win-stanley-cup|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref>

On July 5, 2013, the Red Wings signed long time [[Ottawa Senators]] captain [[Daniel Alfredsson]] to a one-year contract and long time [[Florida Panthers|Florida Panther]] [[Stephen Weiss]] to a five-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Rosen|title=Alfredsson leaves Ottawa, signs with Detroit|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/alfredsson-leaves-ottawa-signs-with-detroit/c-676657|publisher=National Hockey League|date=July 5, 2013|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923193906/https://www.nhl.com/news/alfredsson-leaves-ottawa-signs-with-detroit/c-676657|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Stubits|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/stephen-weiss-joining-red-wings-with-five-year-contract/|title=Stephen Weiss joining Red Wings with five-year contract|website=CBS Sports|date=July 5, 2013|access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923194148/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/stephen-weiss-joining-red-wings-with-five-year-contract/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]], the Red Wings moved to the [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic Division]] of the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]] as part of the NHL's realignment. The move to the Eastern Conference allowed them to play a majority of their games against teams in the [[Eastern Time Zone]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Realignment plan approved by Board of Governors|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/realignment-plan-approved-by-board-of-governors/c-660140|website=Detroit Red Wings|date=March 14, 2013|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021213858/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/realignment-plan-approved-by-board-of-governors/c-660140|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Roose|title=Red Wings unveil 2013-14 schedule|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-unveil-2013-14-schedule/c-678198|website=Detroit Red Wings|date=July 19, 2013|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923193901/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-unveil-2013-14-schedule/c-678198|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 9, 2014, the Red Wings clinched their 23rd consecutive playoff appearance.<ref>{{cite web|first=Alex|last=DiFilippo|title=Wings secure 23rd straight playoff spot|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/wings-secure-23rd-straight-playoff-spot/c-713754|website=Detroit Red Wings|date=April 10, 2010|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923193936/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/wings-secure-23rd-straight-playoff-spot/c-713754|url-status=live}}</ref> They would be eliminated in the first round by the Boston Bruins.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruins eliminate Red Wings, advance to face Canadiens|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20140426_DET@BOS|website=CBS Sports|date=April 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170316/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20140426_DET@BOS|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref>

On April 9, 2015, the Red Wings clinched their 24th consecutive playoff appearance, thus extending their streak.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wings secure 24th straight playoff berth|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/wings-secure-24th-straight-playoff-berth/c-762381|website=Detroit Red Wings|date=April 9, 2015|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924044841/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/wings-secure-24th-straight-playoff-berth/c-762381|url-status=live}}</ref> The team was eliminated in the first round by the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]. [[Petr Mrázek|Petr Mrazek]] had earned the starting goaltender role from [[Jimmy Howard]], and Kronwall was suspended for Game 7 as Tampa Bay erased a 3–2 deficit to win the series.<ref>{{cite web|first=Helene|last=St. James|title=Helene St. James: Mike Babcock picking Petr Mrazek proves players decide playoff ice-time|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2015/04/13/detroit-red-wings-goaltending-playoffs/25747137/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 13, 2015|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923200937/http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2015/04/13/detroit-red-wings-goaltending-playoffs/25747137/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ben Bishop has 31 saves as Lightning bury Red Wings on 2 late goals|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400790532|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=April 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170255/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400790532|archive-date=September 26, 2018|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> Mike Babcock, concluding the final year of his contract, left the Red Wings to become the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Babcock hired by Maple Leafs as coach|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/mike-babcock-hired-by-maple-leafs-as-coach/c-768357|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 20, 2015|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804013238/https://www.nhl.com/news/mike-babcock-hired-by-maple-leafs-as-coach/c-768357|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jeff Blashill]], head coach of the Red Wings' top minor league affiliate, the [[Grand Rapids Griffins]], was named his successor on June 9.<ref>{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Harris|title=Detroit Red Wings hire Jeff Blashill as coach|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/detroit-red-wings-hire-jeff-blashill-as-coach/c-770324|publisher=National Hockey League|date=June 9, 2015|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923194005/https://www.nhl.com/news/detroit-red-wings-hire-jeff-blashill-as-coach/c-770324|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 9, 2016, despite the Red Wings losing 3–2 to the New York Rangers, the Ottawa Senators defeated the Boston Bruins 6–1 as the Red Wings narrowly made the playoffs and extended their streak to a 25th season.<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Peters|title=Red Wings clinch 25th consecutive postseason berth despite loss|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/red-wings-clinch-25th-consecutive-postseason-berth-despite-loss/|website=CBS Sports|date=April 9, 2016|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924001530/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/red-wings-clinch-25th-consecutive-postseason-berth-despite-loss/|url-status=live}}</ref> They would lose in the first round to the Lightning again, this time in five games.<ref>{{cite web|first=Helene|last=St. James|title=T.B. 1, Detroit 0: Red Wings struck down by Lightning in five games|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/04/21/detroit-red-wings-tampa-bay-lightning-game-5/83367118/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 22, 2016|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924061901/http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/04/21/detroit-red-wings-tampa-bay-lightning-game-5/83367118/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the off-season, Datsyuk decided to return to Russia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Datsyuk leaving Red Wings to play in Russia|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pavel-datsyuk-leaving-red-wings-to-play-in-russia/c-280994594|website=NHL.com|date=June 18, 2016|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=June 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620215832/https://www.nhl.com/news/pavel-datsyuk-leaving-red-wings-to-play-in-russia/c-280994594|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 10, 2017, club owner Mike Ilitch died.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rehbein|first1=Matt|title=Little Caesars founder Mike Ilitch dies at 87|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/11/us/mike-ilitch-little-caesars-founder-obit/|work=CNN|access-date=February 16, 2017|date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216213719/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/11/us/mike-ilitch-little-caesars-founder-obit/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings' playoff streak ended after 25 seasons in the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web|last1=St. James|first1=Helene|title=Red Wings' playoff streak officially ends tonight|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/03/28/detroit-red-wings-playoff-streak-snapped/99762762/|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=March 31, 2017|date=March 28, 2017|archive-date=March 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331193433/http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/03/28/detroit-red-wings-playoff-streak-snapped/99762762/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings won their last game at Joe Louis Arena 4–1 on April 9, 2017, against the New Jersey Devils.<ref>{{cite web|last1=St. James|first1=Helene|title=Red Wings fly past Devils, 4-1; 'a perfect end' for Joe Louis Arena|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/04/09/detroit-red-wings-joe-louis-arena/100256168/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 9, 2017|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923215455/http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/04/09/detroit-red-wings-joe-louis-arena/100256168/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===The opening of Little Caesars Arena and rebuilding (2017–present)===
[[File:Interior of little Caesars arena panorama.jpg|thumb|Interior of Little Caesars Arena in September 2017. The Red Wings played their first regular season game at the arena a month later.]]
The Red Wings played their first regular season game at [[Little Caesars Arena]] on October 5, 2017, winning 4–2 over the [[Minnesota Wild]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=Pizza party: Wings christen LCA era with 'special' win|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/10/05/house-warming-party-wings-christen-lca-era-win/106352478/|website=The Detroit News|date=October 5, 2017|access-date=October 6, 2017|archive-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006212415/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/10/05/house-warming-party-wings-christen-lca-era-win/106352478/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings finished the 2017–18 season with a 30–39–13 record. They missed the playoffs for the second season in a row, marking the first time since the early 1980s the team missed the playoffs in consecutive years.<ref>{{cite web|first=Helene|last=St. James|title=Detroit Red Wings lose finale against N.Y. Islanders, 4-3, in overtime|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2018/04/07/detroit-red-wings-new-york-islander/495796002/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 7, 2018|access-date=April 17, 2018|archive-date=April 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418031532/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2018/04/07/detroit-red-wings-new-york-islander/495796002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Detroit Red Wings lose finale against N.Y. Islanders, 4-3, in overtime|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2018/03/red_wings-capitals_3.html|website=MLive|date=March 22, 2018|access-date=April 17, 2018|quote=The Red Wings hadn't missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since they failed to qualify five years in a row from 1979-83. It is the first time they have missed two years in a row under the Ilitch ownership.|archive-date=August 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827061959/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2018/03/red_wings-capitals_3.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings finished the 2018–19 season with a 32–40–10 record, missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings blown out in finale, have 9.5 percent chance at top pick|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2019/04/red-wings-blown-out-in-finale-have-95-percent-chance-at-top-pick.html|website=MLive|date=April 6, 2019|access-date=April 7, 2019|archive-date=April 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408034622/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2019/04/red-wings-blown-out-in-finale-have-95-percent-chance-at-top-pick.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 19, 2019, the Red Wings announced that [[Steve Yzerman]] rejoined the team as general manager and executive vice president.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=The Captain's back! Steve Yzerman comes full-circle as Red Wings' new GM|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2019/04/19/red-wings-announce-news-conference-friday-steve-yzerman/3517801002/|website=The Detroit News|date=April 19, 2019|access-date=April 19, 2019|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419104622/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2019/04/19/red-wings-announce-news-conference-friday-steve-yzerman/3517801002/|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 21, 2020, the Red Wings became the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention before the [[trade deadline]] since the [[2003–04 Pittsburgh Penguins season|2003–04 Pittsburgh Penguins]].<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web|first=Brian|last=Compton|title=Eberle hat trick helps Islanders eliminate Red Wings in return home|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/detroit-red-wings-new-york-islanders-game-recap/c-315342964|website=NHL.com|date=February 22, 2020|access-date=March 8, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320013257/https://www.nhl.com/news/detroit-red-wings-new-york-islanders-game-recap/c-315342964|url-status=live}}
|2={{cite web|first=James|last=O'Brien|title=Red Wings already eliminated from playoffs|url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/02/22/red-wings-eliminated-from-playoffs-before-nhl-trade-deadline-pht-buzzer/|website=NBC Sports|date=February 22, 2020|access-date=March 8, 2020|archive-date=February 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222173558/https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/02/22/red-wings-eliminated-from-playoffs-before-nhl-trade-deadline-pht-buzzer/|url-status=live}}
|3={{Cite web |last=Jarden |first=Sam |date=February 22, 2020 |title=Detroit Red Wings approach trade deadline already eliminated from playoff contention |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/detroit-red-wings-mathematically-eliminated-from-playoffs/55zilnxltt7r11mbomujppi0z |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=The Sporting News |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127202208/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/detroit-red-wings-mathematically-eliminated-from-playoffs/55zilnxltt7r11mbomujppi0z |url-status=live}}
|4={{Cite web |last=Kulfan |first=Ted |title=Red Wings sunk by Islanders, officially eliminated from playoffs |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/02/21/red-wings-steamrolled-islanders-officially-eliminated-playoffs/4831257002/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=The Detroit News |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906160258/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/02/21/red-wings-steamrolled-islanders-officially-eliminated-playoffs/4831257002/ |url-status=live}}
|5={{Cite web |last=James |first=Helene St |title=Detroit Red Wings' elimination from playoffs stings harder this year. Here's why |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/02/22/detroit-red-wings-eliminated-from-playoffs/4836759002/ |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=Detroit Free Press |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906160258/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/02/22/detroit-red-wings-eliminated-from-playoffs/4836759002/ |url-status=live}}
}}</ref> On March 10, 2020, the Red Wings clinched the worst overall record in NHL for the first time since the 1985–86 season.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web|first1=Arthur J.|last1=Regner|first2=Dana|last2=Wakiji|title=Trending: Red Wings overpowered by Hurricanes, 5-2|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/trending-red-wings-overpowered-by-hurricanes-5-2/c-316106036|website=NHL.com|date=March 10, 2020|access-date=March 11, 2020|archive-date=March 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311121219/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/trending-red-wings-overpowered-by-hurricanes-5-2/c-316106036|url-status=live}}
|2={{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Ansar |date=March 11, 2020 |title=Red Wings clinch worst record in NHL with loss to Carolina |url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2020/03/special-teams-doom-red-wings-again-in-loss-to-carolina.html |access-date=September 6, 2023 |website=MLive |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906151512/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2020/03/special-teams-doom-red-wings-again-in-loss-to-carolina.html |url-status=live}}
|3={{Cite web |last=James |first=Helene St |title=Detroit Red Wings clinch last place in NHL with 5-2 loss to Carolina Hurricanes |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/03/10/detroit-red-wings-game-score-carolina-hurricanes/5008850002/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=Detroit Free Press |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127231729/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/03/10/detroit-red-wings-game-score-carolina-hurricanes/5008850002/ |url-status=live}}
|4={{Cite web |date=March 11, 2020 |title=Red Wings fall to Hurricanes, clinch last place finish in NHL |url=https://www.wxyz.com/sports/red-wings-fall-to-hurricanes-clinch-last-place-finish-in-nhl |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=WXYZ 7 Action News Detroit |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127231650/https://www.wxyz.com/sports/red-wings-fall-to-hurricanes-clinch-last-place-finish-in-nhl |url-status=live}}
}}</ref> On March 12, the [[2019–20 NHL season|2019–20 season]] was suspended by the NHL due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NHL pauses regular season because of coronavirus|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-coronavirus-status/c-316155530|website=NHL.com|date=March 12, 2020|access-date=March 12, 2020|archive-date=March 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322085521/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-coronavirus-status/c-316155530|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 26, 2020, the NHL announced that the rest of the season was over for the seven teams that did not qualify for the 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs, which included the Red Wings.<ref>{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Gulitti|title=NHL plans to return with 24-team Stanley Cup Playoffs|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-plans-to-return-with-24-team-stanley-cup-playoffs/c-317031010|website=NHL.com|date=May 26, 2020|access-date=May 26, 2020|archive-date=May 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527001941/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-plans-to-return-with-24-team-stanley-cup-playoffs/c-317031010|url-status=live}}</ref> With a record of 17–49–5, this was the first time since the 1985–86 season that the Red Wings finished with fewer than 20 wins.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dave Jr.|last=Bartkowiak|title=Red Wings' historically bad season officially cut short -- here's what's next|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/local/2020/05/27/red-wings-historically-bad-season-officially-cut-short-heres-whats-next/|website=ClickOnDetroit.com|date=May 27, 2020|access-date=June 29, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620104947/https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/local/2020/05/27/red-wings-historically-bad-season-officially-cut-short-heres-whats-next/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=Detroit Red Wings' season over, NHL moves ahead with 24-team playoff|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/05/26/gary-bettman-set-formally-announce-nhls-return-play-plan/5259852002/|website=The Detroit News|date=May 26, 2020|access-date=July 2, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702211000/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/05/26/gary-bettman-set-formally-announce-nhls-return-play-plan/5259852002/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings also became the second team since the 2004–05 NHL lockout, and the subsequent start of the [[salary cap]] era, to finish with a sub-.300 points percentage, along with the [[2016–17 Colorado Avalanche season|2016–17 Colorado Avalanche]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Josh|last=Beneteau|title=What Red Wings can learn from other bad teams in salary cap era|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/red-wings-can-learn-bad-teams-salary-cap-era/|website=Sportsnet|date=March 25, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629142002/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/red-wings-can-learn-bad-teams-salary-cap-era/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Points percentage">{{cite web|title=Lowest Points Percentage, Season|url=https://records.nhl.com/records/team-records/standings-points/worst-points-pctg-season|website=NHL.com|access-date=June 29, 2020|archive-date=May 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502121413/https://records.nhl.com/records/team-records/standings-points/worst-points-pctg-season|url-status=live}}</ref> Their .275 points percentage was the worst for an NHL team since the [[1999–2000 Atlanta Thrashers season|1999–2000 Atlanta Thrashers]].<ref name="Points percentage"/>

[[Dylan Larkin]] was named the Red Wings captain on January 13, 2021, who succeeded Henrik Zetterberg following his retirement in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Helene St |title=Detroit Red Wings name Dylan Larkin the team's 37th captain |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2021/01/13/detroit-red-wings-dylan-larkin-captain/6593849002/ |website=Detroit Free Press |access-date=January 18, 2021 |date=January 13, 2021 |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114043704/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2021/01/13/detroit-red-wings-dylan-larkin-captain/6593849002/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 26, the Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings-Blue Jackets matchups have draft lottery implications|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2021/04/red-wings-blue-jackets-matchups-have-draft-lottery-implications.html|website=MLive|date=April 27, 2021|access-date=May 9, 2021|archive-date=May 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501015944/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2021/04/red-wings-blue-jackets-matchups-have-draft-lottery-implications.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They would ultimately finish with a 19–27–10 record.<ref>{{cite web|first=Helene|last=St. James|title=Detroit Red Wings lose high-scoring season finale to Columbus in overtime, 5-4|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2021/05/08/red-wings-lose-high-scoring-season-finale-columbus-overtime-5-4/5004461001/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=May 8, 2021|access-date=May 9, 2021|archive-date=May 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509043757/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2021/05/08/red-wings-lose-high-scoring-season-finale-columbus-overtime-5-4/5004461001/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings finished the 2021–22 season at 32–40–10. They missed the playoff for the sixth consecutive season.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=Red Wings end season with victory, as coach Jeff Blashill's future becomes main topic|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2022/04/29/detroit-red-wings-new-jersey-devils-jeff-blashill/9582618002/|website=The Detroit News|date=April 29, 2022|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527010730/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2022/04/29/detroit-red-wings-new-jersey-devils-jeff-blashill/9582618002/|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 30, 2022, Jeff Blashill was fired as head coach.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=Red Wings will not bring back Jeff Blashill, 2 assistant coaches|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2022/04/30/detroit-red-wings-not-bring-back-jeff-blashill-after-7-seasons/9595719002/|website=The Detroit News|date=April 30, 2022|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527011211/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2022/04/30/detroit-red-wings-not-bring-back-jeff-blashill-after-7-seasons/9595719002/|url-status=live}}</ref> They then hired [[Derek Lalonde]] as their head coach on June 30, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2022/06/30/red-wings-name-derek-lalonde-their-new-head-coach/7768393001/|title=Red Wings name Derek Lalonde their new head coach|last=Kulfan|first=Ted|date=June 30, 2022|access-date=June 30, 2022|work=[[The Detroit News]]|archive-date=August 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816070624/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2022/06/30/red-wings-name-derek-lalonde-their-new-head-coach/7768393001/|url-status=live}}</ref> During 2022–23 season, the Red Wings would re-sign Dylan Larkin to an eight-year contract extension.<ref>{{cite web|first=Thomas|last=Roth|title=Dylan Larkin to eight-year contract extension|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-sign-dylan-larkin-to-eight-year-contract-extension/c-341682418|website=NHL.com|date=March 1, 2023|access-date=May 24, 2023|archive-date=March 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303003057/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-sign-dylan-larkin-to-eight-year-contract-extension/c-341682418|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings finished the season at 35–37–10. They missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.<ref>{{cite web|first=Nicholas J.|last=Cotsonika|title=Red Wings eliminated, done in by scoring issues, inconsistent goaltending|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/why-detroit-is-eliminated-from-stanley-cup-playoffs/c-343245508|website=NHL.com|date=April 7, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414101013/https://www.nhl.com/news/why-detroit-is-eliminated-from-stanley-cup-playoffs/c-343245508|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=Red Wings end season two games under .500, blanked 5-0 by Lightning|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2023/04/13/red-wings-end-season-two-games-under-500-blanked-5-0-by-lightning/70111117007/|website=The Detroit News|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414020200/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2023/04/13/red-wings-end-season-two-games-under-500-blanked-5-0-by-lightning/70111117007/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings finished the 2023–24 season with a 41–32–9 record. However, they were eliminated from playoff contention for the eighth consecutive season via tiebreaker on April 16, 2024, after the Washington Capitals' 2–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.<ref>{{cite web|first=Helene|last=St. James|title=Detroit Red Wings miss playoffs for 8th straight year despite 5-4 rally past Canadiens|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2024/04/16/detroit-red-wings-eliminated-playoffs-montreal-canadiens/73343856007/|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=April 16, 2024|access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref>

On December 26, 2024, after a slow start to the [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25 season]], the Red Wings fired head coach Lalonde and assistant head coach [[Bob Boughner]]. [[Todd McLellan]] was hired as their new head coach, with [[Trent Yawney]] as an assistant head coach.<ref>{{cite web |title=McLellan hired as Red Wings coach, replaces Lalonde |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/todd-mclellan-named-detroit-coach-replacing-fired-derek-lalonde |website=NHL.com |date=December 26, 2024 |access-date=December 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bultman |first=Max |title=Red Wings fire coach Derek Lalonde after 13-17-4 start, hire Todd McLellan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5932340/2024/12/26/red-wings-derek-lalonde-coach-fired/ |work=The Athletic |date=December 26, 2024 |access-date=December 26, 2024}}</ref> On April 12, 2025, the Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention for the ninth consecutive season after the [[2024–25 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] lost in overtime to the [[2024–25 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=Red Wings officially eliminated from playoffs after Montreal earns point|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2025/04/12/red-wings-officially-eliminated-from-playoffs-after-montreal-earns-point/83066268007/|website=The Detroit News|date=April 12, 2025|access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> This extended their longest [[List of NHL franchise post-season droughts|playoff drought]] in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/why-detroit-red-wings-are-eliminated-from-2024-2025-postseason-race|title=Red Wings miss Stanley Cup Playoffs for 9th straight season|website=NHL.com|first=Nicholas J.|last=Cotsonika|date=April 13, 2025|access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> They finished the season with a 39–35–8 record.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=Red Wings end season on sour note with OT loss in Toronto|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2025/04/17/red-wings-end-season-on-sour-note-with-ot-loss-in-toronto/83138598007/|newspaper=[[The Detroit News]]|date=April 17, 2025|access-date=April 18, 2025}}</ref>

==Team information==

===Logo and uniforms===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| header =
| header_align = left/right/center
| header_background =
| footer = In the preseason, the Red Wings wear straight serifed nameplates on their jerseys, as seen on [[Dylan Larkin]] (left). In the regular season and playoffs, they wear vertical arched letters, as seen on [[Pavel Datsyuk]] (right).
| footer_align = left
| footer_background =
| width1 = 180
| image1 = Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan (21515288978) (cropped).jpg
| caption1 = 
| width2 = 160
| image2 = Anaheim Ducks vs. Detroit Red Wings Oct 8, 2010 37.JPG
| caption2 = 
}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Detroit Red Wings Original Logo.svg|thumb|The alternate logo used by the Red Wings from 1932 to 1934.]] -->
The Red Wings' [[Hockey jersey|jerseys]] (traditionally known in hockey as "sweaters") have been more or less the same since the 1930s – a white or red base with red or white piping. The only significant changes have been the replacement of the word ''Detroit'' with the "[[winged wheel]]" logo in 1932, and vertical arch lettering for the players' names and block letters in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Lukas|title=Welcome to Arch Madness|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/060223|work=ESPN.com|date=January 23, 2011|access-date=September 25, 2017|archive-date=August 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831091223/http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/060223|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings wear the vertical arched letters in the regular season and playoffs, but use straight serifed nameplates during the preseason.<ref>{{cite web|title=About the Red Wings' Preseason Nameplates|url=https://uni-watch.com/about-the-red-wings-preseason-nameplates/|website=Uni Watch|access-date=September 25, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925231048/https://uni-watch.com/about-the-red-wings-preseason-nameplates/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Smith|title=Nameplate-gate: Red Wings fans' annual panic attack|url=https://www.icethetics.co/blog/2014/10/5/nameplate-gate-red-wings-fans-annual-panic-attack|website=Icethetics|date=October 6, 2014|access-date=September 25, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230030/https://www.icethetics.co/blog/2014/10/5/nameplate-gate-red-wings-fans-annual-panic-attack|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[The Hockey News]]'' voted the Red Wings' "winged wheel" logo the second best in the league in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=THN.com's NHL Logo Rankings|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com:80/articles/17432-THNcoms-NHL-Logo-Rankings.html|website=[[The Hockey News]]|date=August 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106214401/http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/17432-THNcoms-NHL-Logo-Rankings.html|archive-date=January 6, 2010|access-date=September 12, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Red Wings, like all NHL teams, updated their jerseys to the new [[NHL uniform#2007–2017: Reebok Edge|Rbk Edge]] standard for the 2007–08 NHL season.<ref>{{cite web|title=NHL, Reebok reveals new sleeker uniforms that can make players faster|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nhl&id=2739293|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=January 22, 2007|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183933/http://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nhl&id=2739293|url-status=live}}</ref> The Red Wings kept their design as close to original as possible, the exceptions being: On the road (white) jersey, there was more red on the sleeves as the color panel began closer to the shoulder, and the letters of the [[Captain (ice hockey)|captain]] and [[Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains|alternate captains]] were moved to the right shoulder.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rbk EDGE Review: Red Wings|url=https://www.icethetics.co/blog/2007/10/11/rbk-edge-review-red-wings.html|website=Icethetics|date=October 11, 2007|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183556/https://www.icethetics.co/blog/2007/10/11/rbk-edge-review-red-wings.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=George|last=Malik|title=Red Wings switch Captain's, Alternates' letters to right shoulder on new jersey|url=https://www.mlive.com/snapshots/2007/08/red_wings_switch_captains_alte.html|website=MLive|date=August 15, 2007|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032506/https://www.mlive.com/snapshots/2007/08/red_wings_switch_captains_alte.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

When [[Adidas]] became the uniform outfitter starting with the 2017–18 season, the Red Wings kept the same basic look.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Detroit Red Wings' new Adidas jerseys revealed|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2017/06/red_wings_new_adidas_jerseys_r.html|website=MLive|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927185205/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2017/06/red_wings_new_adidas_jerseys_r.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Hancock|title=Red Wings New Adidas Jersey Revealed|url=https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2017/6/20/15842646/red-wings-new-adidas-jersey-revealed-detroit-vegas-sweater|website=Winging It In Motown|date=June 20, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183627/https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2017/6/20/15842646/red-wings-new-adidas-jersey-revealed-detroit-vegas-sweater|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Red Wings have rarely used any alternate logos or uniforms since the trend became popular in the 1990s, the sole exceptions were select games of the [[1991–92 NHL season#Throwback uniforms|1991–92 season]] commemorating the league's 75th anniversary, and for a commemorative game on January 27, 1994, at [[Chicago Stadium]].<ref name="75th anniversary">{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Lukas|title=Uni Watch's Friday Flashback: A throwback to the throwbacks|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17077189/uni-watch-friday-flashback-look-back-throwbacks|website=ESPN.com|date=July 15, 2016|access-date=January 10, 2019|archive-date=January 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110235114/http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17077189/uni-watch-friday-flashback-look-back-throwbacks|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=commemorative>{{cite web|title=1993-94 Detroit Red Wings|url=http://www.nhluniforms.com/1993-94/RedWings.html|website=NHLUniforms.com|access-date=September 25, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803132913/http://nhluniforms.com/1993-94/RedWings.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Those jerseys were based on the uniforms worn by the team (then the Detroit Cougars) in 1927–28.<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Cougars 1927-28|url=http://www.nhluniforms.com/RedWings/RedWings02.html|website=NHLUniforms.com|access-date=September 25, 2017|archive-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818143750/http://www.nhluniforms.com/RedWings/RedWings02.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The throwbacks are primarily white with five red horizontal stripes on the body, the broadest middle stripe bearing "Detroit" in bold letters, and three red stripes on the sleeves.<ref name="75th anniversary"/><ref name=commemorative/> This jersey served as the basis for the uniforms worn by [[Wayne Gretzky]]'s team of [[NHL Players' Association|NHLPA]] All-Stars, nicknamed the "99ers", for their exhibition tour in Europe during the [[1994–95 NHL lockout]].<ref>{{cite web|title=99 at 50: All-time Top 10 – #4|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=5283&cHash=144daf10760b8a0c98c0e62e5d07536c|website=IIHF.com|date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140905212442/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=5283&cHash=144daf10760b8a0c98c0e62e5d07536c|archive-date=September 5, 2014|access-date=January 10, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:DetroitCougars.svg|thumb|Stylized "D" logo used by the team during its inaugural season. The stylized "D" logo served as the basis for a "retro" alternate jerseys introduced in 2009.]]
The Red Wings wore alternative "retro" jerseys for the [[2009 NHL Winter Classic|2009 Winter Classic]] in Chicago. The jerseys were based on the uniforms worn by the Detroit Cougars during their inaugural season of 1926–27.<ref>{{cite web|first=Greg|last=Wyshynski|title=The 7 best NHL Winter Classic jerseys|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/the-7-best-nhl-winter-classic-jerseys?urn=nhl,wp21057|website=Yahoo! Sports|date=December 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912193116/https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/the-7-best-nhl-winter-classic-jerseys?urn=nhl,wp21057|archive-date=September 12, 2017|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> These jerseys were white, with a single bold red stripe on the sleeves and chest, and a uniquely styled white Old English ''D'' centered on the chest stripe.<ref>{{cite web|first=George|last=Malik|title=This is your jersey (confirmed, updated)|url=https://www.mlive.com/snapshots/2008/10/this_is_your_jersey.html|website=MLive|date=October 25, 2008|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927213449/https://www.mlive.com/snapshots/2008/10/this_is_your_jersey.html|url-status=live}}</ref> These jerseys were also worn for their final 2009 regular season home game, again against the Chicago Blackhawks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blackhawks take road game in home-and-home series with Red Wings|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20090411_CHI@DET|website=CBS Sports|agency=CBSSports.com wire reports|date=April 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925132114/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20090411_CHI@DET|archive-date=September 25, 2017|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref> The Red Wings again used an alternate jersey mimicking throwback jerseys for the [[2014 NHL Winter Classic|2014 Winter Classic]] against the Toronto Maple Leafs at [[Michigan Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Peters|title=2014 Winter Classic plans confirmed, jerseys unveiled|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2014-winter-classic-plans-confirmed-jerseys-unveiled/|website=CBS Sports|date=April 7, 2013|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925083500/https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2014-winter-classic-plans-confirmed-jerseys-unveiled/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Red Wings wore a specially designed one-time-only jersey for their [[2016 NHL Stadium Series|Stadium Series]] game in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche on February 27, 2016. The majority of this jersey was the traditional red, decorated with a thick diagonal white stripe running from the player's right shoulder across the front towards the left hip. The bottom of each sleeve featured a thick white stripe from wrist to elbow. The crest on the front of the jersey was a stylized red ''D''. The words "Red Wings" were printed in all capital letters on the left side of the collar, and the phrase "EST. 1926" was printed inside the back of the collar. These jerseys featured the current Red Wings logo on the left shoulder cap. The names and numbers were printed larger than traditional NHL jerseys to increase visibility and player identification for fans watching the game at [[Coors Field]], a stadium traditionally used for Major League Baseball.<ref>{{cite news|last=DiFilippo|first=Alex|title=Red Wings unveil Stadium Series jersey|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-unveil-stadium-series-jersey/c-789249|publisher=National Hockey League|date=November 23, 2015|access-date=February 15, 2017|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216135620/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-unveil-stadium-series-jersey/c-789249|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wyshynski|first=Greg|title=Pass or Fail: Detroit Red Wings 2016 Stadium Series jerseys|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/pass-or-fail--detroit-red-wings-2016-stadium-series-jerseys-224356501.html|website=Yahoo! Sports|date=November 23, 2015|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925083639/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/pass-or-fail--detroit-red-wings-2016-stadium-series-jerseys-224356501.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Red Wings unveil limited edition jerseys for 2016 Stadium Series game|url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2015/11/23/detroit-red-wings-2016-stadium-series-jersey|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=November 24, 2015|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925083504/https://www.si.com/nhl/2015/11/23/detroit-red-wings-2016-stadium-series-jersey|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Red Wings unveiled a uniform patch on September 27, 2016, to honor [[Gordie Howe]], who died on June 10, 2016. The patch was a depiction of Howe's jersey number 9 and was worn by the team above the logo on the front of the jersey on the left side of the chest for all 82 regular season games during the [[2016–17 NHL season|2016–17 season]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Red Wings to wear uniform patch to honor Gordie Howe|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/gordie-howe-patch-on-red-wings-uniforms/c-282170096|publisher=National Hockey League|date=September 27, 2016|access-date=May 8, 2018|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216132642/https://www.nhl.com/news/gordie-howe-patch-on-red-wings-uniforms/c-282170096|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Red Wings wore a specially designed one-time-only jersey for the [[NHL Centennial Classic|Centennial Classic]] in Toronto against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 1, 2017. It was a white jersey that had four stripes on the arms. Three of the stripes were red, while the fourth was silver. On the silver stripes were the years the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. The logo and numbers were outlined in silver.<ref>{{cite news|last=Savage|first=Brendan|title=Red Wings unveil jerseys for Centennial Classic|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2016/11/red_wings_unveil_centennial_cl.html|website=MLive|date=November 21, 2016|access-date=September 30, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001002919/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2016/11/red_wings_unveil_centennial_cl.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

For the 2020–21 season, the Red Wings wore special "Reverse Retro" alternate jerseys designed by Adidas. The uniform featured a white base and white sleeves inspired by the Red Wings' road uniforms of the Original Six era. Silver stripes replaced red stripes in commemoration of the team's 11 Stanley Cup championships and the 2017 Centennial Classic.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reverse Retro alternate jerseys for all 31 teams unveiled by NHL, adidas|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-reveals-adidas-reverse-retro-jerseys/c-319633384|publisher=National Hockey League|date=December 1, 2020|access-date=December 5, 2020|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211011731/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-reveals-adidas-reverse-retro-jerseys/c-319633384|url-status=live}}</ref> A second "Reverse Retro" uniform was unveiled in the 2022–23 season, using the 1991–92 throwback uniform based on the original Cougars' uniforms but with a red base and black stripes.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL Reverse Retro jerseys for all 32 teams unveiled by adidas|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-adidas-nhl-reverse-retro-jerseys-reveal/c-336511528|website=NHL.com|date=October 20, 2022|access-date=October 20, 2022|archive-date=January 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124175741/https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-adidas-nhl-reverse-retro-jerseys-reveal/c-336511528|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Red Wings' logo received significant media attention in August 2017 when it was discovered that a [[white supremacy|white supremacist group]] used a modified version of it, in which the wheel's spokes consisted of the occult [[SS]] symbol [[Black Sun (occult symbol)|Black Sun]]; it was the [[aegis]] of their shields during the [[Unite the Right rally]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]]. As a result, the Red Wings condemned the group for the usage of the logo and threatened legal action.<ref name="Occult Nazi Co-optation of Hockey Logo">{{cite news|last=Wyshynski|first=Greg|title=Red Wings logo used by white supremacists in Charlottesville|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/red-wings-logo-used-white-supremacists-charlottesville-160713431.html|website=Yahoo! Sports|date=August 12, 2017|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812235202/https://sports.yahoo.com/red-wings-logo-used-white-supremacists-charlottesville-160713431.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Red Wings condemn use of logo at Va. rally">{{cite web|title=Red Wings condemn use of logo at Va. rally|url=https://www.wilx.com/content/news/Red-Wings-condemn-use-of-logo-at-Va-rally-440148293.html|publisher=WILX|date=August 13, 2017|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814055633/http://www.wilx.com/content/news/Red-Wings-condemn-use-of-logo-at-Va-rally-440148293.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 29, 2024, the Red Wings announced their first ever jersey patch advertisement with Priority, a local waste management company.<ref>{{cite web|first=Brett|last=McWethy|title=Detroit Red Wings Announce Michigan-Based Priority as Jersey Patch Partner|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/detroit-red-wings-announce-michigan-based-priority-as-jersey-patch-partner|website=NHL.com|date=February 29, 2024|access-date=March 11, 2024|archive-date=March 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311035411/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/detroit-red-wings-announce-michigan-based-priority-as-jersey-patch-partner|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Kulfan|title=Red Wings to add Priority patch to game jerseys|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2024/02/29/detroit-red-wings-to-add-priority-patch-to-game-jerseys/72793059007/|website=The Detroit News|date=February 29, 2024|access-date=March 12, 2024|archive-date=March 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312120007/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2024/02/29/detroit-red-wings-to-add-priority-patch-to-game-jerseys/72793059007/|url-status=live}}</ref>

For the Red Wings' appearance in the [[2025 NHL Stadium Series|2025 Stadium Series]], they wore white uniforms with a script "Detroit" lettering in red. The lower sleeves and socks were predominantly red, and the trademark "winged wheel" logo is on the left shoulder. The "Hockeytown" slogan was placed on the right leg. The uniforms were generally inspired by Detroit's automotive industry and hockey culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-fanatics-debut-stadium-series-uniforms|title=NHL, Fanatics debut uniforms for 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L. P.|date=January 16, 2025|website=NHL.com|accessdate=January 16, 2025}}</ref>

===Fan traditions===
[[File:Detroit Red Wings vs. Vancouver Canucks - November 10, 2016 (31013559085).jpg|thumb|During the playoffs, Joe Louis Arena was adorned with a giant octopus, nicknamed [[Al the Octopus|Al]]. This stems from a [[Legend of the Octopus|fan tradition]].]]
{{Main|Legend of the Octopus}}
The "Legend of the Octopus" is a sports tradition during Detroit Red Wings playoff games, in which an octopus is thrown onto the ice surface for good luck.<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Red Wings Legend of the Octopus|url=http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43781|website=Detroit Red Wings|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720044422/http://redwings.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43781|url-status=live}}</ref> During the playoffs, Joe Louis Arena was generally adorned with a giant octopus with red eyes, nicknamed "[[Al the Octopus|Al]]" after former head ice manager [[Al Sobotka]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Legend Of Al The Octopus Lives On|url=http://www.clickondetroit.com/red-wings/23162881/detail.html|access-date=April 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419143616/http://www.clickondetroit.com/red-wings/23162881/detail.html|archive-date=April 19, 2010|website=ClickOnDetroit.com}}</ref>

The [[1951–52 NHL season#Playoffs|1952 playoffs]] featured the start of the octopus throw. The owner of a local fish market, Peter Cusimano, threw one from the stands onto the ice. The eight legs are symbolic of the eight wins it took to win the Stanley Cup at the time. The Red Wings went on to sweep both of their opponents that year en route to a Stanley Cup championship. The NHL has, at various times, tried to eliminate this tradition but it continues to this day.<ref>{{cite news|first=Greg|last=Wyshynski|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Lawsuit-seeking-octopus-ban-in-Detroit-already-t?urn=nhl,89102|title=Lawsuit seeking octopus ban in Detroit already tossed|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=June 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003031050/https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Lawsuit-seeking-octopus-ban-in-Detroit-already-t?urn=nhl,89102|archive-date=October 3, 2017|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Grant|last=Beery|url=http://mvn.com/outsider/2009/04/top-10-first-round-moments-of-the-2009-playoffs.html |title=Top 5 First Round Moments of the 2009 Playoffs|date=April 24, 2009|access-date=June 20, 2009 |publisher=mvn.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502034222/http://mvn.com/outsider/2009/04/top-10-first-round-moments-of-the-2009-playoffs.html |archive-date=May 2, 2009}}</ref>

Sobotka was responsible for removing the thrown creatures from the ice. When the Red Wings played at Joe Louis Arena, he was known for swinging the tossed octopuses above his head when walking off the ice. On April 19, 2008, the NHL sent a memo to the Red Wings that forbade this; they said that violating the mandate would result in a $10,000 fine.<ref name=Fine>{{cite web|title=NHL bans octopus swinging; $10,000 fine for offenders|url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/SPORTS05/804190350/1053/SPORTS05|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501054720/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/SPORTS05/804190350/1053/SPORTS05|archive-date=May 1, 2008|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> Instead, it was to up to the linesmen to remove the octopuses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Octopus-gate takes another dramatic turn|url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080425/SPORTS05/80425013/1053/SPORTS05|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430152353/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080425%2FSPORTS05%2F80425013%2F1053%2FSPORTS05|archive-date=April 30, 2008|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> In an email to the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'', NHL spokesman Frank Brown justified the ban because matter flew off the octopus and got on the ice when Sobotka swung it above his head.<ref name=Fine/> This ban was later loosened to allow for the octopus twirling to take place at the Zamboni entrance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rejoice: Octopus twirling OK again!|url=http://archive.freep.com/article/20080508/BLOG09/80507089/Rejoice-Octopus-twirling-OK-again-|website=Detroit Free Press|date=May 7, 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150124143532/http://archive.freep.com/article/20080508/BLOG09/80507089/Rejoice-Octopus-twirling-OK-again-|archive-date=January 24, 2015|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref>

Typically during the last minute or two of games that the Red Wings are winning, especially around the end of the season and during the playoffs, fans are known to start singing along to [[Journey (band)|Journey]]'s "[[Don't Stop Believin']]." The song is played over the PA system and continues until it is muted while the crowd sings the words "Born and raised in South Detroit," then the song resumes over the speakers in the arena.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jeff Z. Klein|title=At the Joe, Detroiters Sing "Don't Stop Believin{{' "}}|url=https://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/at-the-joe-detroiters-sing-dont-stop-believing/|website=The New York Times|date=June 1, 2009|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925132435/https://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/at-the-joe-detroiters-sing-dont-stop-believing/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=[[Rick Paulas]]|title=Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" is no longer a guilty pleasure. It has become a stadium and arena staple|url=https://www.espn.com/general/page2/story?id=4437155&src=desktop|work=ESPN.com|date=September 1, 2009|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=September 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926170253/http://www.espn.com/general/page2/story?id=4437155&src=desktop|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Willman|title=Going beyond Journey's end with 'Don't Stop Believin'|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-29-et-journey29-story.html|date=June 29, 2009|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430034044/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-29-et-journey29-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Broadcasters==
{{see also|List of Detroit Red Wings broadcasters}}

The Red Wings' [[flagship (radio)|flagship radio station]] is [[WXYT-FM]] 97.1. If there is a conflict with [[Detroit Tigers]] baseball or [[Detroit Lions]] football, games are carried on [[WWJ (AM)|WWJ]] 950. There are several affiliate stations throughout [[Michigan]] and [[Southwestern Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Red Wings' Network Affiliates Guide|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/multimedia/network-affiliates|website=NHL.com|access-date=October 1, 2017|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705202151/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/multimedia/network-affiliates|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Red Wings' exclusive local television rights are held by [[FanDuel Sports Network Detroit]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Bob|last=Duff|title=Red Wings Local TV Network Undergoes Name Change|url=https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/10/21/red-wings-local-tv-network-undergoes-name-change-fanduel-sports-network-bally-sports-detroit/|website=Detroit Hockey Now|date=October 21, 2024|access-date=October 21, 2024|archive-date=October 21, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241021224035/https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/10/21/red-wings-local-tv-network-undergoes-name-change-fanduel-sports-network-bally-sports-detroit/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Announcers:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Ken Daniels]]: Television play by play announcer.
* [[Mickey Redmond]]: Television color commentator (home games and select away games).
* [[Chris Osgood]]: Television color commentator (select away games that Redmond does not attend) and studio analyst (when not doing color commentating).
* [[Larry Murphy (ice hockey)|Larry Murphy]]: Studio analyst and television color commentator (select away games that Redmond and Osgood do not attend).
* [[Danny DeKeyser]]: Studio analyst.
* [[John Keating (sportscaster)|John Keating]]: Television pre-game and post-game host.
* Trevor Thompson: Television pre-game and post-game host and reporter.
* Natalie Kerwin: Digital reporter. 
* Ken Kal: Radio play by play announcer.
* [[Paul Woods (ice hockey)|Paul Woods]]: Radio analyst.
* Daniella Bruce: Alternate radio analyst.
* Jeff Riger: Primary radio intermission and post-game host.
{{div col end}}

===Honored broadcasters===
Four members of the Red Wings organization have received the [[Foster Hewitt Memorial Award]]:
* [[Budd Lynch]]: TV and radio play by play and color – 1949–1975 (awarded 1985)<ref name=Lynch>{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Beam|title=Red Wings mourn the loss of longtime play-by-play voice and public address announcer Budd Lynch|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-mourn-the-loss-of-longtime-play-by-play-voice-and-public-address-announcer-budd-lynch/c-643106|publisher=National Hockey League|date=October 9, 2012|access-date=October 1, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001213210/https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/red-wings-mourn-the-loss-of-longtime-play-by-play-voice-and-public-address-announcer-budd-lynch/c-643106|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Bruce Martyn]]: Radio play by play – 1964–1995 (awarded 1991)<ref name="Hewitt Award">{{cite web|title=Foster Hewitt Memorial Award|url=https://www.hhof.com/html/leg_broadcasters.shtml|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=October 1, 2017|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142146/https://www.hhof.com/html/leg_broadcasters.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Mickey Redmond]]: TV color commentary – 1979–1981, 1986–present (awarded 2011)<ref name=Redmond>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings TV analyst Mickey Redmond will receive Foster Hewitt Award|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2011/06/red_wings_tv_analyst_mickey_re.html|website=MLive|date=June 2, 2011|access-date=November 20, 2011|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118114027/https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2011/06/red_wings_tv_analyst_mickey_re.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Dave Strader]]: TV play by play – 1985–1996 (awarded 2017)<ref name=Strader>{{cite web|title=Dave Strader wins Foster Hewitt Memorial Award|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/dave-strader-to-be-honored-at-hockey-hall-of-fame/c-288862754|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=October 27, 2017|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212435/https://www.nhl.com/news/dave-strader-to-be-honored-at-hockey-hall-of-fame/c-288862754|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lynch called the first locally televised game at Olympia for the original [[WDIV-TV|WWJ-TV]] in 1949.<ref name=Lynch/> He remained with the organization for 63 years, serving as director of publicity from 1975 to 1982, and was the [[public address]] announcer from 1982 until his death in 2012.<ref name=Lynch/> From 2008 to 2012, a second PA announcer was added to work alongside him, first John Fossen, then Erich Freiny.<ref>{{cite web|first=George|last=Malik|title=Lynch splitting duties with 'the new guy'|url=https://www.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/02/lynch_splitting_duties_with_th.html|website=MLive|date=February 16, 2009|access-date=October 1, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001002621/https://www.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/02/lynch_splitting_duties_with_th.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Freiny>{{cite web|first=George|last=Sipple|title=Beloved but unknown: Behind-the-scenes JLA faces|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/04/08/joe-louis-arena-history/100229372/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 8, 2017|access-date=October 1, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001214625/http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/04/08/joe-louis-arena-history/100229372/|url-status=live}}</ref> Freiny took over as the sole PA announcer following Lynch's death.<ref name=Freiny/>

==Season-by-season record==
''This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Detroit Red Wings. For the full season-by-season history, see [[List of Detroit Red Wings seasons]]''.

'''''Note:''' GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, ROW = Regulation + OT wins, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#DDDDDD"
| Season || GP || W || L || OTL || Pts || GF || GA || Finish || Playoffs
|- 
| [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21]] || 56 || 19 || 27 || 10 || 48 || 127 || 171 || 7th, Central || Did not qualify
|- style="background:#eee;"
| [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]] || 82 || 32 || 40 || 10 || 74 || 230 || 312 || 6th, Atlantic || Did not qualify
|- 
| [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23]] || 82 || 35 || 37 || 10 || 80 || 240 || 279 || 7th, Atlantic || Did not qualify
|- style="background:#eee;"
| [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]] || 82 || 41 || 32 || 9 || 91 || 278 || 274 || 5th, Atlantic || Did not qualify
|- 
| [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25]] || 82 || 39 || 35 || 8 || 86 || 238 || 259 || 6th, Atlantic || Did not qualify
|}

==Players and personnel==

===Current roster===
{{Detroit Red Wings roster}}

===Hall of Fame===
The Detroit Red Wings acknowledge an affiliation with many inductees to the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]], including 68 former players and 12 builders of the sport.<ref name=medgu>{{cite book|url=https://nhl.bamcontent.com/images/assets/binary/283594742/binary-file/file.pdf|chapter=Hall of Fame Detroit Red Wings|title=Detroit Red Wings 2016–17 Media Guide|access-date=May 8, 2018|year=2016|publisher=Detroit Red Wings|page=218|editor1=Beam, Todd|editor2=Kujawa, Kyle|editor3=DiFilippo, Alex|editor4=Barnowski, Nick|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509080508/https://nhl.bamcontent.com/images/assets/binary/283594742/binary-file/file.pdf|archive-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The 12 individuals recognized as builders by the Hall of Fame include former Red Wings executives, general managers, head coaches, and owners. In addition to players and builders, several broadcasters have been awarded the [[Foster Hewitt Memorial Award]] from the Hockey Hall of Fame. [[Budd Lynch]], a radio play-by-play announcer, was the first Red Wings broadcaster to be awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. Lynch also served as Detroit's public address announcer from 1985 until his death in 2012. In addition to Lynch, [[Bruce Martyn]], [[Mickey Redmond]], and [[Dave Strader]] have also won the award.<ref name="Hewitt Award"/><ref name=medgu/>

'''Players'''
{{Columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* [[Sid Abel]]
* [[Daniel Alfredsson]]
* [[Al Arbour]]
* [[Marty Barry]]
* [[Andy Bathgate]]
* [[Leo Boivin]]
* [[John Bucyk]]
* [[Chris Chelios]]
* [[Dino Ciccarelli]]
* [[Paul Coffey]]
* [[Charlie Conacher]]
* [[Roy Conacher]]
* [[Alec Connell]]
* [[Pavel Datsyuk]]
* [[Alex Delvecchio]]
* [[Marcel Dionne]]
* [[Bernie Federko]]
* [[Sergei Fedorov]]
* [[Viacheslav Fetisov]]
* [[Frank Foyston]]
* [[Frank Fredrickson]]
* [[Bill Gadsby]]
* [[Eddie Giacomin]]
* [[Ebbie Goodfellow]]
* [[Glenn Hall]]
* [[Doug Harvey (ice hockey)|Doug Harvey]]
* [[Dominik Hašek|Dominik Hasek]]
* [[George Hay (ice hockey)|George Hay]]
* [[Hap Holmes]]
* [[Marián Hossa|Marian Hossa]]
* [[Gordie Howe]]
* [[Mark Howe]]
* [[Syd Howe]]
* [[Brett Hull]]
* [[Duke Keats]]
* [[Red Kelly]]
* [[Brian Kilrea]]
* [[Igor Larionov]]
* [[Herbie Lewis (ice hockey)|Herbie Lewis]]
* [[Nicklas Lidstrom]]
* [[Ted Lindsay]]
* [[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]]
* [[Frank Mahovlich]]
* [[Mike Modano]]
* [[Larry Murphy (ice hockey)|Larry Murphy]]
* [[Vaclav Nedomansky]]
* [[Reg Noble]]
* [[Adam Oates]]
* [[Brad Park]]
* [[Bud Poile]]
* [[Marcel Pronovost]]
* [[Bill Quackenbush]]
* [[Luc Robitaille]]
* [[Borje Salming]]
* [[Terry Sawchuk]]
* [[Earl Siebert]]
* [[Brendan Shanahan]]
* [[Darryl Sittler]]
* [[Jack Stewart (ice hockey)|Jack Stewart]]
* [[Tiny Thompson]]
* [[Norm Ullman]]
* [[Rogie Vachon]]
* [[Mike Vernon (ice hockey)|Mike Vernon]]
* [[Carl Voss]]
* [[Jack Walker (ice hockey)|Jack Walker]]
* [[Harry Watson (ice hockey, born 1923)|Harry Watson]]
* [[Cooney Weiland]]
* [[Steve Yzerman]]
}}

'''Builders'''
{{Columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* [[Jack Adams]]
* [[Keith Allen (ice hockey)|Keith Allen]]{{efn|name=fn2|Inductee only played for the Red Wings, and was not a team executive or members of the coaching staff. Despite their induction in the builders category, the team continues to acknowledge an affiliation with the Hall of Fame member.}}
* [[Scotty Bowman]]
* [[Murray Costello]]{{efn|name=fn2}}
* [[Jim Devellano]]
* [[Ken Holland]]
* [[Mike Ilitch]]
* [[Tommy Ivan]]
* [[Bruce Norris (ice hockey)|Bruce Norris]]
* [[James D. Norris]]
* [[James E. Norris]]
* [[John Ziegler Jr.]]
}}

===Retired numbers===
[[File:Retired numbers at Joe Louis Arena.jpg|thumb|right|alt=The banners of seven retired numbers. The banners, from left to right, read "Lidström 5" "Yzerman 19" "Sawchuk 1" "Delvecchio 10" "Lindsay 7" "Abel 12" "Howe 9". The Yzerman banner has a small ''C'' at the top right corner. |The banners of retired numbers hanging at Joe Louis Arena.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid;"|Detroit Red Wings retired numbers
|-
! style="width:40px;"|No.
! style="width:150px;"|Player
! style="width:40px;"|Position
! style="width:100px;"|Career
! style="width:150px;"|Number retirement
|-
| '''1''' || [[Terry Sawchuk]] || G || 1949–1955<br />1957–1964<br />1968–1969 || March 6, 1994<ref>{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Bak|title=The troubled genius of Terry Sawchuk|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/the-troubled-genius-of-terry-sawchuk/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=December 6, 2014|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=August 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817150733/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/the-troubled-genius-of-terry-sawchuk/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| '''4''' || [[Red Kelly]] || D || 1947–1960 || February 1, 2019<ref name="Kelly's number">{{cite web|first=Helene|last=St. James|title=Detroit Red Wings retire Red Kelly's jersey: 'It's a great honor'|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2019/02/01/red-kelly-red-wings-jersey-retirement/2742060002/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=February 1, 2019|access-date=February 1, 2019|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202080548/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2019/02/01/red-kelly-red-wings-jersey-retirement/2742060002/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| '''5''' || [[Nicklas Lidström|Nicklas Lidstrom]] || D || 1991–2012 || March 6, 2014<ref>{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Hedger|title=Red Wings retire Nicklas Lidstrom's No. 5|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-retire-nicklas-lidstroms-no-5/c-708260|publisher=National Hockey League|date=March 6, 2014|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220308/https://www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-retire-nicklas-lidstroms-no-5/c-708260|url-status=live}}</ref> 
|-
| '''7''' || [[Ted Lindsay]] || LW || 1944–1957<br />1964–1965 || November 10, 1991<ref>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Stubbs|title=Ted Lindsay: 100 Greatest NHL Players|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ted-lindsay-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-284158492|publisher=National Hockey League|date=January 1, 2017|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220630/https://www.nhl.com/news/ted-lindsay-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-284158492|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| '''9''' || [[Gordie Howe]] || RW || 1946–1971 || March 12, 1972<ref name="Howe's number"/>
|-
| '''10''' || [[Alex Delvecchio]] || C || 1950–1974 || November 10, 1991<ref>{{cite web|title=Legends of Hockey – Spotlight – Alex Delvecchio – The Pinnacle|url=https://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_pinnaclep197701.shtml|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310131601/https://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_pinnaclep197701.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| '''12''' || [[Sid Abel]] || C || 1938–1943<br />1945–1952 || April 29, 1995<ref>{{cite web|title=Abel, Sid -- Biography -- Honoured Player -- Legends of Hockey|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p196901&page=bio|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220433/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p196901&page=bio|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| '''19''' || [[Steve Yzerman]]{{efn|The banner features the captain "C" to honor his 20 years as team captain with the Red Wings.}} || C || 1983–2006 || January 2, 2007<ref name=Yzerman/>
|}
The Red Wings have [[Retired number|retired]] eight numbers. The first number the Red Wings retired was No. 9 in 1972 in honor of Gordie Howe, who played right wing for the team from 1946 to 1971.<ref name="Howe's number">{{cite web|title=The life of 'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe: A timeline|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/gordie-howe-mr-hockey-timeline-moments/c-280930698|publisher=National Hockey League|date=June 10, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref> Howe won both the [[Art Ross Trophy]] and the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]] six times each and won the Stanley Cup as a Red Wing four times.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gordie Howe Stats and News|url=https://www.nhl.com/player/gordie-howe-8448000|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref> In 2007, the Red Wings retired Steve Yzerman's No. 19.<ref name=Yzerman/> During Yzerman's career, he won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the Conn Smythe Trophy, the [[Frank J. Selke Trophy]], the [[Lester Patrick Trophy]], and the [[Ted Lindsay Award]].<ref name="Yzerman's stats">{{cite web|title=Steve Yzerman Stats and News|url=https://www.nhl.com/player/steve-yzerman-8452578|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref> Yzerman served as Detroit's captain for 19 seasons, an NHL record, and won the Stanley Cup three times as a player with the Red Wings.<ref name=Yzerman/><ref name="Yzerman's stats"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Bob|last=Duff|title=Steve Yzerman: 100 Greatest NHL Players|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/steve-yzerman-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-285492334|website=NHL.com|date=January 1, 2017|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> The most recent retired number is [[Red Kelly]]'s No. 4, which was retired on February 1, 2019.<ref name="Kelly's number"/> During Kelly's 13-year career with the Red Wings, he won four Stanley Cups, the [[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]] three times, and the [[James Norris Memorial Trophy]] once.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/detroit-red-wings-to-retire-red-kellys-no-4/c-300857166|title=Detroit Red Wings to retire Red Kelly's No. 4|publisher=National Hockey League|first=Todd|last=Beam|access-date=October 11, 2018|date=October 11, 2018}}</ref>

The Red Wings have also made the number 6 of [[Larry Aurie]] and the number 16 of [[Vladimir Konstantinov]] no longer available for issue. However, the numbers are not considered to be officially retired.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sean|last=Gentille|title=NHL jersey retirements: Who's next in the Atlantic Division?|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl-news/4512541-nhl-retired-numbers-jersey-pavel-datsyuk-sergei-fedorov-red-wings-daniel-alfreds|website=[[Sporting News]]|date=July 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509100957/http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl-news/4512541-nhl-retired-numbers-jersey-pavel-datsyuk-sergei-fedorov-red-wings-daniel-alfreds|archive-date=May 9, 2016|access-date=May 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Although Aurie's number was retired in 1938 by James E. Norris, current team owners do not consider the number to be retired.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aurie holds Detroit's forgotten number |date=January 7, 2007 |url=http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2007/01/07/sports/20070107-archive1.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302105134/http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2007/01/07/sports/20070107-archive1.txt |work=The Macomb Daily |author=Bruce MacLeod |access-date=December 10, 2013 |archive-date=March 2, 2012}}</ref> Konstantinov's number has not been issued to any player since he was permanently disabled in a vehicle accident after the [[1997 Stanley Cup Finals]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl--tragic-anniversary--vladimir-konstantinov-stepped-into-a-rented-limousine-15-years-ago.html |date=June 3, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2013 |title=Tragic anniversary: Vladimir Konstantinov stepped into a rented limousine 15 years ago |author=Eric Adelson |work=Yahoo! Sports}}</ref> Number 99 is also unavailable as it was retired by the league in honor of Wayne Gretzky.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/you-dont-wear-number-66/ |title=You Don't Wear Number 66 |date=February 23, 2012 |access-date=May 16, 2016 |work=The Hockey Writers |author=Michael Viola}}</ref>

===Team captains===
All the players who have served as team captain with the Detroit franchise.<ref name="Detroit Red Wings History">{{cite web|url=http://redwings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=43789|title=Detroit Red Wings All-Time Captains|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=January 19, 2015}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Art Duncan]], 1926–1927
* [[Reg Noble]], 1927–1930
* [[George Hay (ice hockey)|George Hay]], 1930–1931
* [[Carson Cooper]], 1931–1932
* [[Larry Aurie]], 1932–1933
* [[Herbie Lewis (ice hockey)|Herbie Lewis]], 1933–1934
* [[Ebbie Goodfellow]], 1934–1935, 1938–1941
* [[Doug Young (ice hockey)|Doug Young]], 1935–1938
* Ebbie Goodfellow and [[Syd Howe]], 1941–1942
* [[Sid Abel]], 1942–1943
* [[Mud Bruneteau]] and [[Flash Hollett]], 1943–1944
* Flash Hollett, 1944–1945
* Flash Hollett and Sid Abel, 1945–1946
* Sid Abel, 1946–1952
* [[Ted Lindsay]], 1952–1956
* [[Red Kelly]], 1956–1958
* [[Gordie Howe]], 1958–1962
* [[Alex Delvecchio]], 1962–1973
* Alex Delvecchio, [[Nick Libett]], [[Red Berenson]], [[Gary Bergman]], [[Ted Harris (ice hockey)|Ted Harris]], [[Mickey Redmond]], and [[Larry Johnston (ice hockey)|Larry Johnston]], 1973–1974
* [[Marcel Dionne]], 1974–1975
* [[Danny Grant (ice hockey)|Danny Grant]] and [[Terry Harper]], 1975–1976
* Danny Grant and [[Dennis Polonich]], 1976–1977
* Dan Maloney and [[Dennis Hextall]], 1977–1978
* Dennis Hextall, Nick Libett, and [[Paul Woods (ice hockey)|Paul Woods]], 1978–1979
* [[Dale McCourt]], 1979–1980
* [[Errol Thompson (ice hockey)|Errol Thompson]] and [[Reed Larson]], 1980–1981
* Reed Larson, 1981–1982
* [[Danny Gare]], 1982–1986
* [[Steve Yzerman]], 1986–2006
* [[Nicklas Lidström|Nicklas Lidstrom]], 2006–2012
* [[Henrik Zetterberg]], 2013–2018
* [[Dylan Larkin]], 2021–present
{{div col end}}

===First-round draft picks===
{{Main|List of Detroit Red Wings draft picks}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[1963 NHL amateur draft|1963]]: [[Peter Mahovlich]] (2nd overall)
* [[1964 NHL amateur draft|1964]]: [[Claude Gauthier (ice hockey)|Claude Gauthier]] (1st overall)
* [[1965 NHL amateur draft|1965]]: [[George Forgie]] (3rd overall)
* [[1966 NHL amateur draft|1966]]: [[Steve Atkinson]] (6th overall)
* [[1967 NHL amateur draft|1967]]: [[Ron Barkwell]] (9th overall)
* [[1968 NHL amateur draft|1968]]: [[Steve Andrascik]] (11th overall)
* [[1969 NHL amateur draft|1969]]: [[Jim Rutherford]] (10th overall)
* [[1970 NHL amateur draft|1970]]: [[Serge Lajeunesse]] (12th overall)
* [[1971 NHL amateur draft|1971]]: [[Marcel Dionne]] (2nd overall)
* [[1973 NHL amateur draft|1973]]: [[Terry Richardson (ice hockey)|Terry Richardson]] (11th overall)
* [[1974 NHL amateur draft|1974]]: [[Bill Lochead]] (9th overall)
* [[1975 NHL amateur draft|1975]]: [[Rick Lapointe]] (5th overall)
* [[1976 NHL amateur draft|1976]]: [[Fred Williams (ice hockey)|Fred Williams]] (4th overall)
* [[1977 NHL amateur draft|1977]]: [[Dale McCourt]] (1st overall)
* [[1978 NHL amateur draft|1978]]: [[Willie Huber]] (9th overall)
* [[1979 NHL entry draft|1979]]: [[Mike Foligno]] (3rd overall)
* [[1980 NHL entry draft|1980]]: [[Mike Blaisdell]] (11th overall)
* [[1982 NHL entry draft|1982]]: [[Murray Craven]] (17th overall)
* [[1983 NHL entry draft|1983]]: [[Steve Yzerman]] (4th overall)
* [[1984 NHL entry draft|1984]]: [[Shawn Burr]] (7th overall)
* [[1985 NHL entry draft|1985]]: [[Brent Fedyk]] (8th overall)
* [[1986 NHL entry draft|1986]]: [[Joe Murphy (ice hockey)|Joe Murphy]] (1st overall)
* [[1987 NHL entry draft|1987]]: [[Yves Racine]] (11th overall)
* [[1988 NHL entry draft|1988]]: [[Kory Kocur]] (17th overall)
* [[1989 NHL entry draft|1989]]: [[Mike Sillinger]] (11th overall)
* [[1990 NHL entry draft|1990]]: [[Keith Primeau]] (3rd overall)
* [[1991 NHL entry draft|1991]]: [[Martin Lapointe]] (10th overall)
* [[1992 NHL entry draft|1992]]: [[Curtis Bowen]] (22nd overall)
* [[1993 NHL entry draft|1993]]: [[Anders Eriksson (ice hockey, born 1975)|Anders Eriksson]] (22nd overall)
* [[1994 NHL entry draft|1994]]: [[Yan Golubovsky]] (23rd overall)
* [[1995 NHL entry draft|1995]]: [[Maxim Kuznetsov]] (26th overall)
* [[1996 NHL entry draft|1996]]: [[Jesse Wallin]] (26th overall)
* [[1998 NHL entry draft|1998]]: [[Jiří Fischer|Jiri Fischer]] (25th overall)
* [[2000 NHL entry draft|2000]]: [[Niklas Kronwall]] (29th overall)
* [[2005 NHL entry draft|2005]]: [[Jakub Kindl]] (19th overall)
* [[2007 NHL entry draft|2007]]: [[Brendan Smith (ice hockey)|Brendan Smith]] (27th overall)
* [[2008 NHL entry draft|2008]]: [[Thomas McCollum]] (30th overall)
* [[2010 NHL entry draft|2010]]: [[Riley Sheahan]] (21st overall)
* [[2013 NHL entry draft|2013]]: [[Anthony Mantha]] (20th overall)
* [[2014 NHL entry draft|2014]]: [[Dylan Larkin]] (15th overall)
* [[2015 NHL entry draft|2015]]: [[Evgeny Svechnikov]] (19th overall)
* [[2016 NHL entry draft|2016]]: [[Dennis Cholowski]] (20th overall)
* [[2017 NHL entry draft|2017]]: [[Michael Rasmussen (ice hockey)|Michael Rasmussen]] (9th overall)
* [[2018 NHL entry draft|2018]]: [[Filip Zadina]] (6th overall)
* [[2018 NHL entry draft|2018]]: [[Joe Veleno]] (30th overall)
* [[2019 NHL entry draft|2019]]: [[Moritz Seider]] (6th overall)
* [[2020 NHL entry draft|2020]]: [[Lucas Raymond]] (4th overall)
* [[2021 NHL entry draft|2021]]: [[Simon Edvinsson]] (6th overall)
* [[2021 NHL entry draft|2021]]: [[Sebastian Cossa]] (15th overall)
* [[2022 NHL entry draft|2022]]: [[Marco Kasper]] (8th overall)
* [[2023 NHL entry draft|2023]]: [[Nate Danielson]] (9th overall)
* [[2023 NHL entry draft|2023]]: [[Axel Sandin Pellikka]] (17th overall)
* [[2024 NHL entry draft|2024]]: [[Michael Brandsegg-Nygård|Michael Brandsegg-Nygard]] (15th overall)
{{div col end}}

==Franchise records==

===All-time leading scorers===
These players rank in the top ten in franchise history in scoring as of the end of the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Regular Season – All Skaters – Career for Franchise – Career Points – National Hockey League.com – Stats|url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=allTime&seasonFrom=19171918&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.12&sort=points,goals,assists&page=0&pageSize=50|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref> Figures are updated after each completed NHL season. 
* {{Color box|#CCFFCC|*|border=darkgray}} – current Red Wings player
'''''Note:''' Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game''
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style= "background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid;"|Points
! Player
! Pos
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! P/G
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Gordie Howe]] || RW || 1,687 || 786 || 1,023 || '''1,809''' || 1.07
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Steve Yzerman]] || C || 1,514 || 692 || 1,063 || '''1,755''' || 1.16
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Alex Delvecchio]] || C || 1,550 || 456 || 825 || '''1,281''' || .83
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Nicklas Lidström|Nicklas Lidstrom]] || D || 1,564 || 264 || 878 || '''1,142''' || .73
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Henrik Zetterberg]] || C || 1,082 || 337 || 623 || '''960''' || .89
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Sergei Fedorov]] || C || 908 || 400 || 554 || '''954''' || 1.05
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Pavel Datsyuk]] || C || 953 || 314 || 604 || '''918''' || .96
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Norm Ullman]] || C || 875 || 324 || 434 || '''758''' || .87
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Ted Lindsay]] || LW || 862 || 335 || 393 || '''728''' || .84
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Brendan Shanahan]] || LW || 716 || 309 || 324 || '''633''' || .88
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style= "background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid;"|Goals
! Player
! Pos
! G
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Gordie Howe]] || RW || 786
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Steve Yzerman]] || C || 692
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Alex Delvecchio]] || C || 456
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Sergei Fedorov]] || C || 400
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Henrik Zetterberg]] || C || 337
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Ted Lindsay]] || LW || 335
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Norm Ullman]] || C || 324
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Pavel Datsyuk]] || C || 314
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Brendan Shanahan]] || LW || 309
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[John Ogrodnick]] || LW || 265
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style= "background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid;"|Assists
|-
! Player
! Pos
! A
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Steve Yzerman]] || C || 1,063
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Gordie Howe]] || RW || 1,023
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Nicklas Lidström|Nicklas Lidstrom]] || D || 878
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Alex Delvecchio]] || C || 825
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Henrik Zetterberg]] || C || 623
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Pavel Datsyuk]] || C || 604
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Sergei Fedorov]] || C || 554
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Norm Ullman]] || C || 434
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Ted Lindsay]] || LW || 393
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Reed Larson]] || D || 382
|}
{{col-end}}

===All-time leading goaltenders===
These goaltenders rank in the top ten in franchise history for wins as of the end of the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Regular Season – All Goaltenders – Career for Franchise – Career Wins – National Hockey League.com – Stats|url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/goalies?reportType=allTime&seasonFrom=19171918&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.12&sort=wins,savePct&page=0&pageSize=50|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Playoffs – All Goaltenders – Career for Franchise – Career Wins – National Hockey League.com – Stats|url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/goalies?reportType=allTime&seasonFrom=19171918&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=3&playerPlayedFor=franchise.12&sort=wins,savePct&page=0&pageSize=50|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref>  Figures are updated after each completed NHL season. There is a four-way tie for ninth place in postseason wins, resulting in 12 players listed in that table.
* {{Color box|#CCFFCC|*|border=darkgray}} – current Red Wings player
'''''Note:''' GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OT = Overtime losses; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average''
{{col-start}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid;"|Regular season
|-
! Player !! GP !! W !! L !! T !! OT !! SO !! GAA
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Terry Sawchuk]] || 734 || 351 || 243 || 132 || — || 85 || 2.44
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Chris Osgood]] || 565 || 317 || 149 || 46 || 29 || 39 || 2.49
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jimmy Howard]] || 543 || 246 || 196 || — || 70 || 24 || 2.62
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]] || 324 || 163 || 105 || 56 || — || 26 || 2.75
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Roger Crozier]] || 310 || 131 || 118 || 43 || — || 19 || 2.93
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Tim Cheveldae]] || 264 || 128 || 93 || 30 || — || 9 || 3.40
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Greg Stefan]] || 299 || 115 || 127 || 30 || — || 5 || 3.93
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Dominik Hašek|Dominik Hasek]] || 176 || 114 || 39 || 10 || 9 || 20 || 2.13
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Manny Legace]] || 180 || 112 || 34 || 16 || 3 || 13 || 2.18
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jim Rutherford]] || 314 || 97 || 165 || 43 || {{sortdash}} || 10 || 3.69
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid;"|Postseason
|-
! Player !! GP !! W !! L !! SO !! GAA
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Chris Osgood]] || 110 || 67 || 37 || 14 || 2.02
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Terry Sawchuk]] || 85 || 46 || 37 || 11 || 2.40
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mike Vernon (ice hockey)|Mike Vernon]] || 42 || 30 || 12 || 2 || 2.08
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Dominik Hašek|Dominik Hasek]] || 45 || 28 || 17 || 8 || 1.91
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Harry Lumley (ice hockey)|Harry Lumley]] || 54 || 24 || 30 || 6 || 2.30
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jimmy Howard]] || 48 || 21 || 26 || 3 || 2.58
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Johnny Mowers]] || 32 || 19 || 13 || 2 || 2.54
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Greg Stefan]] || 30 || 12 || 17 || 1 || 3.55
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Glen Hanlon]] || 18 || 9 || 6 || 3 || 2.59
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Roger Crozier]] || 23 || 9 || 12 || 1 || 2.74
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Tim Cheveldae]] || 25 || 9 || 15 || 2 || 3.00
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Normie Smith]] || 12 || 9 || 2 || 3 || 1.32
|}
{{col-end}}

===Individual records===
[[File:Dominik Hasek face.jpg|thumb|Recording six shutouts during the [[2002 Stanley Cup playoffs|2002 playoffs]], [[Dominik Hašek|Dominik Hasek]] set the franchise record for the most shutouts in a single postseason.]]
{{Main|List of Detroit Red Wings records}}
* Most goals in a season: 65, [[Steve Yzerman]] ([[1988–89 NHL season|1988–89]])<ref name=Records>{{cite web|title=Detroit Red Wings Season Leaders|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/leaders_season.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>
* Most assists in a season: 90, Steve Yzerman (1988–89)<ref name=Records/>
* Most points in a season: 155, Steve Yzerman (1988–89)<ref name=Records/>
* Most penalty minutes in a season: 398, [[Bob Probert]] ([[1987–88 NHL season|1987–88]])<ref name=Records/>
* Most points in a season, defenseman: 80, [[Nicklas Lidström|Nicklas Lidstrom]] ([[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search --Player -- Nicklas Lidstrom|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=10944|website=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>
* Most points in a season, rookie: 87, Steve Yzerman ([[1983–84 NHL season|1983–84]])<ref>{{cite web|first=Bob|last=Duff|title=Steve Yzerman: 100 Greatest NHL Players|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/steve-yzerman-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-285492334|publisher=National Hockey League|date=January 1, 2017|access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>
* Most wins in a season: 44, [[Terry Sawchuk]] ([[1950–51 NHL season|1950–51]] and [[1951–52 NHL season|1951–52]])<ref name=Records/>
* Most shutouts in a season: 12, Terry Sawchuk (1951–52, [[1953–54 NHL season|1953–54]], and [[1954–55 NHL season|1954–55]]) and [[Glenn Hall]] ([[1955–56 NHL season|1955–56]])<ref name=Records/>
* Most shutouts in postseason: 6, [[Dominik Hašek|Dominik Hasek]] ([[2002 Stanley Cup playoffs|2002]])<ref>{{cite web|first=Ansar|last=Khan|title=Red Wings goalie Hasek announces retirement|url=https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2008/06/red_wings_goalie_dominik_hasek.html|website=MLive|date=June 9, 2008|access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>
* Longest home win streak in NHL history: 23 games (November 5, 2011, to February 19, 2012)<ref name="Home streak"/>
* Most wins in a season in NHL history: 62 (1995–96)<ref name="1996 Wings"/>

==See also==
* [[The Grind Line]]
* [[List of NHL players]]
* [[List of NHL seasons]]
* [[List of Stanley Cup champions]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Detroit Red Wings}}
* {{Official website|https://www.nhl.com/redwings}}

{{Detroit Red Wings}}
{{Navboxes|titlestyle=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#C8102E 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid;|list1=
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Montreal Maroons]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1935–36 NHL season|1935–36]], [[1936–37 NHL season|1936–37]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1942–43 NHL season|1942–43]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1949–50 NHL season|1949–50]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1951–52 NHL season|1951–52]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1953–54 NHL season|1953–54]], [[1954–55 NHL season|1954–55]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Montreal Canadiens]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Colorado Avalanche]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1996–97 NHL season|1996–97]], [[1997–98 NHL season|1997–98]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Dallas Stars]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Colorado Avalanche]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[New Jersey Devils]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Anaheim Ducks]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Detroit Red Wings seasons}}
{{NHL}}
{{Olympia Entertainment}}
{{Michigan Sports}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Ice hockey|Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Detroit Red Wings| ]]
[[Category:1926 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Atlantic Division (NHL)]]
[[Category:Culture of Detroit]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1926]]
[[Category:Ice hockey teams in Detroit|R]]
[[Category:National Hockey League teams]]
[[Category:Olympia Entertainment]]
[[Category:Professional ice hockey teams in Michigan]]
[[Category:Sport in Windsor, Ontario]]