Key Off-season Moves That Shaped the Red Wings’ Legacy

Historic Red Wings’ Off-season acquisitions

Detroit Red Wings right wing Kris Draper. Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Detroit Red Wings are having a rollercoaster offseason, with no idea what will happen in the front office or who will be back next season.

Throughout their history, the Red Wings won championships by making key offseason additions. These players became Red Wings legends, and most went on to the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

The Legends and Their Impact

Detroit Red Wings left wing Brendan Shanahan Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports Copyright Rick Scuteri / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kris Draper

Draper landed with the Red Wings and is one of the greatest stories in franchise history. Draper has a low-key nickname. That's the "$1 Player." After playing his first three seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, the Red Wings acquired him for $1. Never in hockey history have we heard something like this.

The acquisition became a huge blessing for the Wings. Draper was an effective checking center and penalty-killer. He played for 17 seasons with the team and helped them win four Stanley Cups. "The Grind Line" with Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty was critical to the Red Wings' success. 

Draper won the Selke Trophy in the 2003-04 season for his defense. He finished his career with 364 points (161 goals, 203 assists) in 1,157 regular-season games. Draper is still connected with the organization. 

Brendan Shanahan

Detroit Red Wings forward Igor Larionov (8) celebrates his second period goal with forward Brendan Shanahan (14) and defenseman Larry Murphy (55) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2017 Rogers NHL Centennial Classic Alumni Game. Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Red Wings were a great team in 1995 and 1996. They had many pieces on the team and came close, but never reached the pinnacle. After losing to the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1995 and losing to their fierce rival, the Colorado Avalanche, in the 1996 Conference Finals, the Red Wings needed something to put them over the Avalanche in the West.

Without the Shanahan trade, the Red Wings wouldn't have won the Stanley Cup in 1997. Shanahan was acquired from the Hartford Whalers in exchange for Paul Coffey and Keith Primeau. Shanahan brought elite scoring to the offense. 

In his first season with the Red Wings, he scored 47 goals, and in the playoffs, he was no stranger to scoring. He had 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) during the playoff run. Shananah played nine seasons with the Red Wings, winning three titles with the team. Not too many players in hockey history can say they have over 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. 

Brett Hull and Dominik Hasek

Dominik Hasek, 2002. Hasek / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

July 2001 is a month Red Wings fans will never forget—the addition of two veteran Hall of Famers. When Hasek and Hull joined the Red Wings, it automatically made the team look unstoppable.

The 2002 Red Wings are one of the greatest teams ever assembled. We don't need to go by each name because it was stacked with talent. It's been 25 years since the Buffalo Sabers traded Hasek to the Red Wings. When Hasek came to the team, he was already established with six Vezina Trophies, and he was still at the top of his game as a goaltender.

Hull won a title with the Dallas Stars in 1999. He knew what it took to win. Hull contributed 63 points (30 goals, 33 assists) during the 2001-02 season. The Red Wings beat the Carolina Hurricanes in the Cup Finals and secured Hull his second Stanley Cup. 

Luc Robitaille also came during the offseason. Robitaille scored 30 goals and 50 points.