1996–97 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1996–97 Detroit Red Wings season was the 71st National Hockey League season in Detroit, Michigan. The highlight of the Red Wings season was winning the Stanley Cup, their first since 1955.

Off-season

On July 23, 1996, Detroit Red Wings President Bill Evo resigned his position after serving just ten months at the team's helm. The Nickname "Hockeytown" was coined to launch the start of a five-year marketing campaign.

Regular season

The "HOCKEYTOWN" logo, a Red Wings logo overlapped with the term "HOCKEYTOWN," was shown over center ice starting this season and was still there .

A season highlight was Sergei Fedorov's five-goal performance on December 26, 1996, in a game against the Washington Capitals. The Red Wings won 5–4 in overtime. Fedorov's fifth goal of the game came at 2:39 of the overtime period.

On February 8, 1997, coach Scotty Bowman achieved his 1000th victory as an NHL head coach against his previous team, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On March 26, 1997, the Red Wings–Avalanche brawl continued to fuel the rivalry between the teams. Detroit won that game 6–5 in overtime.

Season standings

Playoffs

The Red Wings won the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals, their first Stanley Cup since the 1954–55 NHL season.

Six days after winning the Stanley Cup, tragedy struck when defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov, defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov, and massage therapist Sergei Mnatsakanov were involved in a limousine accident. The driver, who later said he fell asleep, had a suspended license for previous drunk driving convictions.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- | 1 || October 5 || Detroit || 1–3 || New Jersey || || Osgood || 18,622 || 0–1–0 || 0 || |- | 2 || October 9 || Edmonton || 0–2 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 1–1–0 || 2 || |- | 3 || October 11 || Calgary || 2–1 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 1–2–0 || 2 || |- | 4 || October 12 || Detroit || 6–1 || Buffalo || || Vernon || 18,595 || 2–2–0 || 4 || |- | 5 || October 15 || Detroit || 1–3 || Dallas || || Vernon || 15,983 || 2–3–0 || 4 || |- | 6 || October 17 || Detroit || 1–2 || Chicago || || Osgood || 18,261 || 2–4–0 || 4 || |- | 7 || October 19 || NY Islanders || 2–4 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 3–4–0 || 6 || |- | 8 || October 21 || Los Angeles || 0–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,849 || 4–4–0 || 8 || |- | 9 || October 23 || Dallas || 1–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 5–4–0 || 10 || |- | 10 || October 25 || Chicago || 2–2 || Detroit || OT || Hodson || 19,983 || 5–4–1 || 11 || |- | 11 || October 26 || Detroit || 2–1 || Boston || || Osgood || 17,012 || 6–4–1 || 13 || |- | 12 || October 30 || Montreal || 3–5 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 7–4–1 || 15 || |-

|- | 13 || November 1 || Detroit || 2–2 || Ottawa || OT || Osgood || 14,158 || 7–4–2 || 16 || |- | 14 || November 2 || Detroit || 2–6 || Toronto || || Vernon || 15,726 || 7–5–2 || 16 || |- | 15 || November 4 || Hartford || 1–5 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 8–5–2 || 18 || |- | 16 || November 6 || New Jersey || 2–0 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 8–6–2 || 18 || |- | 17 || November 8 || Detroit || 4–1 || Hartford || || Vernon || 14,660 || 9–6–2 || 20 || |- | 18 || November 10 || Tampa Bay || 2–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 10–6–2 || 22 || |- | 19 || November 13 || Colorado || 4–1 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 10–7–2 || 22 || |- | 20 || November 15 || San Jose || 1–5 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 11–7–2 || 24 || |- | 21 || November 18 || Detroit || 2–2 || Phoenix || OT || Osgood || 15,436 || 11–7–3 || 25 || |- | 22 || November 21 || Detroit || 6–1 || San Jose || || Vernon || 17,442 || 12–7–3 || 27 || |- | 23 || November 23 || Detroit || 6–0 || Los Angeles || || Osgood || 16,005 || 13–7–3 || 29 || |- | 24 || November 24 || Detroit || 1–3 || Anaheim || || Vernon || 17,174 || 13–8–3 || 29 || |- | 25 || November 27 || Toronto || 2–5 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 14–8–3 || 31 || |-

|- | 26 || December 1 || Florida || 4–2 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 14–9–3 || 31 || |- | 27 || December 3 || Vancouver || 2–2 || Detroit || OT || Osgood || 19,921 || 14–9–4 || 32 || |- | 28 || December 4 || Detroit || 2–0 || Washington || || Hodson || 16,117 || 15–9–4 || 34 || |- | 29 || December 10 || Edmonton || 0–0 || Detroit || OT || Osgood || 19,983 || 15–9–5 || 35 || |- | 30 || December 12 || Chicago || 2–6 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 16–9–5 || 37 || |- | 31 || December 15 || Toronto || 1–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 17–9–5 || 39 || |- | 32 || December 17 || Detroit || 3–4 || Colorado || || Vernon || 16,061 || 17–10–5 || 39 || |- | 33 || December 18 || Detroit || 3–3 || Calgary || OT || Osgood || 16,237 || 17–10–6 || 40 || |- | 34 || December 20 || Detroit || 2–3 || Vancouver || || Hodson || 18,422 || 17–11–6 || 40 || |- | 35 || December 22 || Detroit || 6–2 || Edmonton || || Osgood || 16,724 || 18–11–6 || 42 || |- | 36 || December 26 || Washington || 4–5 || Detroit || OT || Osgood || 19,983 || 19–11–6 || 44 || |- | 37 || December 28 || Detroit || 7–1 || NY Islanders || || Vernon || 16,297 || 20–11–6 || 46 || |- | 38 || December 30 || Phoenix || 5–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 20–12–6 || 46 || |-

|- | 39 || January 3 || Dallas || 2–1 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 20–13–6 || 46 || |- | 40 || January 5 || Detroit || 5–5 || Chicago || OT || Vernon || 21,914 || 20–13–7 || 47 || |- | 41 || January 8 || Detroit || 3–6 || Dallas || || Osgood || 15,326 || 20–14–7 || 47 || |- | 42 || January 9 || Detroit || 5–4 || Phoenix || OT || Osgood || 16,210 || 21–14–7 || 49 || |- | 43 || January 11 || Chicago || 3–1 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 21–15–7 || 49 || |- | 44 || January 14 || Los Angeles || 3–3 || Detroit || OT || Osgood || 19,983 || 21–15–8 || 50 || |- | 45 || January 20 || Detroit || 1–4 || Montreal || || Vernon || 21,273 || 21–16–8 || 50 || |- | 46 || January 22 || Philadelphia || 2–2 || Detroit || OT || Vernon || 19,983 || 21–16–9 || 51 || |- | 47 || January 25 || Detroit || 4–1 || Philadelphia || || Vernon || 19,711 || 22–16–9 || 53 || |- | 48 || January 29 || Phoenix || 3–0 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 22–17–9 || 53 || |-

|- | 49 || February 1 || Detroit || 4–1 || St. Louis || || Vernon || 20,330 || 23–17–9 || 55 || |- | 50 || February 2 || Dallas || 3–4 || Detroit || OT || Osgood || 19,983 || 24–17–9 || 57 || |- | 51 || February 4 || St. Louis || 1–1 || Detroit || OT || Vernon || 19,983 || 24–17–10 || 58 || |- | 52 || February 6 || Vancouver || 7–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 24–18–10 || 58 || |- | 53 || February 8 || Detroit || 6–5 || Pittsburgh || OT || Vernon || 17,355 || 25–18–10 || 60 || |- | 54 || February 12 || San Jose || 1–7 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 26–18–10 || 62 || |- | 55 || February 14 || Detroit || 3–4 || Dallas || OT || Vernon || 16,924 || 26–19–10 || 62 || |- | 56 || February 16 || Detroit || 4–2 || Florida || || Osgood || 14,703 || 27–19–10 || 64 || |- | 57 || February 17 || Detroit || 3–3 || Tampa Bay || OT || Vernon || 19,579 || 27–19–11 || 65 || |- | 58 || February 19 || Calgary || 0–4 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 28–19–11 || 67 || |- | 59 || February 22 || Detroit || 2–2 || St. Louis || OT || Vernon || 20,371 || 28–19–12 || 68 || |- | 60 || February 24 || Detroit || 5–3 || Phoenix || || Osgood || 16,210 || 29–19–12 || 70 || |- | 61 || February 27 || Pittsburgh || 1–4 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 30–19–12 || 72 || |-

|- | 62 || March 1 || NY Rangers || 0–3 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 31–19–12 || 74 || |- | 63 || March 2 || Anaheim || 1–1 || Detroit || OT || Vernon || 19,983 || 31–19–13 || 75 || |- | 64 || March 5 || Detroit || 4–4 || Toronto || OT || Osgood || 15,726 || 31–19–14 || 76 || |- | 65 || March 8 || Detroit || 5–3 || Vancouver || || Vernon || 18,422 || 32–19–14 || 78 || |- | 66 || March 10 || Detroit || 3–3 || Los Angeles || OT || Osgood || 10,663 || 32–19–15 || 79 || |- | 67 || March 12 || Detroit || 1–2 || Anaheim || || Vernon || 17,174 || 32–20–15 || 79 || |- | 68 || March 15 || Detroit || 7–4 || San Jose || || Osgood || 17,442 || 33–20–15 || 81 || |- | 69 || March 16 || Detroit || 2–4 || Colorado || || Osgood || 16,061 || 33–21–15 || 81 || |- | 70 || March 19 || Boston || 1–4 || Detroit || || Hodson || 19,983 || 34–21–15 || 83 || |- | 71 || March 21 || Detroit || 1–3 || NY Rangers || || Osgood || 18,200 || 34–22–15 || 83 || |- | 72 || March 23 || Detroit || 3–5 || Chicago || || Hodson || 22,422 || 34–23–15 || 83 || |- | 73 || March 26 || Colorado || 5–6 || Detroit || OT || Vernon || 19,983 || 35–23–15 || 85 || |- | 74 || March 28 || Buffalo || 1–2 || Detroit || OT || Vernon || 19,983 || 36–23–15 || 87 || |- | 75 || March 30 || Anaheim || 1–0 || Detroit || OT || Vernon || 19,983 || 36–24–15 || 87 || |-

|- | 76 || April 1 || St. Louis || 1–1 || Detroit || OT || Vernon || 19,983 || 36–24–16 || 88 || |- | 77 || April 3 || Toronto || 2–2 || Detroit || OT || Osgood || 19,983 || 36–24–17 || 89 || |- | 78 || April 5 || Detroit || 4–2 || Toronto || || Osgood || 15,726 || 37–24–17 || 91 || |- | 79 || April 8 || Detroit || 3–2 || Calgary || OT || Osgood || 17,841 || 38–24–17 || 93 || |- | 80 || April 9 || Detroit || 3–3 || Edmonton || OT || Vernon || 17,099 || 38–24–18 || 94 || |- | 81 || April 11 || Ottawa || 3–2 || Detroit || || Vernon || 19,983 || 38–25–18 || 94 || |- | 82 || April 13 || St. Louis || 3–1 || Detroit || || Osgood || 19,983 || 38–26–18 || 94 || |-

|- | Legend:

Playoffs

|- | 1 || April 16 || St. Louis || 2–0 || Detroit || || Vernon || 0–1 || |- | 2 || April 18 || St. Louis || 1–2 || Detroit || || Vernon || 1–1 || |- | 3 || April 20 || Detroit || 3–2 || St. Louis || || Vernon || 2–1 || |- | 4 || April 22 || Detroit || 0–4 || St. Louis || || Vernon || 2–2 || |- | 5 || April 25 || St. Louis || 2–5 || Detroit || || Vernon || 3–2 || |- | 6 || April 27 || Detroit || 3–1 || St. Louis || || Vernon || 4–2 || |-

|- | 1 || May 2 || Anaheim || 1–2 || Detroit || OT || Vernon || 1–0 || |- | 2 || May 4 || Anaheim || 2–3 || Detroit || 3OT || Vernon || 2–0 || |- | 3 || May 6 || Detroit || 5–2 || Anaheim || || Vernon || 3–0 || |- | 4 || May 8 || Detroit || 3–2 || Anaheim || 2OT || Vernon || 4–0 || |-

|- | 1 || May 15 || Detroit || 1–2 || Colorado || || Vernon || 0–1 || |- | 2 || May 17 || Detroit || 4–2 || Colorado || || Vernon || 1–1 || |- | 3 || May 19 || Colorado || 1–2 || Detroit || || Vernon || 2–1 || |- | 4 || May 22 || Colorado || 0–6 || Detroit || || Vernon || 3–1 || |- | 5 || May 24 || Detroit || 0–6 || Colorado || || Vernon || 3–2 || |- | 6 || May 26 || Colorado || 1–3 || Detroit || || Vernon || 4–2 || |-

|- | 1 || May 31 || Detroit || 4–2 || Philadelphia || || Vernon || 1–0 || |- | 2 || June 3 || Detroit || 4–2 || Philadelphia || || Vernon || 2–0 || |- | 3 || June 5 || Philadelphia || 1–6 || Detroit || || Vernon || 3–0 || |- | 4 || June 7 || Philadelphia || 1–2 || Detroit || || Vernon || 4–0 || |-

|- | Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

• <small>Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing</small>
• <small> = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only.</small>
• <small> = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only.</small>

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Vladimir Konstantinov was the runner-up for the James Norris Memorial Trophy.

Milestones

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Signings

Waivers

Retirement

Draft picks

Detroit's picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft.

Notes

1. The Red Wings acquired this pick as the result of a trade on April 4, 1995 that sent Mike Sillinger and Jason York to Anaheim in exchange for Stu Grimson, Mark Ferner and this pick.

• The Red Wings third-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a trade on August 17, 1995 that sent David Shaw to Tampa Bay in exchange for this pick (80th overall).

:Tampa Bay previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on August 17, 1995 that sent Marc Bergevin and Ben Hankinson to Detroit in exchange for Shawn Burr and this pick.

Notes

References