Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings: History, Stats and Everything You Need to Know

The Detroit Red Wings rank as one of the NHL's original American powerhouses, with 11 Stanley Cups to their name — more than any other U.S.-based franchise. Along the way, the team has built one of hockey's most recognizable identities, complete with an iconic logo and a genuinely bizarre playoff tradition.

Quick Facts: Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings History

The franchise entered the NHL in 1926 as the Detroit Cougars, then took the name Detroit Falcons in 1930 after a fan contest failed to turn the team's fortunes around. Everything changed in 1932, though, when grain merchant James Norris bought the struggling club.

Where the Name and Logo Come From

As a young man, Norris had played for the Winged Wheelers, an amateur team fielded by the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, the club that won the very first Stanley Cup back in 1893. Norris renamed his new team the Red Wings in tribute, and he adopted a red version of the Winged Wheelers' emblem as the logo — a choice that also happened to fit perfectly with Detroit's identity as the "Motor City." That winged wheel has barely changed since, and it remains one of the most recognizable logos in professional sports today.

The Legend of the Octopus

Detroit's most famous tradition began on April 15, 1952, when brothers Pete and Jerry Cusimano tossed an octopus onto the ice during a playoff game. At the time, teams needed to win just two best-of-seven series to capture the Stanley Cup, so the octopus's eight legs symbolized the eight wins required. The Red Wings won that Cup, and fans have kept throwing octopi at home playoff games ever since.

• Early dominance: The Red Wings won their first two Stanley Cups in 1936 and 1937, just a few years after Norris took over.
• A golden decade: Stars like Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Red Kelly and Terry Sawchuk carried the team to four more titles through the 1950s.
• Modern success: Detroit later added championships in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, cementing its status as "Hockeytown."

A logo with a story: Few NHL emblems carry as much meaning as the Red Wings' winged wheel — a tribute to hockey's very first champions, reimagined for a city built on the automobile.

Detroit Red Wings' Retired Numbers

The Red Wings have retired nine numbers, honoring some of the greatest players in franchise history:

• 1 – Terry Sawchuk
• 4 – Red Kelly
• 5 – Nicklas Lidstrom
• 7 – Ted Lindsay
• 9 – Gordie Howe
• 10 – Alex Delvecchio
• 12 – Sid Abel
• 19 – Steve Yzerman
• 91 – Sergei Fedorov (retired January 12, 2026)

2025-26 Season and What's Next

Detroit finished the 2025-26 season 41-31-10 and missed the playoffs. The offseason then brought a major shake-up: longtime executive Steve Yzerman stepped down as general manager in July 2026, leaving the franchise to search for new leadership as it looks to build its next contender around captain Dylan Larkin.