The all-time Detroit Red Wings starting lineup with a young stud

The Detroit Red Wings had some amazing moments with Henrik Zetterberg.

At left wing is Henrik Zetterberg. Chosen by Detroit in the seventh round (210th overall) in the 1999 NHL Draft, Zetterberg was all class during his entire Red Wings career and set an example of how to play hockey in Detroit.

He would play 1,082 games, scoring 337 goals and adding 623 assists for 960 points, and was an impressive +160. In the playoffs, he would produce 57 goals and 63 assists for 120 points in 137 games while posting a +41.

He would spend 15 years with the Red Wings and he was almost successful as he stepped on NHL ice for his first shift.

While serving as captain for six seasons, he had an impressive resume. Zetterberg would win the 2007-08 Conn Smythe trophy, and the 2014-16 King Clancy Memorial trophy, and was part of the Stanley Cup team in 2008.

A 200-foot player who was a dual threat on the ice, his offense contributed seven career hat tricks. He was rewarded for his play on the ice as his contracts were always fair for both him and the organization.

During the 2008-09 season, Zetterberg signed a 12-year/ $73 million contract extension, the longest in franchise history and he was worth every penny. After his career was finished, he was fifth all-time in Red Wings points with 960.

Steve Yzerman is one of the best forwards in Detroit Red Wings history.

The center position goes to Steve Yzerman. He was drafted in the first round (4th overall) of the 1983 NHL Draft and quickly became an important piece of the future success of the Detroit Red Wings.

His career lasted 1,514 games, producing 692 goals and 1,063 assists for 1,755 points. In the playoffs, he was as successful as the regular season, contributing 70 goals and 115 assists for 185 points in 196 games.

He spent his entire 22-year career in Detroit and is responsible for much of Detroit’s success in the 1990s.

His legendary career was nothing short of amazing as he led the Red Wings to some impressive wins over his career.

The most famous moment of his career came in overtime, as he blasted a slap shot over the right shoulder of St. Louis Blues goaltender Jon Casey just moments after a Wayne Gretzky turnover in the neutral zone.

His on-ice achievements are many and start with the holy grail, winning three Stanley Cups (1997, 1998, and 2002).

Some of his other achievements include 22 hat tricks, 3-for-6 on penalty shots, 9 all-star games, the 1988-89 Ted Lindsay Award, the 1997-98 Conn Smythe trophy, 1999-00 Selke trophy, and the 2002-03 Bill Masterton Memorial trophy.

As far as the Red Wings record book is concerned, he is there as well. Yzerman leads Detroit all-time in assists (1,063), power-play points (595), and short-handed goals (50).

His longevity is also key when mentioning his career, as he holds the NHL record for longest-serving captain at 19 seasons and 1,303 games.

After he retired on July 3, 2006, Yzerman was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player in 2009. In May 2010, the Tampa Bay Lightning hired him as their general manager and he remained there until September 2018, when he accepted the same position with Detroit.

Of course, Gordie Howe is the greatest player in Detroit Red Wings history.

On the right wing will be none other than “Mr. Hockey”, Gordie Howe. He set the tone of how Detroit hockey would be played for many years after his NHL debut.

He spent the majority of his NHL career wearing the winged wheel and even had the phrase “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” named after him, which was a goal, assist, and a fight.

Not only was he known for his goal scoring but he played a physical style of game that other elite scorers were not known for.

Howe spent 25 years in the Red Wings organization, accumulating 796 goals and 1,023 assists for 1,809 points in 1,687 games. He was also a +151 and had an outstanding 1,643 penalty minutes.

He came close to being a point-per-game player in the playoffs, scoring 67 goals and 91 assists for 158 points in 164 games while amassing 218 penalty minutes over 19 seasons.

Howe was never one to play a defensive game as his play was to have an offensive touch. He would have 21 hat tricks over his career, he was 2-for-2 on penalty shots and appeared in 21 all-star games with Detroit.

He would obtain hardware as well, winning the Hart Trophy and the Art Ross trophy six times apiece. Howe would win four Stanley Cups (1950, 1952, 1954, and 1955), and lead Detroit all-time in goals (796), points (1,809), power-play goals (209), and game-winning goals (121).

Howe would also play for the Hartford Whalers of the NHL and have success there as well. He would retire at the age of 52 because of chronic wrist problems and later be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.

Mr. Hockey passed on June 10, 2016, at the young age of 88. It was because of Howe’s play that put Detroit on the map. He was a warrior and would not go down without a fight on the ice. Truly one of the greatest players the NHL, and the Red Wings, have ever seen.

Nicklas Lidstrom is the best defenseman to ever play for the Detroit Red Wings.

The “Perfect Human” Nicklas Lidstrom occupies the left side of this defense. Lidstrom was a 3rd round pick (53rd overall) in the 1989 NHL Draft and quickly became a weapon on the blue line. Lidstrom was a quiet assassin, letting his play on the ice speak for itself.

Lidstrom was not the best skater, did not have the hardest shot, and was not the biggest defenseman but he was so smooth whenever he was on the ice.

He would skate in 1,564 games, scoring 264 goals and 879 assists for 1,142 points while posting an incredible +450 in his Red Wings career. In the playoffs,  he would contribute 183 points on 54 goals and 129 assists in 263 games.

Lidstrom participated in 11 all-star games, he was the 2001-02 Conn Smythe trophy winner after posting 16 points in 23 games, and won four Stanley Cups with Detroit (1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008).

Lidstrom would win seven Norris trophies in his career and become the oldest Norris trophy winner during the 2001-02 season at the age of 41 years and 57 days.

Lidstrom would lead the Detroit Red Wings in +/- at a +450 and in power play assists during his career. He would also be recognized as the oldest player to record his first career hat trick at 40 years and 210 days.

Lidstrom would retire from the NHL on May 31, 2012, after a magnificent career. He had a career most first-round players would be jealous of and made his time in Detroit worth every moment. He was a leader on and off the ice, to other veterans and young players.

He does not get the attention he deserves even though he is one of the best defensemen in NHL history. Lidstrom was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015, putting him among the best in the history of the game.

The Detroit Red Wings have a superstar in Moritz Seider right now.

Occupying the right side of the defense is youngster Moritz Seider. Seider has made a name for himself in only three seasons as he has become a two-way threat on the ice. Seider was drafted in the 2019 NHL draft at sixth overall to much surprise.

As an unknown coming into the league, Seider quickly established himself as a force with his physical play and offensive tools.

He plays a gritty style that most veterans do not play and this makes him a special defenseman, as the Detroit Red Wings have not had a young defenseman that plays his style in many years. Coupled with his offense, he is one of the cornerstones to the future success of the organization.

Seider is in his third NHL season and has 12 goals and 80 assists for 92 points after two seasons. His rookie season was a big one, as he won the 2021-22 Calder trophy for the league’s best rookie and was also named to the NHL All-Rookie first team.

From day one in a Red Wings jersey, he has dominated the defensive and neutral zones. A big-name player or a rookie are all treated the same way when he is on the ice and it usually results in them on their back.

No other player in the past few seasons has come into the league for the Detroit Red Wings and made such an impact in such a short time. A well-rounded defenseman, he is also quite the character off the ice. Seider is the complete package and one that Detroit will build around as the rebuild continues.

Seider will outwork everyone, including his teammates, on the ice. He has a high compete-level and is always moving, which does not make it easy for the competition. He will certainly be one to watch for many seasons as he has already carved himself out a nice career.

Terry Sawchuk is a goaltending legend in Detroit Red Wings history.

Perhaps the most important position on the ice, the goaltender,  is represented by legend Terry Sawchuk.

He, like Howe, has a storied career that was spent mostly with the Detroit Red Wings as he spent parts of three seasons with the organization. He was impressive during each stop, creating a new memory each time between the pipes.

Sawchuk spent 14 seasons in Detroit and his stat lines are one that sits on top of Detroit’s goaltending records. His record with the Red Wings was 350-245-132, his save percentage was .904, his goals-against-average was 2,44, and he had an excellent 85 shutouts.

Sawchuk was one of the more solid goaltenders during his time. He kept his teams in every game and made critical saves when he needed to.

Sawchuk, the 1950-51 Calder Trophy winner, was one of many goaltenders who played during the elite years of the goaltending position. he was up against the best every night and went toe-to-toe with them.

During his career with the Red Wings, he appeared in seven all-star games, won three Vezina trophies, and three Stanley Cups.

He ranks top five in NHL history among goaltenders in shutouts (103), games played (971), and minutes played (57,156). He leads Detroit goaltenders in games played (734), wins (350), shutouts (85), and minutes played (43,604).

Sawchuk was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971 and had his Red Wings jersey number retired on March 6, 1994. The great goaltender Sawchuk passed on May 30, 1970, and would go down as not only a great goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings but as one of the best in NHL history.