The Detroit Red Wings announced their promotional schedule for the upcoming season and it includes some incredible giveaways surrounding past talent. They will also be bringing back some events of the past that are sure to bring in big crowds. While training camp has yet to start, this will get everybody ready for hockey in Detroit.
Red Wings reveal loaded promotional schedule
The Red Wings will open the regular season on Thursday, October 12 vs the Pittsburgh Penguins. Detroit will then host 22 weekend home games, including five on Fridays, 10 games on Saturdays and Sundays. Additional must-see matinee games include the annual Thanksgiving Eve game against Calgary on November 27, New Year's Eve vs Pittsburgh, Tigers Night vs the Carolina Hurricanes on April 4, and Fan Appreciation Night against the Dallas Stars on April 14.
Red Wings legend Pavel Datsyuk will be honored on to separate occasions this season, the first being on Hockey Hall of Fame Night on Thursday, November 21 against the New York Islanders. Datsyuk played for Detroit from 2001 to 2016, winning the Stanley Cup in 2002 and 2008. He finished his Red Wings career with 314 goals and 604 assists for 918 points, a +249, 51 game-winning goals, and 97 power-play goals in 953 games. He also played in three All-Star games (2004, 2008, 2012), a four-time Lady Byng Award winner (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09), and a three-time Frank J. Selke Award Winner as best defensive forward (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10)
Detroit is bringing back Hockeytown Throwback Nights to celebrate Red Wings championship eras, with the first 7,500 fans in attendance receiving a Stick Case giveaway. Goaltender Chris Osgood (December 29), general manager Steve Yzerman (January 14), and Datsyuk (March 4) will be the Hockeytown legends. Fans can also purchase special ticket packages for each throwback game that will include a custom t-shirt featuring that game's hockeytown legend.
Detroit is bringing back the ever popular Bobblehead Nights. Those will feature Red Wings broadcaster Mickey Redmond (October 30 vs Winnipeg Jets), Red Wings Captain Dylan Larkin (December 1 vs Vancouver Canucks), and three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane (January 7 vs Ottawa Senators).
The Red Wings open their preseason on the road September 25 vs the Chicago Blackhawks, They then play the same Blackhawks on September 27 in Detroit and play the Pittsburgh Penguins the next night at Little Caesers Arena. They finish September in Buffalo against the Sabres on Spetember 30, then travel to Pittsburgh on October 1. October 3 they play the Toronto Maple Leafs and October 4 against the Ottawa Senators in Detroit. The Red Wings finish their preseason against the Maple Leafs on October 5 in Toronto.