1996-97 Detroit Red Wings

ESPN Hockey '96
With four regular-season conference titles in five years and two consecutive President's Trophies, the Red Wings could have -- should have? -- been the dynasty of the '90s. But you can't be a dynasty without a couple of Stanley Cups, and that's one piece of hardware missing from the Wings' trophy case.

Steve Yzerman
Yes, it's now 41 years since this proud franchise has taken home the Cup. Two years ago it was the Devils putting them to sleep with the neutral zone trap in the finals. Last year, after a record-setting 62-win, 131-point season, it was the Avalanche rolling over them in the conference finals.

Other places, that would have led to an attic-to-basement housecleaning, but so far the Wings have held fast. Instead of the door, coach Scotty Bowman was given a new three-year deal. It's supposed to be for one year as coach and all three as director of player personnel, but the only man to have a 60-win team -- he also did it with Montreal in 1976-77 -- is playing coy about stepping down.

Sergei Fedorov and Keith Primeau got all the heat when the Wings were clipped. Fedorov led Detroit with 39 goals but added just two in 19 postseason games, one against Colorado. That was one more than Primeau, who all but disappeared.

Primeau (who didn't report to camp because he wanted to be traded) was subsequently traded along with Coffey and a #1 draft pick in 1997 for superstar Brendan Shanahan. It would take a blockbuster to move Fedorov though. Bowman certainly doesn't want to tinker too much because the Wings had the second-ranked goalie, the best plus/minus guy, and the league's best penalty killers -- all of which helps explain why they were the only team to hold opponents under 200 goals.

Fact is, the Red Wings remain one of the best teams -- if not the best -- in the league. And they haven't given up on that dynasty thing.

Key statistic
1
As in NHL record for most wins in a season (62) and biggest spread between first and second overall clubs (27 points). And as in tops in the league in games yielding two goals or fewer (56), times scoring first (56), goal differential (144), and shutouts (tied with 9) -- and active Stanley Cup drought (41 years).

Forwards: deep and talented

Bowman likes to mix and match his lines, and with this lineup, so would you. He has a four 30-goal scorers (Fedorov, Yzerman, Shanahan, and Kozlov) and another two players who each scored 20-plus (Larionov & Johnson). Detroit scored 325 goals, third behind Colorado and Pittsburgh -— and this group plays serious defense, too.

The program says Fedorov, who had a team-high 107 points and was voted the league's top defensive forward, is a center. But Bowman also uses him at right wing on the Russian Fab Five unit of C Igor Larionov (22-51-73), LW Slava Kozlov (36-37-73), and defensemen Slava Fetisov and Vladimir Konstantinov. He even paired him with No. 2 center Steve Yzerman in the playoffs. Next stop, back of the blue line?

Bowman says Yzerman (36-59-95) had his best season last year. Greg Johnson, Martin Lapointe, and Darren McCarty will need to make up for the loss of Dino Ciccarelli, who was traded to Tampa Bay. The acquisition of the physical Brendan Shanahan will give Detroit that much needed scoring from the left wing position. Kris Draper, Bob Errey, and Doug Brown are dedicated checkers, but Detroit fans are waiting for the Wings to upgrade their size and toughness.

Good news
  • Rookie Anders Eriksson adds size to the defense and could challenge for the Calder Trophy.
  • Kris Draper is fully recovered from his face-first smashing into the boards by Colorado's Claude Lemieux during last year's playoffs.
  • Goalie Chris Osgood and Steve Yzerman (fan favorites) are signed for four more years.

    • Defense: good But thin

    Paul Coffey (the league's all-time leading scorer among defensemen) was involved in the deal for Brendan Shanahan. It was a good trade for Detroit because even though his 74 points were third on the Wings, he's a defensive liability, he's 35 years old, and he had a $3.6 million contract.

    Coffey was the big name, but Konstantinov and Nicklas Lidstrom are the Wings' best defensemen. Konstantinov led the league with a +60 rating and plays mean and physical, but may miss the start of the season after tearing an Achilles tendon playing tennis. Lidstrom, who made his first All-Star appearance last season, is adept offensively (17-50-67) and flawless in his own end. Bob Rouse is a solid stay-at-home defenseman, but at 38 Fetisov isn't expected to take regular shifts, so the Wings might promote top prospect Anders Eriksson. Watch out for the gigantic Jamie Pushor! This guy can hit hard and skate decently for a big man; he'll be one to watch in the future!

    There's no problem at goaltender, where the Wings have two good ones. Chris Osgood tied for first in goals-against average (2.17) and supplanted Mike Vernon as the No. 1 goalie. If Bowman can unload Vernon's $2.3 million contract, he'll go with rookie Kevin Hodson as the backup.

    Chris Osgood

    Special teams: top flight

    The Wings had the top penalty-killing team in the league and their power play was tied for second. Detroit can only wonder what might have been if top penalty killers Errey and Yzerman had been healthy in the conference finals. Errey missed the final four games with a separated shoulder, and Yzerman sat 1½ games with a pulled muscle. The Wings, whose 88.3 penalty-killing percentage was the best the league had seen in 22 years, allowed seven power-play goals in 21 chances over the final five games against Colorado, a dismal 67 percent.

    Lowdown: thinking Cup

    Bad news
  • The Wings are still waiting for Sergei Fedorov to deliver in the postseason.
  • If Vladimir Konstantinov is out, Wings defense loses its toughness.
  • Osgood had more goals (one) than Mike Vernon (zero) last season.
    • Some of the Wings' important players -- Yzerman (31) and Fetisov (37) are reaching the replacement stage of their careers, but there's still plenty of talent here. They won't win 62 games again, but it's not the regular season this team cares about. They know they need a Stanley Cup to validate their host of records. The question remains whether they have the physical and mental toughness to finally bring one home.