Division 2nd Central 1996–97 record 38–26–18 Road record 18–14–9 | Conference 3rd Western Home record 20–12–9 Goals for 253 | |
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.
Contents
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 is still there as of 2016.
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 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
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy
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.
Player statistics
All statistics were compiled while playing for the Red Wings.
Regular season
Playoffs
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals;
MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage;
Transactions
August 27, 1996 Traded Dino Ciccarelli to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fourth round draft pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
October 9, 1996 Acquired Brendan Shanahan & Brian Glynn from the Hartford Whalers for Keith Primeau & Paul Coffey.
October 13, 1996 Stu Grimson claimed on waivers by Hartford Whalers.
December 27, 1996 Signed Joe Kocur as a free agent.
January 27, 1997 Acquired Tomas Sandstrom from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Greg Johnson.
February 8, 1997 Bob Errey claimed on waivers by San Jose Sharks.
March 18, 1997 Acquired Larry Murphy from the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considerations.
Draft picks
Detroit's picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.