The 2001-02 Stanley Cup champion Detroit Crimson Wings have been a sight to behold. Their league-best 116 factors have been 15 greater than every other crew that season, and the roster was crammed with NHL legends that helped seize the tenth championship in franchise historical past. Our countdown to Christmas continues by trying on the 10 Hockey Corridor of Fame inductees who performed on that legendary crew.
Scotty Bowman Leads the Manner
Success begins on the prime, and former Crimson Wings coach Scotty Bowman led by instance. Bowman was the one member of the 2002 championship crew who was already within the HHOF, inducted in 1991. His hockey profession was reduce brief early as a consequence of a cranium damage, so he turned to teaching, the place he debuted with the St. Louis Blues in 1967.
Bowman gained 9 Stanley Cups in his profession, with the Montreal Canadiens (5), Pittsburgh Penguins (1) and Crimson Wings (3). At age 87, he stays energetic within the league and has had an advisory function with the Chicago Blackhawks since 2008. His 1,244 wins as an NHL coach is a league report.
Offense Was a Star-Studded Affair
Think about this: The 2001-02 Crimson Wings may subject two full scoring traces with names that may be inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame, and that’s not counting a younger Pavel Datsyuk, who could hear his title known as as soon as he turns into eligible. Brendan Shanahan, Sergei Fedorov, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, Steve Yzerman, and Igor Larionov starred on a crew that usually asserted its will on the opposition. Mixed, the six forwards amassed 347 factors (152 objectives, 195 assists) throughout that championship season.
Shanahan was inducted into the HHOF in 2013 after a profession that spanned 1,524 video games, 656 objectives, 698 assists, and a plus-151. He was by no means one to again down from a problem – though he led the 2002 crew with 75 factors, he was additionally second on the crew in penalty minutes with 118. He gained one King Clancy Memorial Trophy (awarded for his management qualities on the ice and within the Detroit group), was chosen to the primary or second All-Star crew 3 times, and gained three Stanley Cups in his profession.
Yzerman, the captain, was the guts and soul of the crew. His efficiency within the 2002 Playoffs was inspirational as he performed the complete postseason on a knee that required realignment surgical procedure whereas nonetheless main the crew with 23 factors. Yzerman completed his profession with three Stanley Cups, one Ted Lindsay Award (previously the Lester B. Pearson Award), one Invoice Masterton Memorial Award, one Selke Trophy, one Conn Smythe Trophy, and acquired one first-team All-Star choice.
Fedorov, inducted in 2015, was second on the crew in factors that season with 68. Additionally a three-time Stanley Cup winner, he gained two Selke Trophies, one Ted Lindsay Award, and one Hart Memorial Trophy. Within the 1993-94 season, Fedorov was chosen as a first-team All-Star whereas additionally profitable the Hart, Lindsay, and Selke awards, all whereas ending fourth in voting for the Girl Byng Trophy.
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Larionov, lovingly nicknamed “The Professor,” was inducted in 2008, and was extremely productive within the 2002 Playoffs for a 42-year-old ahead. A 3-time Stanley Cup winner, Larionov had 11 factors in 18 playoff video games that season, and scored the triple-overtime objective in a pivotal Recreation 3 in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes within the Stanley Cup Last. He completed his 14-year NHL profession with 644 factors in 921 video games.
Hull, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, was inducted into the HHOF in 2009. He was additionally instrumental in Recreation 3 in opposition to the Hurricanes, tying the sport with simply over a minute left earlier than Larionov gained it three overtimes later. He gained the Hart and Lindsay awards within the 1990-91 season, and the Girl Byng Trophy a season earlier. A 3-time first or second-team All-Star, he completed his profession with 1,391 factors in 1,269 video games.
Robitaille, one other 2009 inductee, gained his solely Stanley Cup with the Crimson Wings in 2002. Although he doesn’t have as many championship rings as the opposite forwards on this checklist, he earned both first or second-team All-Star honors eight occasions in his profession, and gained the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1986-87 after notching 84 factors in 79 video games. He completed his profession with 1,394 factors in 1,431 profession video games.
Lidstrom, Chelios Spotlight the Protection
Nick Lidstrom is among the most embellished Crimson Wings in franchise historical past. A 2015 inductee, he gained seven Norris Trophies, 4 Stanley Cups, one Conn Smythe Trophy, and was chosen as a primary or second-team All-Star 12 occasions. He grew to become the primary European-born captain to win the Stanley Cup in 2008 and completed his profession with 1,142 factors in 1,564 video games and a plus-450 ranking.
Chris Chelios, inducted in 2013, had a staggering 26-year profession, taking part in within the NHL from 1983-84 by means of the 2009-10 season. A 3-time Stanley Cup champion, he additionally gained the Norris Trophy 3 times, and his 1,651 video games performed rank ninth in NHL historical past. He additionally gained the first-ever Mark Messier Management Award in 2006-07 and was chosen as a primary or second-team All-Star seven occasions in his profession.
Hasek Completes the Crew’s Legacy
Dominik Hasek created a stir when he arrived in Hockeytown earlier than the 2001-02 season and he didn’t disappoint. A 2014 inductee, he gained two Stanley Cups, two Hart Trophies, two Lindsay Awards, three Jennings Trophies, six Vezina trophies, and was chosen as a primary or second-team All-Star six occasions. Amongst goalies, he ranks fifteenth all-time in wins, is tied for eighth in shutouts, and completed with a profession save proportion of .922 and a goals-against-average of two.20.
Every Crimson Wings championship was particular in its personal means, however followers who witnessed the 2001-02 season had the posh of watching a number of the sport’s best gamers crew up for one widespread objective. With a agency wage cap now in place, the probability of a crew being assembled like this ever once more is low, however the reminiscence of watching this may by no means be erased.
