What It Means to Be a Red Wing Stevie Yzerman and Detroit’s Greatest Players

During the NHL season, the entire state of Michigan knows what it means to be a Red Wing. On game days, the more than 20,000 raucous fans that make Joe Louis Arena a madhouse get to experience what it means. Millions of die-hard fans around the world know what it means. However, there is no one answer to explain the feeling.

What It Means to be a Red Wing: Steve Yzerman and Detroit’s Greatest Players by Kevin Allen and Art Regner explores what seems to be a simple question – What does it mean to be a Red Wing? One person or one phrase cannot answer that question because so many different emotions encompass the true Red Wing spirit.

Legendary Detroit star Steve Yzerman indeed knows what being a Red Wing is all about since joining the Detroit team in 1983. After being drafted out of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Stevie Y set an NHL record as the longest-serving captain of a single team (19 seasons) and helped build a powerhouse franchise that is among the most popular in the NHL.

The greatest Red Wings players and coaches from the past six decades were also called upon to express why they are so proud to be a part of the storied tradition that is Red Wing hockey and give fans an inside look on their professional careers in Detroit, including:

• Nick Lidstrom – Lidstrom was drafted out of Sweden by the Red Wings at age 19.

• Brendan Shanahan – Shanahan took the Stanley Cup to his father’s grave in 1997.

• Chris Chelios – Chelios once claimed that he would never play for Detroit.

• Scott Bowman – Bowman left rival Montreal to coach the Red Wings in 1993.

• Larry Murphy – Murphy had a no-trade clause but still chose to come to Detroit.

• Red Kelly – Kelly was a first- or second-team All-Star seven times with Detroit.

What It Means to be a Red Wing brings together all of their stories, as told by the most outstanding voices of the Red Wing franchise over the past six decades and guaranteed to enhance your passion for Detroit hockey.

It’s not just one tradition, one season or one particular game – it’s the stories coming from the players who made the magic happen over the decades that capture the true essence of the Red Wing way.