Growing up near Detroit or in Michigan, we have been spoiled with the sports teams we have. The Tigers are off to a great start of the 2015 season. The Lions made the playoffs last year. The Pistons, well, let's not go there. But then there's the Red Wings; the team that has spoiled us the most.
The Wings have been by far the most successful of our hometown teams and have become the model franchise in the NHL. Led by owner Mike Ilitch and General Manager Ken Holland, the winged-wheel has been a symbol of winning and success in a league that is otherwise wide open. The Wings have been in the playoffs for the past 24 years and counting. Since I've been alive, all I've known is playoff hockey in Hockeytown. The last time the Wings didn't qualify for the postseason was 1990. Some things that have happened in or since 1990:
- Nelson Mandela was released from prison.
- General Motors launched Saturn, which has since been discontinued
- The Simpsons was in the midst of its first season in 1990. It is now on its 26th.
- The Pistons won their second of back-to-back NBA Championships.
- The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series.
- Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Watson were born in 1990.
So, you see, the Red Wings have come a long way since 1990. They have won the Stanley Cup four times since then, which is the most in the league. The team has had numerous Hall of Famers including Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidström. They now boast a few future Hall of Famers in Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg as well.
Speaking of Yzerman, the Wings start their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup this week against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Yzerman is now general manager of the club. The Wings have been playing poor hockey as of late, but usually seem to get it together around playoff time. This will be the time to prove it as head coach Mike Babcock will be a “free agent" in the summer with numerous teams clamoring for his services. The Wings will have their work cut out for them as the Lightning have been one of the better teams this year that have also won three of four head-to-head match-ups during the regular season.
I, however, feel optimistic and think the Wings will prevail in a very close series. I think the leadership from guys like Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Kronwall will help the Wings fly into the next round.
