The 2002 Red Wings Were Told They Were Too Old, Won the Cup Anyway

I wanted to discuss this today as it comes to mind anytime I hear a team is too old to win.
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[@SerMeneros]

To be fair, they might have been old, but that is one sick line up of some of the better Hall of Famers NHL has ever had in one team.

[@Marvio12]

True! I understand the excitement when comparing today's Pittsburgh team to these guy's, and thinking: Maybe the Pens can still win a cup despite their age. However, I still think they need a few more future hall of famers to be able to stand on the same ground as this 01-02 Detroit team. Adding guys like Pavelski, Ovechkin, Kopita, and bringing back Vezina form Marc-Andre Fleury might do it. Obviously, this can't happen, but it shows how stacked that past Detroit team was, regardless of their age

[@FrankieHresko]

When Gretzky was asked couple of years ago how it felt to him to play for the greatest team ever his reply was : " I don't know because I've never played for Detroit Red Wings in 2002"

[@coldengrey12]

Avs fan who remembers this time and how bitter that G7 loss was - this Wings team is one of the all-time best

[@csmith1298]

@coldengrey12 I know it's no consolation for you, but that '02 WCF remains perhaps the best playoff series I've ever seen. I'm a Red Wings fan, so I particularly enjoyed it, but the first 5-6 games were undeniably intense and incredible. Add in all the future HOF players on both sides (plus Scotty Bowman), that was truly something special. AND...those 2 teams used this series to cap off an absolutely legendary rivalry from '95-'02. For the THIRD time in that span, they met in the WCF, but essentially played for the Cup, as the winning team would go on to win the Cup Finals by a combined 12 games to 1 (no offense to the Panthers, Flyers, or Hurricanes). I can tell you that nothing in hockey got the heart pumping and the blood boiling like the thought of facing Colorado in the playoffs during that time. If that's not a compliment to your team, I dunno what is. So congrats on your recent Cup win, and I do hope the Red Wings continue their upward trajectory so they can beat Colorado in the Cup Finals and I can return to hating - though thoroughly respecting - the Avalanche. Cheers.

[@AvsJoe]

Fun fact about Chris Chelios, his Cup win in 2002 ended a 16 year long wait since his previous Cup with Montreal in 1986. That 16 year long gap is the longest ever gap between Cups in NHL history, beating out Mark Recchi's 15 year wait (1991-2006) and Darren Helm's 14 year wait (2008-2022)

[@chrisc6477]

so many memorable moments: yzerman carrying on one leg, lidstrom goal from center ice completely changing the series, the statue of Liberty goal against roy, triple ot winner by larionov vs canes.

[@judeau9151]

I was still too young to actually remember these seasons, but the roster has been imprinted in my memory since I first put on skates. These guys are still posted on the wall of every dive bar in MI. Nice to know the full story +1

[@severedhand141]

When that goal went in from center ice in game 3, I remember thinking in the moment, “That’s it! We will win this series.”

[@ekim4363]

The 2002 red wings team was a traveling hall of fame team. Ten potential hall of fame players, owner, GM, and head coach. If they didn’t win with that team. We’ll never see this much player talent at any one time anymore.

[@m0j0rising]

Not in the cap era, at least.

[@Lazzar1958]

Scotty Bowman was a Master Coach!

[@thomasrudy6132]

the greatest professional major sports team coach ever? i think so, belichek? nope, did not do what bowman did.

[@Lazzar1958]

@@thomasrudy6132 Scotty was the COMPLETE package. Very, very rarely did his game plans not work out. Even back in the '70's the Canadiens could be down 3 goals to 0 in games and come back to win, whether it be regular time or overtime.

[@thomasrudy6132]

@@Lazzar1958 bowman won more championships (with more teams) than any coach in my life. that is based on wins over number of seasons, belichek is probably 2nd, but not equal to or greater than bowman.

[@trentthurow5696]

They were also super fortunate/ good scouting to have Datsyuk Zetterberg and Kronwall debut during this season or shortly after and keep the train running for another 10 years.

[@klompsauce]

Greatest team ever assembled

[@bartsanders1553]

It's up there.

[@larryn1929]

Tough to compete against teams that won 5 and 4 and even 3 in a row. Even the Oilers are in the conversation winning 5 in 7 years.

[@mike04574]

he meant individual team not dynasties@@larryn1929

[@anotherhobbit]

Canadian national teams are pretty good

[@davidovics92]

lol

[@PavelDatsyuk-ui4qv]

Game 7 against the avs was more memorable than the cup. One of my favorite childhood memories

[@MikeG82]

i'm still mad i missed it the power went out at my house and didn't come back on until around midnight, i checked the score online and couldn't believe it

[@matthewburkhart528]

I'm a big wing fan,and this team was a monster of talent. Every line was great and had a hunger for the cup.

[@thebestwingsfan]

The team that made me a Wings fan and a fan of hockey in general. I will never forget that moment when Shanahan hit the empty net in Game 5 to seal the championship. My 8 year old self went ballistic.

[@dustyb58]

I remember being so nervous for Game 6 against Colorado, and after the win I was more confident for Game 7. I actually did sit down with some popcorn and went out of my mind every time the Wings scored. That's the run I remember best out of the 4.

[@williammontroy9024]

I remember an interview with Luke Robitaille after he signed was so amazed at the way the Red Wings were ran . Marveling about how staff on every level asked what he needed and how they could help him ? He was asked by training staff if there was any workout equipment he needed even what kind of protein shakes he preferred and which flavor . Always being told anything at all the staff could do to help him settle in and get him and the team another cup .

[@Anguyen92AB]

Huh, never knew that. I wonder if what Luc experienced in that organization is what influenced his approaches in those kinds of details once he transitioned into into an off-ice role with the Kings later on?

[@williammontroy9024]

@@Anguyen92AB kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2mnqX6ilLSpoK8

[@Nacnud92]

Still crazy that Chelios went on to play like 6 seasons after this. Lol

[@AvsJoe]

I was rooting for him to be the first player since Gordie to play in the NHL as a 50 year old. He got so close too. But alas, he was clearly cooked by the 2008 Cup run. You can only play in a 6/7 D mentor role for so long before a team has to make room for the kids to thrive.

[@kendarsin]

Id like to add more context to the Lidstrom goal. The first two games of that series the wings didnt play bad they just couldnt buy a goal. So when Lidstrom scored from center ice, it changed everything. The shroud of negativity was lifted and the wings were a different team from that point forward.

[@Miller09095]

As a Redwings fan, this was my all time favorite hockey team. Almost all of my favorite Redwings plus Dominik Hasek, my all time favorite goalie.

[@joshthompson8590]

Yzerman became my hero in that playoffs. He was always my favorite, but watching him put everything on the line for that run was just incredible!

[@kftc1980]

Fortunately as he got older, slower, and more plagued by injuries, the organization came through and provided more and more quality players around him. He willed himself to do what he could on one leg, so the other guys would also leave nothing on the ice.

[@Mark-ly4lq]

Same brother. Seeing his determination and hearing his reputation of playing injured frequently he became my idol when I was 12

[@christhornycroft3686]

I remember that 1st round series. Canucks were up 2-0 going into game 3 and it looked like Detroit was on life support. And then Greg Millen said, “he’s back” about Hasek, Nik Lidstrom scored off a rush, and then again from centre ice, and it was over. The Canucks didn’t stand a chance once the Wings woke up. Game 6 from what I remember was basically Bret Hull appreciation night and Tom Larscheid, even in defeat, had nothing but good things to say about him and the team.

[@jonathangarmuth8975]

Hull and Datsyuk was a great combo to see. Hull was getting into scoring spots and Pav would find him. Without Pavel, Brett might have struggled to put up those points.

[@twwap294]

Between Bowman and the talent on that team it was just a lot of fun to watch every game.

[@ccr35582]

Team was definitely old but in a pre salary cap era it was one of the craziest collections of talent we’ve ever seen. Even rookie Datsyuk and Zetterberg waiting in the minors.

[@RoscoMontana21]

That 02 series was the most angry I’ve ever been as an Avs fan😂😂

[@bartsanders1553]

I legit felt bad and couldn't even bring myself to celebrate in front of my friend. That was hands down the greatest six games I have watched two teams play. Too bad it just went off the rails in the 7th. Well, maybe not TOO bad...😂

[@Rob-uc8zr]

haha i still watch that game when i want something to instantly cheer me up

[@matthewjudge3763]

That Lidstrom goal from center ice was up there as a Canucks fan.

[@madisonsykes4896]

Lol man I loved the Avs back then, and that game 7 was brutal, freakin Darren McCarty

[@nsp31a]

I would be too since I'm pretty sure the Red Wings went on an 8-0 run since Roy hot dogged the save in game 6.

[@johnalwell5795]

I love the idea of this video and the comparison to Pittsburgh. Great job enjoyable off season video. Have a great Holiday .

[@clydeblair9622]

A beautiful tribute. I worked late shift of Avs game 7 and I kept getting updates "they scored, they scored again". Thank you to my coworkers who knew what this series meant to me.😅

[@PygmySurfer]

As a Wings fan (who's favourite player was Stevie Y), I think this was my favourite of the 4 cups they've won during my lifetime. Everyone talks about the talent this team had, but it was the work ethic and will to win that sticks out to me. Going down 2-0 against Vancouver, trading wins with Colorado in the conference finals (then just destroying them in Game 7), they just kept coming back. Such a gutsy performance by Yzerman both in the playoffs AND in the Olympics, I think the rest of the team just fed off of him. All due respect to Nick Lidstrom, I think Yzerman was robbed of the Conn Smythe in '02.

[@csmith1298]

Somewhat agree. It's too bad Yzerman and Lidstrom couldn't have shared the Conn Smythe in '98 AND '02. Always thought they were the 2 best players during both of those runs.

[@brandonb.6099]

The 2002 Detroit red wings were a veteran team who came together for one heck of a season in which they won the Stanley cup. One example of a team who proved the naysayers wrong.

[@philippemineau2015]

I started watching hockey in 97 (born in 89) and cheered for the Red Wings ever since (even though I’m not from Detroit). 2002 was awesome. They ended up winning 4 cups, but what’s crazy is that they could have easily won 6 or even 7 (like between 95, 96, 99, 06, 07 & 09). I know that they do not technically qualify as a dynasty, but there are quite a few players who were on 3 or even 4 of those winning teams

[@jamie30jamer]

Shanahan - Fedorov - Yzerman Robitaille - Larionov - Holmstrom Devereaux - Datsyuk - Hull Maltby - Draper - McCarty Lidstrom - Olausson Fischer - Chelios Duchesne - Dandenault Hasek Legace I know the Wings team was older, but we had HOF talent on 3 lines and the best checking line in hockey (Mccarty had a hat trick in the last game against the Avs).

[@charger9105]

Thank you for this, THG! In my lifetime (close to the time frame of yours) only the 80s Oilers could match up with this Red Wings team on talent and achievement. We may never see a team assembled like this ever again.

[@1bert719]

This run conflicted me as i wasn't thrilled to see Detroit win again. But i couldn't begrudge Hasek and Robitaille that elusive win and personal favourite's of mine Slegr and Olausson. 2 underrated defencemen often lost in the mix but crucial grit in depth. My Canuck loving partner will always sigh deeply, roll her eyes and go "oh Cloutier" when this series is mentioned. 😋

[@williammontroy9024]

Sounds like a very happy life 👍 congratulations!

[@mcfleury]

Imagine telling a team that’s basically an All Star team that they’re “too old”

[@kftc1980]

They also played a puck possession game, and had a fantastic power play. Yzerman/Hull on the PK eating shots. They took age out of the equation for much of that, rather than playing a speed based game.

[@andrewshort1431]

That goal that Nick Lidstrom scored was from half ice against Dan Clouiter put Red Wings up 2-1 in that game the rest is history.

[@Jim-yh5uj]

They also played at the Olympics that year. No break for any of them.

[@crackcorn0404]

When Shannon was naming players and ages it sounded like an All-Star game line up.

[@kediddy]

Been such a hardcore Wings fan all my life and 02 was my fav team of all time. Thanks for the Wings love!!!!

[@ccudmore]

If Scotty Bowman is the coach, anything is possible.And for Chelios, at 40 you're just getting going.

[@babyface76]

The late 90s/early 00s Wings - Avalanche series was the Golden Age of the old NHL. Some of the most intense, riveting hockey ever seen. Similar to Lakers - Celtics in the 80s. For some reason Bettman, in his infinite wisdom, decided that wholesale changes were needed just a couple years later and the product became much worse.

[@tmoore4075]

That season was so much fun. I was hesitant of how it would work with adding in all those super star veterans but they never missed a beat. Started off 22-3-1-1. Damn. The winless in the last 7 had a lot to do with Scotty rotating guys in and out to rest them. Probably helped in the long run of the playoffs but they almost bit them in the butt. Yzerman deserved the MVP. Lidstrom was fantastic but I don't think they get out of round 1 without him.

[@mattcraig163]

Thanks for a great trip down memory lane. I was 10 years old when the Wings won the first cup in 97, such great memories for me as a young hockey fan.

[@randyschneiter3135]

Love the insight and critique of my fave NHL team during those glory years, AGE is only a number!

[@jreiland07]

Apparently the 30-35 range was considered “old” then, it’s more like 35+ now

[@yasnac7576]

Greatest team by far that season. I was in awe .... Even now looking back! Thanks for the video Shannon! 👍😉

[@bartsanders1553]

My friend who is a giant Avalanche fan broke the news to me that we signed Hull and Hasek. Very unlikely that a GM has another week like that anytime soon.

[@michaelb4590]

Oh great you’re going to have a whole bunch of Pittsburgh fans think they can do this

[@TheHockeyGuy]

I don't think I have any influence on fans' opinion of their team.

[@tiagomaia1365]

It was heartbreaking to watch Yzerman leading that team with practically just only one leg. LGRW!!!

[@beattywhite11]

All stars, no egos. Perfection!

[@TheMe9595]

This was the year I started watching hockey. I still think that colorado series is my favorite series I have watched.

[@vickiem.6096]

Thank you Shannon; love our Team's history.

[@SuperRyanreed]

You'll never see that much star power on one team ever again lol

[@bencarter8423]

They were old, but they were so talented it didn’t matter.

[@yannick1978]

Good memories, that 2002 run was the first time I could experience playoff hockey live (became a fan of the red wings a few years before thanks to NHL98). It was a lot of fun to watch those games in non-stop sport bars in Czech Republic in the middle of the night, game 7 vs Colorado and the triple overtime game vs Carolina especially :) thank you!

[@ImGettinWeird]

Growing up in the 90s I was so lucky to have the wings as my home team. I didn't know for the longest time that not all teams made the playoffs lol up until I was 25 years old I never experienced not seeing the wings in the playoffs.

[@haysbrickell9579]

I was a big Avs fan but really respected that 2002 Detroit team. Old yes but talent and playoff experience galore. Yzerman was a true warrior in the playoffs, on one good leg no less. I was happy to see all the Hull naysayers quieted after he won his 2nd cup. Lidstrom was his usual monster self on the blue line and graybeard Chelios was added to the mix. Of course there was the Dominator in goal. I could go on and on. It really was quite the team.

[@Peksisarvinen]

I mean fair enough on the age comparison, but frankly, even if you combined Capitals and Penguins into one roster, it wouldn't compare with the sheer amount of hall of fame level talent the Red Wings had. That roster is just insane. So it's less like they managed to win despite their age, it's more like this roster was so insane that it didn't matter that they were old.

[@simonmeikle9037]

that was the season I stopped being just a fan of my team (Stars) and more of a hockey fan in general. It felt like Detroit had compiled a true all-star team, everyone counted them out at every turn and they did it. It then became more fun afterwards, with every HHOF class to see just how many members of that team could make the hall. Not my team so from that perspective a bad year, but it really felt like you were watching history. Since then I have bought every dvd boxset and book I can get about the nhl. The pain of Dallas getting eliminated each year fades after about a week as I start to think about the story of each winner in terms of the history of the league.

[@gungho8180]

Ah! The 2002 Detroit Red Wings a.k.a. the 1995 All Star Team...

[@godcyric]

I will always remember when, after the final olympic game that year, when all the Wings players from the Canada/US took a picture at center ice with their medals. Half the wings team were ther. I knew they were gonna win that year.

[@modeisin7]

But they had one of the best goalies ever and the current penguins don’t have even close. But this is my all time favorite team in sports.

[@seanr.6596]

First season I really watched from beginning to end and hands down my favorite team of all time

[@nathanjohnson2382]

Watching that 01 series against LA was fun I watched it when I had plenty of time. That LA team even gave a stacked Avs team a good run

[@professordogwood8985]

It was a bit more than the Lidstrom goal that finished the Canucks in Round One though, you need to mention Brian Burke's critique of the officiating in the games ahead. I remember laughing my ass off when Burke quipped "our goaltender can be identified as the player with the large pads, he's the one that doesn't dive and fall over whenever he is brushed".

[@zauberlichneo]

Also of note, game 3 of the finals was one of the longest games in NHL history, and yet it was the old men who won that game and the next two after that

[@haysbrickell9579]

I was a big Avs fan back in the '90s and '00s. Colorado and Detroit met in the playoffs 5 times out of 7 years between '96 and '02. It would have been 6 times if the Avs hadn't blown a 3-1 lead over Edmonton in '98 and all 7 if Detroit hadn't lost to Los Angeles in '01. It really was quite the rivalry.

[@andrewshort1431]

Pavel Datsyuk rookie year!

[@mrnobody3161]

I was routing for the Old Guys. One of my favorite all time NHL playoff runs to watch. Steve Yzerman had already had neck surgery to fuse a disk in his neck before this season Methinks.

[@rocketrich7886]

That Final was a complete mismatch. I remember being embarrassed for the Canes.

[@nuck97]

When Cloutier decided to crap the bed, he didn't mess around.

[@rhelenius3670]

Great video, and great team/roster 💪 LGRW 🐙

[@felixeur1276]

Jeebus I knew that team was old but that old holy crap.

[@alesolren]

Is this the oldest team to ever win it all?

[@rentonarc]

Good question

[@BSAnime]

According to a 6 yr old reddit post, yes it is. Average age of 30 years 5 months 2nd was 09 Wings 3rd was 98 Wings

[@bartsanders1553]

​@@BSAnimeThank you Igor Larionov and Chris Chelios😂

[@rufusekstrom2019]

@@BSAnimethis year pens 2024🗣️🗣️🔛🔝💯💯💯

[@cris-99]

When the leafs won their fourth cup in the 60s, 1967 the core of players were much older and they were called the “over the hill gang” who went on to beat mtl in the cup finals that year

[@andersnilsson8303]

Being down 0-2 after two home losses in the first round, only to win four straight. Being down 2-3 in the Conference Final, to follow up with two shutout wins. Losing game 1 in the final and then winning four straight. Sounded familiar to me, as a Caps fan. (2018 cup win) No other comparisons though, as that Detroit team was ridiculously stacked!

[@csmith1298]

You're correct. 2018 Caps wasn't quite at the same level. Still, they were a terrific team. Plus, after the tremendous amount of class the Caps and their fans displayed during the 1998 Cup Finals (regarding Konstantinov and Mnatsakonov), you can bet I was rooting HARD for them to win in 2018. Well deserved on several levels and a LOT to be proud of. Cheers.

[@MajinBuu91]

Different times with no salary cap…

[@joshburton5724]

Might be the best NHL team ever assembled

[@jessefarnlof8367]

The game 7 blowout was unfortunate, as that Colorado series had some amazing hockey.

[@chrisuncleahmad]

The 2002 Red Wings showed that age is just a number

[@danglesnipecelly13]

I remember I had a baseball game the night of game 7 against the Avs. My dad went to the game 😭😭😭 I was so mad lol

[@voidvisual]

living in windsor for that, yeah. wild. wings forever

[@andrewshort1431]

I love when you talk about the Detroit Red Wings that is my favorite team . From Michigan to.

[@McSomething15]

Not sure how I missed this video.

[@KevinJL]

Boyd Devereaux my favorite guy on that team

[@lewthrasher4194]

The window isn't closed until you've lost 4 games

[@Zachleonard97]

Might as well run it back with the 07-08 team….Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Ozzy, Draper, etc

[@chrisbelos2834]

They were so old it was almost a joke. The amount of HOF players they got at discount for a cup run was insane too, almost unfair. They added Robitaille, Hull, Hasek (all HOF) and a bunch more to a already stacked team with many HOF (Stevie Y, Lindstrom, Shanahan, Fedorov, Datsyuk) that won the Central division for a decade. add to this a HOF coach too. everybody knew they would win the cup after they beat the Avs in 7 in the CF (after being down 2-3 in the series)

[@Motownsports89]

#13 the magic man!!

[@ChrisCardenDrums]

If I'm not mistaken, more than half of that team is in the hall of fame at this point

[@Cujofan89]

Great team

[@TheBoyer19]

Can you do a video ranking goalie draft classes? We can find out if 2002 or 2005 had better goalies to come out of those classes for example

[@Robert-ki7bz]

It was kind of like the Oilers winning in 1989-1990.

[@benoitrobitaille5235]

This 2002 team is why i wouldn’t mind seeing modern teams having a old talent kind of 3rd/4th line instead of goons or players that cant hit a barn. I guess the cap would make that impractical unless those old players all take league minimum, but i would love to see it. That’s where you’ll see combinaisons of players you’d only see on the NHL games, almost saw that in Montreal with Staal, Kovalchuk and Perry, but the timing wasn’t right.

[@Gordie_Howe_Hat_Trick]

That team had a good regular season record, but didn't burn themselves up chasing the President's trophy like the mid 1990s. Letting off the gas a bit in the regular season help the playoff legs.

[@LatinxGoyslop1488]

I didn't see this series, but I do agree that you can't discount Pittsburgh because they're old. That's still Crosby and Malken ect. Me personally, I think they exit first round, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they ended up with another cup

[@mike04574]

they had more than 10 hofs it was either stanley cup win or failure

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

Summary "I was wrong before, so I will not make that mistake again". I know the feeling. That's what I say whenever someone tells me that Trump cannot win in 2024.

[@ML.80]

A Scotty Bowman video would be interesting!

[@jsebby2284]

As a Pens fan this is the video we needed lol And before anyone comments this - yes - I know the current Pens team isn't as good lol

[@MikeG82]

Crosby and Malkin at this stage of their career are better than any of those Wings forwards

[@jsebby2284]

@@MikeG82 I would agree for those two specifically - but the Wings had more depth and a better team overall. The Wings had the most points by a mile that season for a reason - the Pens are lucky to get a wild card

[@MikeG82]

@@jsebby2284 we will see, people weren't high on the Kessel trade and Karllson is much better than him if they get good goaltending they should compete with anybody

[@jsebby2284]

@MikeG82 I'm pretty sure people were pretty high on the Kessel trade, no? Not sure Karlsson is any better than Kessel was when they trade for him. Definitely not much better at least. I mean anything can happen once you get in the playoffs - I agree. And that's what I'm hoping for. But in the regular season the Pens really have no hope of competing with NJD or CAR in the standings.

[@MikeG82]

@@jsebby2284 people said kessel was lazy and bad in the locker room Karllson just won the norris with the most points by defenseman in 30 years, more than phil ever got and you want to argue phil is on his level? who cares about the regular season?

[@plainbagel9192]

I'm curious to know what were the usual line combinations during that run, Bowman must of put some guys who would be higher up in the line up in support roles .

[@trentthurow5696]

Shanahan-Yzerman-Fedorov Robitaille-Larionov-Holmstrom Hull-Datsyuk-Devereaux Maltby-Draper-McCarty Lidstrom-Ollousson Fischer-Chelios Duschene-Dandenault

[@gordonmacdowell8117]

At the trade deadline, there always seems to be an arms race of playoff bound teams adding veteran depth and talent to put them over the top or keep up with the Joneses. There's such a huge divide though between those aging players who are best used as stop gaps and spares, and the players with the will to take things to the next level in the second season, and some teams have been bad at telling the difference. While the Rangers were perennial over spenders who were rarely rewarded for their bloated salaries, Detroit's massive team salaries had a lot to do with the salary cap being instituted.