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Scotty Bowman, the winningest coach in NHL history, joined the Red Wings in 1993. In his second season, the lockout-shortened 1994-1995 season, he guided Detroit to its first finals appearance in 29 years. They were swept by the New Jersey Devils.

The Wings kept adding more star power, picking up Slava Fetisov and Igor Larionov in trades. After a third-round playoff loss to the new Colorado Avalanche in 1996, Detroit, joined by Brendan Shanahan and Larry Murphy during the season, once again reached the finals in 1997, beating the Philadelphia Flyers in four straight games. It was the Wings' first Stanley Cup since 1955, breaking the longest drought in the league at that time.

Tragedy struck the Wings days after their championship. Vladimir Konstantinov suffered a brain injury in a car accident, and his career had to come to an abrupt end. Their 1997-1998 season, which also ended in a Cup victory (a sweep over the Washington Capitals), was dedicated to Konstantinov, who came out in his wheelchair that night to touch the Cup.

The Wings built up a fierce rivalry with the Avalanche by this time. With the Red Wings beating the Avalanche in the third round in 1997, and Colorado beating Detroit in the second round in both 1999 and 2000, the battles between these two teams has become one of the fiercest in sports. During one game, a brawl ensuded between Colorado goalie Patrick Roy and his Detroit counterpart Mike Vernon.

In 2001 Detroit, the league's second-best team in the regular season, suffered a first-round playoff loss to the Kings. They landed free agent goalie Dominik Hasek, left-wing Luc Robitaille and right-wing Brett Hull in the offseason, and ended up the odds-on favorite to win the Cup in 2002. They did not disappoint, having the league's best record in the regular season and capturing another Cup, in five games over the Cinderella Carolina Hurricanes. Bowman and Hasek both retired after the season.

In 2003, with new coach Dave Lewis and goalie pickup Curtis Joseph, the Wings were upset by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in four straight games in the first round, after one of the most successful regular seasons in team history.

Hasek came out of retirement, and joined the Wings for the 2003-2004 season. This meant that Detroit had three goalies, with Joseph and Manny Legace as backups. Joseph, despite being one of the highest paid players in the NHL, had to spend part of the season with Detroit's American Hockey League affiliate. Ultimately, Hasek had to call it quits because of a groin injury, and Joseph led the team to the top of the Central Division and the Western Conference. The Wings acquired veteran center Robert Lang from the Capitals at the trade deadline and he made a big impression over the next few weeks.

In the first round of the 2004 playoffs, Detroit eliminated the Nashville Predators in 6 games. After losing captain Steve Yzerman for the season with a horrific eye injury in Game 5, the Red Wings were eliminated by the Calgary Flames in 6 games in the second round.

During the 2004 offseason, the Wings focused on keeping players they already had instead of being active on the free agent market. They re-signed Selke Trophy-winning forward Kris Draper, who had just had a career season, to a four year deal, and captain Steve Yzerman to a one year deal. They also re-signed Brendan Shanahan, Jiri Fischer, Jason Williams, and Mathieu Dandenault as well head coach Dave Lewis, despite his poor playoff record. Deals were not reached with veteran defensemen Chris Chelios and Mathieu Schneider or star forward Pavel Datsyuk before the NHL owners triggered their lockout on September 15. There also was a parting of ways with veteran forward Brett Hull, who signed with the Phoenix Coyotes as did forward Boyd Devereaux.

In June 2005, due to his poor performance in the playoffs, the Red Wings decided to let go of head coach Dave Lewis. On July 15, 2005, Mike Babcock, former coach of the Mighty Ducks, became the new head coach for the Wings.

Also in 2005, due to the new NHL restrictions, the Wings had to release Darren McCarty and Derien Hatcher. The Wings did re-sign Chris Chelios and Mathieu Schneider to one-year contracts. Team captain Steve Yzerman also re-signed for one year for what many fans feel will be his final season.

The Wings of Detroit are ready to play after having a year off.

 

 

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