What Red Wings will have their jerseys retired in the next 5 - 20 years?

Question

yes I'm adding more.

musicman. good point about lidstrom and ozzie as well as hank and dats. i think we're all on the same page. however, while dmac at one time was the soul of the team, his departure for calgary in his home province followed by his problems with debt may eliminate him. if bob probert isnt retired by the wings, i dont think dmac can be. there are guys that worked just as hard and fought for this franchise that cant be retired either. draper and maltby have shared the same role for a long time and have given detroit an infamous reputation for hard working, grinding, relentless play on defense in both zones. dmacs return itself was only made possible by kris draper who told mac if he ever needed anything, talk to him. sure enough, after getting out of debt and finding no success in calgary, draper got a call from the fan favorite. draper personally talked to the front office and coaching staff and arranged for mac's return. draper has done more for the wings

Answer 1

Lidstrom (no "N")

ZetterbErg

DatsyUk

Shanahan (one "N" in the middle, not 2)

yes, i'm aware of the alternate spelling of #55

wings fans, if you can't spell these stars names, then turn the Tigers off, and start researching your "favorite" team. how would you like it if your diploma (or whatever) misspelled your name. they've done the time, and you're (supposedly) a fan, so get the name right.

Lidstrom - yes.

Fedorov and Osgood seem like a stretch. (for different reasons.) add - so does Hasek. I would think Buffalo would retire his #39. if Coffey, (Larry) Murphy, and Fetisov weren't retired, than Hasek won't be either.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk are on the right path, but a ways to go. They'll have to stay consistent, in a very tough NHL. And they may "overshadow" each other. Meaning, that they may "share" stats (a lot of Yzerman's high scoring seasons were before Bowman and Fedorov arrived. After them, his #s went down. fortunately, for those who know his contributions, he brought many intangibles to the table besides pure stats. his leadership raised the performance of all around him.)

add - the wings have a lot of great players, but you have to look at the overall history of the team over the years. you have to preserve the uniqueness of retiring a #. otherwise, there will be none to distribute to future players, eventually. not EVERY great player can be retired. only the very special. the wings are fortunate enough to have the problem of managing this issue. Draper has a lot of heart, but compare him to Abel, Sawchuk, Yzerman, Howe .... just doesn't fit.

btw, i'm not saying that i would be opposed to Osgood, but again, see above reason. compared to his peers, Sawchuk stood out more than Osgood ... for THAT time period. i agree w/ the comment that Chelios would be retired for Chicago.

frankly, i think this issue solves itself. unless a great player stays w/ the organization, or ends his career (w/ at least a handful of seasons), or like 9 of 11 seasons (etc.) are w/ the wings, it almost unofficially nullifies their eligibility. not that Fedorov wasn't a significant part of our cups. Same thing w/ Shanahan. but again, only the most CRUCIAL ... AND (key word) ... gifted players get their jerseys retired. Shanahan will most likely be HOF, so he'll be immortalized. but he played good years w/ the Blues also.

add 2 -  to the asker.... yeah, i'm on board w/ the reasons for Ozzie. i won't repeat what you said. he IS a special player w/ a special set of circumstances. (i might sound contradictory from my 2nd paragraph.) but Osgood is an easier sell than Fedorov is. fortunately, for the wings, it's only up to THEIR franchise. because very other teams (and their fans) understand what Osgood has brought to the table and accomplished. he "reinvented" himself. i guess my comment about Sawchuk was my effort at speculating what the crusty old wings fans (no disrespect ... i wish i could have seen the old days AND the recent stuff; and good on them for sticking thru the Dead Wings era) might say to question Osgood's worth. the guy is unique, and he has ALWAYS bought into not only the "team" concept, but the Red Wings version too. he maintained his integrity even as an Islander and Blue. and stepped up when we desperately needed him as Hasek was flailing.

i'm on board. sorry if i seemed skeptical (not that i'm looking to agree w/ everyone). but to me, besides Lidstrom, Osgood should be next in line. good points.

tom, thanks for chiming in. you're one of the most experienced wings fans on here. if not THE most. i figured you'd say something like that.

trombass, yep, we'll never know the full damage that #16 could've done in the NHL, and a trophy case. i miss that guy.

add 3 - KRONWALL!!!! ???? as i said, shanny and fedorov are a stretch ... but KRONWALL!!!!!!!! (if he "continues"), but not Fedorov; "no way" ??? ok??? what basis would Kronwall's "continued" career merit a retired jersey? big hits? i hope not. all those points he's "amassing"? Konstantinov as "maybe", but Kronwall's short career, even IF it stays on course??? what? all he can POSSIBLY be known for is big hits and solid defence! (welcome to the NHL!) sigh. that's the beauty of N. America. it's a free continent. everyone is entitled to their opinion.

again, retiring a # is reserved for not just the superstar. but the superstar that was CRUCIAL to the team. it's not just about stats and trophies. those are the prerequisites. retiring a # is different the HHOF, or even the Red Wings internal HOF. we've had a lot of great players, but we can't retire all of them. a retired # is only for the most special. most of the team's currently retired #s were worn by players that 90% of the wings fans on here, weren't even ALIVE. how DARE we "muddy the waters" and casually pontificate about a team who spans more than our lifetimes. including myself.

like tom said, look at the rafters. we're talking about The Production Line (who were responsible for a good portion of our first 7 cups). and then Mr. Hockey himself. and then Yzerman. this isn't for players who MERELY play their entire career here. even if they win a Hart Trophy or Ross Trophy. no, this goes above and beyond. these are players who REVOLUTIONALIZE the team. let's not taint this pool and disrespect these outstanding gentlemen by putting McCarty in there. (you gotta understand, no disrespect to McCarty, but that's a HUGE step between him and the calibre of player the others are). their names should be a benchmark even AFTER this generation of fans are gone.

Perspective, people ... Perspective.

Answer 2

Is Steve Yzerman's retired yet? If not, definitely him. Also Dominic Hasek and lidstrom. Zetterberg and datsyuk are too young to tell. And Osgood has never really been an outstanding goalie until this past season. I dont think his will be retired.

Answer 3

Obviously Lidstrom's number is going up.  I think Shanny's 14 will also be raised in Hockeytown.  Let's see, if healthy for their careers, Zetterberg and Datsyuk.  Ozzie could and should be up there.  I think they should eventually officially retire Konstantinov's number but if they didn't do that before I don't think they'll do that now.  I think Chelios's number might get retired even though his best playing days were in Chicago.

Other than that, you're looking at players that aren't even in the NHL yet.

Added: I don't think Hasek should get his retired in Detroit and I don't think he will.  He was only really good for the Wings in 2 of his four seasons here.  The other two he was either too injured or too ineffective.

Added: I also don't see Fedorov either, with the way he bargained for his contract in 1997 and then left us in 2003.  It just sort of rubbed people the wrong way.

kmo: If Hasek gets his retired, then Ozzie AND Vernon should get theirs too.

Answer 4

Obvious- Nick

probable if they play there whole career here- pavel, henrik, and Kronwall

maybe- Konstantinov.

iffy- Ozzie. i just dont know. im conflicted

No way- Shanny and Fedorov. not gonna happen

Answer 5

Shanny def should be retired as a wing.

yea sure he play a few with devils, a few with blues, a few with whalers and a few with rangers, he was a big part of the cup run wings had. (the year before he came to mo-town, red wings were eliminated in playoff rounds, the year he got there, they won the cup)

not to mention he is a leader on and off the ice.

Answer 6

Ozzie, Lidstrom (I always spell it this way btw), Zetty and Datysuk for that matter, Chelios and maybe Shanahan

yes, I don't think Fedorov's will be retired in Detroit...

I've been watching the Wings all my life since I was probably 3 or 4 and I hazily remember what musicmannic86 said, the cups in the 90's and definitely in 2002...I've been watching a lot of these guys play for the team and I miss Shanahan (and I really miss Yzerman) and I hope Shananhan's number will be retired in Detroit.

Answer 7

osgood lindstrom datsyk zetterberg

Answer 8

Lidstrom is a definite. 6 Norris Trophies and 4 Cups, along with Olympic and World Championships gold.

Osgood, I think, has a definite shot. If he overtook Sawchuk for wins, which he could do with 2 good seasons. He also would be a lock if he picked up a Vezina or two of his own, or another Cup as a starter.

Considering their current pace, I would consider Zetterberg and Datsyuk nearly locks. They're a modern incarnation of the old Production Line. Datsyuk already has 2 Cups, Zetterberg a Cup and a Conn Smythe. If they stay in Detroit for the rest of their careers and play at this level, they're in the rafters.

Besides that, I'm hesitant to say anyone else. The Grind Line has an argument, but that's it.

Answer 9

as a die hard wings fan but im only 17 yet i have been watching the wings since i cud talk and i actually remember all the stanley cup wins in the 90's and also 02 andobviously this year. but as soo many have said lidstrom is a given. his leadership and his overall ability to eliminate the impact of great players like crosby or any other big names that have faced the wings is remarkable. hes a sure bet to be  the next wing number retired.

osgood- heres a number tht is under the radar for most ppl to be retired. hes been a franchise goalie for the most part since he was a rookie until now. if he continues to play like he did this year that may solitify his number next to the rest in the rafters at the joe. he is a good goalie and has shown he is worth being here so he could very possibly get put into the rafters.

if datsyuk and zetterberg continue what they are doing and stay with the wings there entire carrer witch i think they will thn i wud say tht they wud get there numbers retired as well.

other than those players i really dnt see any others being hung except maybe a surprise only because hes basically the face of the wings and how miracles do happen i guess you cud say and no hes not phenominal but he is a true detroiter and he showed tht this past year the one the call Dmac number 25. he may be a surprise only because ken holland and illitch both know how important he is to this franchise and how much the fans love him. his story this past year is remarkable and moving in itself and you may be surprised to see his #25 raised to the rafters

EDIT--

DYNASTY- i know what your saing about dmac and bout drapes and i totally agree with the fact that drapes and malts are the face of the hard working wings we know and love today but like i said dmac yes he had his struggles but i still think the sympathy might maybe set in on detroits office and maybe give it to him.. i mean come you cant tell me that if you saw anyone else wearing the detroit #25 u wud maybe catch a tad bit of a tear? i love dmac.. but all tht aside i realize what ur saying and i do think that drapes shud get 33 retired because of all hes done and maybe malts but i think drapes shud forsure

EDIT 2

True krownwall shudnt even be considered to be put in there even if he does become the next big defensemen for the wings

Answer 10

If one were to look at the Red Wings history of retiring numbers I would have to say that the only number that would be retired from the present crop of players would be Lidstrom's number 5.

The only numbers so far retired are the "Production Line" Sawchuck and two captains who played for the wings alone for over 20 years each. No one else will be able to match those claims.

Answer 11

For sure Lidstrom, and most likely Datsyuk and Zetterberg if they stay with the team.

Answer 12

lindstrom

zetterberg

Answer 13

Who is this Lindstrom guy you guys are talking about???

Definite:  Nicklas LIDSTROM

Probable:  Osgood

Possible:  Shanahan, Fedorov

I would like to see these four players have their jerseys retired.  Shanny's number has already been used by Derek Meech, so it probably won't happen.  I think it should though.  Shanny played 9 years in Detroit and was the key to putting the franchise over the top.

I will say it again...  THE NAME OF THE 6 TIME NORRIS TROPHY WINNER ON THE DETROIT RED WINGS IS NICKLAS LIDSTROM... NOT NICKLAS LINDSTROM.

You will see the Lidstrom rant from me on every post I see with the name Lindstrom in it.  Unless of course you are talking about Joakim Lindstrom... then, my bad.

Answer 14

Lidstrom

Answer 15

Definate-

Lidstrom

Probable-

Osgood

Fedorov

Got some work to do-

Datsuyk

Zetterburg

Answer 16

Shannahan

Lidstrom

Hasek