35 years ago today, the Winnipeg Jets drafted Kris Draper 62nd overall. Four years later, after just 20 games with the Jets, the Red Wings acquired him for $1
#Hockey365
#GoJetsGo
#LGRW
Breaking news: The University of Delaware just announced it will become the 45th D-1 women's hockey program in America. FORTY-FIVE! And here in Michigan, a hockey-alent factory (both men and women)? NONE. Zero. But we have 7 men's D-1 programs. Shameful? Not strong enough a word.
Somehow, the guy who scored this goal, one of the greatest
@DetroitRedWings
of all time, did not get his call to the Hockey Hall of Fame last week. With all due respect, I'd take him ahead of his 3 countrymen who did get that call: the Sedin twins and Daniel Alfredsson.
I was there to meet him at the airport in Detroit after his defection. A really good guy who was a walking headline for what he did on and off the ice. RIP my friend.
It took more guts & courage than I ever had to leave your family behind for a life that awaited you on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Most will remember Petr Klima for the 3 OT winner in the 1990 Cup Final. I'll remember him for his guts (& his tape job). Klima was 58. RIP
If you enjoyed ‘The Russian Five’:
Pleased and proud to share the rest of the story, a sequel filled with anecdotes and interview excerpts, many of them about one of the most beloved athletes in Detroit sports history, Vladimir Konstantinov.
Order now, drops in early April.
Happy 90th birthday to history's greatest coach. We may not have always gotten along, but he has my undying respect and gratitude for making me a better reporter -- and giving us a championship team to cover.
Happy Birthday, Scotty!
“I miss Detroit. I care about Detroit.”
Pavel is back with the Wings in hopes to help them continue their progress. He is here to help for development camp as the priority, as of now.
27 yrs ago tonight, Wings coach Scotty Bowman called a line changes and these five guys went over the boards. A 5-man change, like the Soviets did it. Wings beat a very good Flames team 3-0 at the Saddledome. Outshot Calgary 25-8. The Russians had 15 of 25 shots, 2 of 3 goals.
Eric Haase...
- Grew up a Tigers fan
- Drafted out of Dearborn Divine Child in 2011
- Made his MLB debut in 2018
- Traded to Detroit for cash in 2020
- Gets called up last week
- Hits 2 HR on Monday
- First Tigers rookie to catch a no-hitter
Incredible.
The fact that Lou Whitaker -- a generational talent -- is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame is a testament to how truly awful baseball writers have become over the past generation.
On this day in 1998, in one of the most touching moments in NHL history, Vladimir Konstantinov joined his
@DetroitRedWings
teammates on the ice for the Stanley Cup celebrations
@StanleyCup
#Hockey365
#LGRW
The single greatest game ever played at The Joe. If that doesn't happen, if the Red Wings don't win that game, then June 7 does not happen. A truly epic moment in Detroit sports history. Cheers to Darren. . . And to Igor Larionov, of all people, for starting that brawl.
Happy 🐢 Day Anniversary 3/26/97
To do list
1. Rewatch game
2. Rewatch ESPN “Unrivaled “
3.
Remember in Life and In Sport, Bad things happen but you can never blatantly disrespect an opponent
4.
KARMA IS REAL
#27years
Another great event for Vladdie at the Pro Sports Zone in Livonia. Many thanks to John Yu
@johnyu
(right) for hosting EIGHT of these for Vladimir's Special Needs Trust.
Kind of a big deal.
Just spoke with Scotty today. Making plans to meet next week to interview him for another book project. Really looking forward to it.
29 years ago today I made an 18-hour visit to Helsinki, Finland to pass along a covert message to 2 young Soviet hockey stars, Sergei Fedorov and Vladimir Konstantinov: The Detroit
#RedWings
were willing to help them defect to the
#NHL
. That's how the Russian Five began.
#Believe
Detroit's $5 million GM proves yet again he's worth every penny. This is a stunning return for an immensely talented yet wildly infuriating player for his lack of consistency. Flashes of brilliance only occasionally interrupting long stretches of lackadaisical play.
#LGRW
The Detroit
#RedWings
today acquired RW Richard Panik, LW Jakub Vrana, a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft from the Washington Capitals in exchange for RW Anthony Mantha.
One of the real good men ever to wear that uniform. And among the funniest ever to set foot in the Wings' dressing room.
We lost him far, far too soon, 10 years ago today.
Honor him by telling someone your favorite joke. His involved a turtle.
Happy Birthday (53) to one of the finest men I've ever met. Vladimir Konstantinov led the league in nicknames: The Vladinator, Vlad the Impaler, Vladimir the Terrible, and a lot of names we shouldn't say in a family Twittersphere. To most of us, he was Vladdie. And we loved him.
Remembering: 23 years ago tonight, perhaps the most important game ever played at JLA. I could argue that without this outcome -- the retaliation AND the victory -- winning the Stanley Cup a few months later doesn't happen.
BREAKING: In new footage referee Brad Allen is seen is seen clearly acknowledging Taylor Decker telling him that he is reporting.
🤯🤯🤯
Allen lied in the postgame saying this never happened.
Proud beyond words to share the news that The Russian Five documentary has won the Audience Choice award at the 2018 Traverse City Film Festival founded 14 years ago by filmmaker Michael Moore. Sold out viewings last night and today.
#Believe
C'mon, Jeff. You're better than this. Time to bury the SOL crap like we buried the Dead Wings label in the late 80s.
These Lions were anything but Same Old. Sure they missed a splendid opportunity today, 30 minutes from the SB. But they deserve our appreciation & respect.
Let’s just call this what it is…
The Lions just pissed away their best chance ever to get to a Super Bowl.
Call it SOL, call it whatever you want but it was there! Right there!!!!!!
And the moment was way too big for each and every player and coach on that field.
Awful!
The best hit in the entire rivalry. Foote was about to cream the much-smaller Kozlov from behind. Kozlov saw it just in time, avoided the hit and showed he'd learned a little about Canadian hockey. A little nudge on the back, and Foote's momentum took him nose 1st into the glass.
Waking up to unbearable heartbreak after a weed-smoking limo jockey with a suspended license crashed into a tree and ended a summer of joy 42 years in the making -- just a week after it started. . . 25 years ago today.
#LGRW
And then there were 5. 25 years ago today, Scotty Bowman traded Ray Sheppard to San Jose for Igor Larionov. 2 nights later in Calgary, The Russian Five debuted, forever changing the NHL.
20 years ago,
@redwings
Steve Yzerman was winning Stanley Cups with a bunch of Russian teammates. Now, his
@TBLightning
sit atop the NHL standings with. . . a bunch of Russians. Coincidence? I'm thinking not. Read the book (worldwide release 3/20), documentary premieres (4/11)
And THIS is the exact moment when that 1997 Stanley Cup Finals series ended -- with about a game-and-a-half still to play. Unable to find an answer to Vladimir Konstantinov (Legion of Doom? Ha!), the Flyers pretty much caught a cab. . . and left.
Three years ago today, this hit the bookstores. Since then: published in Russian and Czech, and an award-winning documentary. Thanks to everyone who made this dream come true.
#LGRW
@RussianFiveFilm
#Believe
If your goal, according to your bio, "is to be wrong about hockey less often," then comments like these about
@DetroitRedWings
GM Steve Yzerman have you going in the wrong direction. Click-bait commentary like this is embarrassing.
Steve Yzerman being a top GM in Tampa for about a decade and then immediately being terrible in Detroit is a sign that GM performance is more heavily influenced by luck and other external factors like ownership, scouting, geography, etc. than most of us care to admit.
On this day 37 years ago, new Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch hired Jimmy Devellano to be their general manager, setting a course that would include four Stanley Cup parades -- and infinite wonderful memories.
#lgrw
Former PHF goalie Mariah Fujimagari, who signed a PTO last month with the Kalamazoo Wings, became the first woman to win an ECHL game Saturday.
She came in the third period, making a total of 14 saves, including five in OT. The reactions are everything. 🤌🏼
(🎥 FloHockey)
A great day with Vladdie at The Sports Zone in Livonia, where so many kind and generous people stopped by for another successful fundraiser. With Al Sobotka, Dave Lewis and store owner John Yu, we've got the big guy surrounded. And
@tammysjrfan
, thank you!
Five years ago today, this book was released. Time flies, eh? Thanks to
@HockeyAgent1
Dan Milstein and Gold Star Publishing for helping it become a reality.
#LGRW
#BELIEVE
For all who don't know:
That "old man" is Mickey Redmond, part of the
#1
ranked broadcast team. The other dogs he picks up belong to the other broadcasters Ken Daniels and Ken Kal. And in an interview last year Alex Lyon said he'd drive a dog bus if he wasn't playing hockey.
The New York Rangers, who had 79 points and who took part in the 2020 playoffs, win the first pick in the 2020 NHL draft.
The Detroit Red Wings, who had 39 points & was the only team eliminated when NHL paused March 12, pick 4th. What a farce.
Detroit deserves a PWHL team. . . Like young women in this state deserve D1 university programs so they can develop the skills that will get them to the professional ranks. Saturday night will be special.
Re: the upcoming PWHL Takeover in Detroit.
Here's a view of what's available via Ticketmaster (blue is where tickets remain).
Detroit will certainly break Minnesota's American women's hockey attendance record.
Call me a Neanderthal but I’m still giddy over this. They both showed up, but GD, Pasta really showed up. This
@NHL
Playoff Series NEEDS to go 7. Please.
Kudos and gratitude to Steve Yzerman for reminding us all once more just how unique and great a player we were so fortunate to watch night after night in Vladimir Konstantinov. He took no prisoners. Now please pass the Kleenex.
#BELIEVE
#LGRW
Joe Kocur on Bob Probert: “You can argue the greatest pitcher or something like that, but if you ask every other tough guy in the NHL, there’s only one name going to the top of that list and that’s Probie.”
(source: Bob Duff/Windsor Star)
Not for me to decide which Red Wings numbers should be retired, but this much I know: This date, MARCH 26, 1997 deserves its place in the rafters. Enjoy those memories tomorrow.
#Believe
#LGRW
27 years ago, in a crowded Red Wings dressing room, I bumped into PT
@johnnywharton
. "Ready for that drink now?" he asked. I was. So there, in the middle of a wild celebration, I gulped out of the Stanley Cup. My only drink in 35 years, but a good one. Thank you, John.
#LGRW
Joe Kocur on Bob Probert: “You can argue the greatest pitcher or something like that, but if you ask every other tough guy in the NHL, there’s only one name going to the top of that list and that’s Probie.”
(source: Bob Duff/Windsor Star)
This was his time of year
AND, he began the tradition of the captain skating the Stanley around the ice after winning it. Said he felt compelled to share it with Red Wings fans at Olympia Arena.
I miss
@DetroitRedWings
@NHLPA
legend Ted Lindsay for many reasons. This time of year, we’d connect to talk about the ferocity of the take-no-prisoners playoffs. Beyond his magnificent tool set, Ted had what I believe was the greatest face in hockey. My April 2016 portrait.
#LGRW
A day to celebrate, eh?
I was thinking tonight while watching the Red Wings in OT at Washington. What I wouldn't give to see Sergei, Igor and Vladdie go 3 on 3 with any other three guys on the planet. I'd bet the farm. . .
25 years ago tonight, at The Joe in downtown Detroit, Steve Yzerman waltzed the Stanley Cup around the ice, as captains do.
Thanks for the memories, eh?
You're up by 1 with 1 minute left in the 3rd period. The other team has pulled their goalie and you have the luxury of having any two Defensemen in history to help you defend the lead. Who are you choosing to help your team hang on?
#HockeyTwitter
By far, the most interesting and entertaining season in years. Wings are inching closer, but have miles to go before we should raise our expectations. They gave everything they had this season. They deserve some well-earned gratitude and respect.
This is not a great Red Wings team. Might not even be a playoff team. Yzerman has a lot of work to do in the off-season. But still the most interesting season in many years.
Four Game 7s left. Win 'em all and play on in the post-season. Lose any one of those four and they're out.
But I'm with Ken. Pity the poor folks who aren't enjoying what's been a pretty fun, sometimes wild ride this season. Remember what you had just a few years ago.
Often overlooked on this play: Yzerman wins a battle along the boards, passes to Tomas Sandstrom, whose tape-to-tape pass sets Darren McCarty free for one of the most memorable goals in Red Wings history. Goosebumps indeed.
#LGRW
Sweet Lou Whitaker! Let's get him into the Hall of Fame! He played his entire 19-yr career w
@Tigers
, helping them to '84 title, was a 5-time All-Star & 3-time Gold Glove 2B, collected 2,369 hits w 244 HRs. More
@sabr
BioProject
It's here! It's here!
Just about 4 years to the date of the release of The Russian Five, I'm pleased the announce a sequel, of sorts: VLAD THE IMPALER, More Epic Tales From Detroit's '97 Stanley Cup Conquest -- released TODAY.
The stories continue!
With the
@NHL
suspended, would like to see broadcast rightsholders in US and Canada show classic games.
#HNIC
My list
1. Team Canada 72 v Soviet Union (Game 8)
2. Pitt v Det, 2009 (Game 7)
3. CSKA v MTL (NYE 75)
4. Boston v Montreal, 1978 (Game 7)
5. Mtl v Chi, 1971 (Game 7)
Like it was ripped from the rafters of Joe Louis Arena. Come on, eh? That creature has symbolized Detroit Red Wings hockey -- notably playoff and Stanley Cup hockey -- for 67 years. And counting. . .
And Jacques Demers goes with 21-year-old Steve Yzerman as captian. He would go on to become the longest-serving captain of any team in North American major league sports history.
#LGRW
#RedWings
Five years ago this evening at the Fillmore Theatre in Detroit, this wonderful story made its world premiere on the big screen headlining the
@Freep_Film_Fest
. The accolades quickly followed. Thanks to EP
@danmilstein
for making it happen.
- Drafted 74th-overall in 1989
- 3x Stanley Cup champion
- 2x Selke Trophy winner
- Hart Trophy winner
- Pearson Award winner
- 6x All Star
- First Russian to reach 1,000 points
- HHOF class of 2015
- Named to 100 Greatest NHL Players
Happy birthday to
#91
, Sergei Fedorov! 🥳
3 years ago tonight, at the fabulous Fillmore Detroit,
@RussianFiveFilm
premiered at the Detroit Free Press Film Festival. Privileged to work with Exec. Producer
@danmilstein
& Director
@joshua_riehl
on this beautiful documentary. Thanks to all who helped make it such a success!
Wayne Gretzky offered his perspective after
#Blackhawks
chairman Rocky Wirtz's reaction to a question about empowering athletes to report abuse following the team’s mishandling of Kyle Beach’s 2010 sexual assault allegations.
I've known this guy for nearly 40 years, since my rookie year covering the
@DetroitRedWings
for
@freepsports
. He was mid-season call-up from Adirondack as a depth defenseman to provide some leadership in a broken Detroit lockerroom. Please keep him and his family in your prayers
NEWS:
Barry Melrose has Parkinson's disease and is stepping away from our ESPN family to spend more time with his. I've worked with Barry at ESPN for over a quarter century. Cold beers and hearty laughs in smokey cigar bars. A razor sharp wit, he was always early & looked like a
On this day in 1989, the Blues traded Bernie Federko, their all-time leading score, and Tony McKegney to the Red Wings in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean
#Hockey365
#StlBlues
2/2 Yes, The Athletic is a pay site, but if you're not subscribing you're only cheating yourself. Some of the best sports writers in America. It's like getting a copy of Sports Illustrated in your inbox -- every morning. Only better.
The Russian Five documentary, tonight, 8 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.
Thanks to Terry P. And everyone for helping to spread the word!
#lgrw
#Believe
@RussianFiveFilm