The time when the Detroit Red Wings were near an exploit in the NHL
Winning back-to-back championships is a rare feat in sports; the Stanley Cup for the NHL is no exception.
After their 2001-02 Stanley Cup victory, the Detroit Red Wings aimed to repeat with most of their championship team intact. However, they faced significant challenges as head coach Scotty Bowman and goaltender Dominik Hasek retired. Due to knee surgery, Steve Yzerman missed most of the 2002-03 season.
Despite these setbacks, Detroit remained a strong contender, with veterans like Brett Hull, Nick Lidstrom, and Sergei Fedorov leading the charge. Emerging stars Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk added to the team's offensive prowess. Curtis Joseph provided solid goaltending, and Detroit finished with 110 points, leading the Central Division.
However, their playoff run was short-lived, as they were swept by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the first round. This led to significant roster changes, including the departure of Fedorov, Larionov, and Robitaille. The Red Wings eventually won another Cup in the 2007-08 season.
Source: The Hockey Writers
2002-03 Red Wings: The Failed Repeat
| POLL | ||
If Steve Yzerman had been there in the playoffs, would the team have won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2002 and 2003? | ||
| Yes | 45 | 84.9 % |
| No | 8 | 15.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
