To mark the Red Wings celebrating their 100th anniversary this week, The Detroit News is counting down the top 100 players in franchise history.
▶ Today: Players 1-25.
▶ Thursday: Players 26-50.
▶ Wednesday: Players 51-75.
▶ Tuesday: Players 76-100.
The list was compiled by Red Wings beat reporter Ted Kulfan and assistant sports editor Mark Falkner of The Detroit News, and Red Wings statistician Greg Innis.
Forwards and defensemen have had to play 150 games with the Red Wings, goalies 75 games. Criteria includes: Hockey Hall of Famers, NHL award winners, Stanley Cup titles, goals, assists, games played, retired numbers, U.S. Hockey Hall of Famers, and fan favorites.
Regular-season and playoff stats are for the player’s Detroit careers only and are followed by their rankings in franchise history. As of Nov. 6, 1,021 players have played at least one game with the Red Wings since 1926: 606 forwards, 311 defensemen and 104 goalies.
1. Gordie Howe
Years: 25 (1946-1971)
Position: Right winger
Games: 1,687 (1)
Goals: 786 (1)
Assists: 1,023 (2)
Points: 1,809 (1)
Playoff points: 158 (4)
Stanley Cups: 4 (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955)
Awards: Elected into Hockey Hall of Fame (1972). Hart Trophy (1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1963). Art Ross Trophy (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1963). NHL First-Team All-Star (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970).
Retired number: 9 (1972)
Comments: Four-time Stanley Cup champion holds record for most 20-goal seasons (23), led Stanley Cup playoffs in scoring six times, first Red Wing to record 80 points (1951), 90 points (1953), 100 points (1969). All-time franchise leader in games played (1,809), goals (786), power-play goals (209) and game-winning goals (121) in regular season.
2. Steve Yzerman
Years: 22 (1983-2006)
Position: Center
Games: 1,514 (4)
Goals: 692 (2)
Assists: 1,063 (1)
Points: 1,755 (2)
Playoff points: 185 (1)
Stanley Cups: 3 (1997, 1998, 2002)
Awards: Elected into Hockey Hall of Fame (2009). Conn Smythe Trophy (1998). Selke Trophy (2000). Bill Masterton Trophy (2003). Lester Patrick Trophy (2006). NHL All-Star Game (1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2000).
Number retired: 19 (2007)
Comments: Three-time Stanley Cup champion won fourth title as assistant general manager (2008), longest-serving captain in NHL history (1986-2006). Holds franchise record for goals (65), assists (90) and points (155). All-time franchise leader in career assists (1,063), shorthanded goals (50) and shots on goal (4,602) in regular season. All-time franchise leader in goals (70) and points (185) in playoffs.
3. Nicklas Lidstrom
Years: 20 (1991-2012)
Position: Defenseman
Games: 1,564 (2)
Goals: 264 (11)
Assists: 878 (3)
Points: 1,142 (4)
Playoff points: 183 (2)
Stanley Cups: 4 (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008)
Awards: Elected into Hockey Hall of Fame (2015). Conn Smythe Trophy (2002). Norris Trophy (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011). NHL First-Team All-Star (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011).
Number retired: 5 (2014)
Comments: Four-time Stanley Cup champion was first European captain to win the Cup (2008). All-time leader among defensemen in franchise history in games (1,564), goals (264), assists (878), points (1,142), plus-minus (plus-450), and power-play goals (132) in the regular season. All-time franchise leader in games (263), assists (129), plus-minus (plus-61) and power-play goals (30) in the playoffs.
4. Terry Sawchuk
Years: 14 (1950-1969)
Position: Goalie
Games: 734 (1)
Wins: 350 (1)
Losses: 245 (1)
Ties: 132 (1)
GAV: 2.44 (5)
Shutouts: 85 (1)
Playoff record: 46-37 (2)
Stanley Cups: 3 (1952, 1954, 1955)
Awards: Elected into Hockey Hall of Fame (1971). Vezina Trophy (1952, 1953, 1955). Calder Trophy (1951).
Number retired: 1 (1994)
Comments: All-time franchise leader in games (734), wins (350), loses (245) and shutouts (85) in the regular season. Second in playoffs in games played (85), wins (46) and shutouts (11). Received more than 400 stitches before finally adopting a protective facemask in 1962. Finished his NHL career with 447 wins, a record that stood for 30 years, and his career record of 103 shutouts remained unsurpassed until Martin Brodeur of the Devils broke the record in 2009.
5. Alex Delvecchio
Years: 24 (1950-1974)
Position: Center
Games: 1,550 (3)
Goals: 456 (3)
Assists: 825 (4)
Points: 1,281 (3)
Playoff points: 104 (7)
Stanley Cups: 3 (1952, 1954, 1955)
Awards: Elected into Hockey Hall of Fame (1977). Lady Byng Trophy (1959, 1966, 1969). NHL Second-Team All-Star (1953, 1959)
Number retired: 10 (1991)
Comments: When Delvecchio retired in 1973, he was second in NHL history to Gordie Howe in games played (1,550), assists (825) and points (1,281). Three-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy had only 383 career penalty minutes, 15 fewer than Bob Probert had in one season (398) in 1988. Delvecchio also led the Red Wings with 21 assists on Howe ‘s 67 playoff goals and 210 assists on Howe’s 760 goals in the regular season.
6. Ted Lindsay
Years: 14 (1944-1965)
Position: Left winger
Games: 862 (14)
Goals: 335 (6)
Assists: 393 (9)
Points: 728 (9)
Playoff points: 88 (9)
Stanley Cups: 4 (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955)
Awards: Elected into Hockey Hall of Fame (1966). Art Ross Trophy (1950). NHL First-Team All-Star (1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957).
Number retired: 7 (1991)
Comments: Four-time Stanley Cup winner helped organize the first NHL Players Association in the late 1950s. Led the NHL in assists twice, and in 1949-50 won the Art Ross Trophy with 78 points. Named to 11 straight All-Star Games from the inaugural event in 1947 to 1957, and was named a First-Team All-Star eight times. Sixth in team history in goals (335), and ninth in assists (393) and points (728).
7. Sergei Fedorov
Years: 13 (1990-2003)
Position: Center
Games: 908 (11)
Goals: 400 (4)
Assists: 554 (7)
Points: 954 (6)
Playoff points: 163 (3)
Stanley Cups: 3 (1997, 1998, 2002)
Awards: Elected into Hockey Hall of Fame (2015). Hart Trophy (1994). Selke Trophy (1994, 1996). NHL First-Team All-Star (1994).
Number retired: 91 (2026)
Comments: Three-time Stanley Cup winner will have No. 91 retired against Carolina on Jan. 12, 2026. In 1993-94, won the Hart and Selke trophies, along with the Ted Lindsay Award (then known as the Lester B. Pearson Award), after 56 goals and 120 points. In 13 years with the Wings, Fedorov scored 400 goals (fourth), 554 assists (seventh) and 954 points (sixth). He’s also third in points in the postseason with 163.
8. Red Kelly
Years: 13 (1947-1960)
Position: Defenseman
Games: 846 (16)
Goals: 162 (22)
Assists: 310 (14)
Points: 472 (15)
Playoff points: 37 (30)
Stanley Cups: 4 (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955)
Awards: Elected into Hockey Hall of Fame (1969). Norris Trophy (1954). Lady Byng (1951, 1953, 1954, 1961). NHL First-Team All-Star (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957).
Number retired: 4 (2019)
Comments: First winner of Norris Trophy as NHL’s best defenseman. Red Wings finished in first overall in regular season for a record seven consecutive seasons, winning the Stanley Cup four times. Four-time Lady Byng winner won the Norris Trophy in 1953-54 with 49 points, finishing third in team scoring behind Gordie Howe (81) and Ted Lindsay (62). First Team All-Star six times, and went to the All-Star Game nine years in a row.
9. Sid Abel
Years: 12 (1938-1952)
Position: Center
Games: 570 (35)
Goals: 183 (20)
Assists: 280 (18)
Points: 463 (18)
Playoff points: 58 (15)
Stanley Cups: 3 (1943, 1950, 1952)
Awards: Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame (1969). Hart Trophy (1949). NHL First-Team All-Star (1949, 1950).
Number retired: 12 (1995)
Comments: Centered “The Production Line” with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. Coached the Red Wings for 12 years with four Stanley Cup final appearances. In 1948-49, he led the league in goals (28), power-play goals (8), tied for third in league scoring with Ted Lindsay (54 points), won the Hart Trophy and was named a First Team All-Star. In 12 years with Detroit, Abel hit the 50-point mark four times.
10. Pavel Datsyuk
Years: 14 (2001-2016)
Position: Center
Games: 953 (9)
Goals: 314 (8)
Assists: 604 (6)
Points: 918 (7)
Playoff points: 113 (6)
Stanley Cups: 2 (2002, 2008)
Awards: Elected into Hockey Hall of Fame (2024). Lady Byng Trophy (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). Selke Trophy (2008, 2009, 2010).
Comments: Nicknamed “The Magic Man” with highlight-reel stickhandling and goals, two-way center won four Lady Byng trophies, three Selke trophies. Recorded more than 80 points four years in a row. Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg combined for 23 goals, 50 points, and 190 shots in the 2008 playoffs. Ranks sixth in all-time assists with 604 assists, eighth in goals (314), seventh in points (918) and tied for ninth in games played (953).
11. Marcel Pronovost
Years: 16 (1950-1965)
Position: Defenseman
Games: 983 (8)
Goals: 80 (70)
Assists: 217 (24)
Points: 297 (33)
Playoff points: 30 (39)
Stanley Cups: 4 (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955)
Awards: Elected into Hall of Fame (1978). NHL First-Team All-Star (1959, 1960).
Comments: Defensive defenseman played in eight Stanley Cup finals and ranks eighth in franchise history in games played (983). The Hall of Famer hit the 30-point mark twice with the Wings, scoring 11 goals during the 1958-59 season. Along with winning three Cups in Detroit, Pronovost represented the team at the All-Star Game nine times, was top three in Norris voting three times, and was a First-Team All-Star twice.
12. Brendan Shanahan
Years: 9 (1996-2006)
Position: Right winger
Games: 716 (21)
Goals: 309 (9)
Assists: 324 (13)
Points: 633 (9)
Playoff points: 74 (13)
Stanley Cups: 3 (1997, 1998, 2002)
Awards: Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame (2013). King Clancy Trophy (2003). NHL First-Team All-Star (1994, 2000).
Comments: Triple gold club member in Olympics, world championship and Stanley Cup. Only player in NHL history with more than 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. Reached the 40-goal mark three times in Detroit, while also posting more than 100 penalty minutes all but one of his nine seasons. A four-time All-Star, Shanahan is ninth in goals (309) and points (633).
13. Henrik Zetterberg
Years: 15 (2002-2018)
Position: Center
Games: 1,082 (6)
Goals: 337 (5)
Assists: 623 (5)
Points: 960 (5)
Playoff points: 120 (5)
Stanley Cups: 1 (2008)
Awards: Conn Smythe Trophy (2008).
Comments: Two-way center overshadowed by Pavel Datsyuk in back-to-back Stanley Cup final appearances (2008, 2009). In 2008, Zetterberg had a career-high 43 goals and 92 points and led the NHL in the playoffs with 13 goals, 27 points and plus-minus (16), winning the Conn Smythe Trophy. Ranks fifth in franchise history in goals (337), assists (623) and points (960), while sitting sixth in games played (1,026). Won gold with Sweden in 2006 Olympics.
14. Norm Ullman
Years: 13 (1955-1968)
Position: Center
Games: 875 (13)
Goals: 324 (7)
Assists: 434 (8)
Points: 758 (8)
Playoff points: 74 (12)
Stanley Cups: 0
Awards: Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame (1982). NHL First-Team All-Star (1965).
Comments: Eighth all-time in franchise scoring. Missed 1950s Stanley Cup window by a season, but helped Detroit reach five finals. Selected to the All-Star Game eight times in a nine-year stretch in Detroit. In 1965, Ullman led the NHL in goals (42) and game-winning goals (10). Along with being named a First-Team All-Star, Ullman finished second in Hart Trophy voting behind Bobby Hull. Ullman is seventh in franchise history in goals (324), eighth in assists (434) and points (758).
15. Ebbie Goodfellow
Years: 14 (1929-1943)
Position: Center/defense
Games: 557 (39)
Goals: 135 (32)
Assists: 191 (31)
Points: 326 (29)
Playoff points: 16 (70)
Stanley Cups: 3 (1936, 1937, 1943)
Awards: Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame (1963). Hart Trophy (1940). NHL First-Team All-Star (1937, 1940).
Comments: Hall of Famer won Hart Trophy and three Stanley Cups. Played both forward and defense during 11 seasons in Detroit. Recorded a career-high 48 points in 1931, when the team was known as the Falcons, finishing second in the league in scoring. A two-time First-Team All-Star, Goodfellow won the Hart Trophy in 1940 with 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points, finishing second in team scoring to Syd Howe’s 37 points.
16. Jack Stewart
Years: 10 (1938-1950)
Position: Defenseman
Games: 502 (49)
Goals: 30 (168)
Assists: 78 (119)
Points: 108 (136)
Playoff points: 19 (65)
Stanley Cups: 2 (1943, 1950)
Awards: Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame (1964). NHL First-Team All-Star (1943, 1948, 1949).
Comments: Hard-hitting defensive defenseman was important cog on two Stanley Cup championship teams. Career was interrupted by World War II, serving two years in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Won first Cup in 1953 and returned in 1945-46 to be named a Second-Team All-Star and finished fifth in Hart Trophy voting. The Hall of Famer was a First-Team All-Star three times in 10 years with four straight All-Star Games from 1947-1950.
17. Syd Howe
Years: 12 (1934-1946)
Position: Left winger
Games: 515 (47)
Goals: 188 (18)
Assists: 248 (21)
Points: 436 (19)
Playoff points: 44 (22)
Stanley Cups: 3 (1936, 1937, 1943)
Awards: Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame (1965). NHL Second-Team All-Star (1945).
Comments: Three-time Stanley Cup winner who played 12 seasons in Detroit and still ranks 19th in scoring with the franchise. Helped the Red Wings become the first U.S. franchise to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1936 and 1937. Detroit advanced to three straight Cup finals in the early ’40s, winning the Cup in 1943. Finished in the top five in Hart voting three times. Holds club record with six goals in one game against N.Y. Rangers in 1944.
18. Larry Aurie
Years: 12 (1927-1939)
Position: Right winger
Games: 489 (51)
Goals: 147 (27)
Assists: 128 (60)
Points: 275 (40)
Playoff points: 15 (75)
Stanley Cups: 2 (1936, 1937)
Awards: NHL First-Team All-Star (1937).
Comments: Physical winger who was a key member of first two Stanley Cup teams (1936, 1937). Led the Wings in assists (19) and points (35) in 1934, third in NHL scoring with a career-high 46 points in 1935 and fourth in league scoring with league-leading 23 goals and 43 points in 1937. Aurie and Herbie Lewis represented the Red Wings in the first NHL All-Star Game in 1934.
19. Mickey Redmond
Years: 6 (1970-1976)
Position: Right winger
Games: 317 (91)
Goals: 177 (21)
Assists: 132 (56)
Points: 309 (30)
Playoff points: 0 (321)
Stanley Cups: 0
Awards: NHL First-Team All-Star (1973). Second-Team All-Star (1974).
Comments: Won two Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1968 and 1969. Scored 27 goals in 1970 and traded to Detroit in 1971 in multi-player deal for Frank Mahovlich. First player in franchise history to score 50 goals (1973). Finished with 52 goals to surpass Gordie Howe’s team record of 49. Became only the third player after Bobby Hull and Phil Esposito to record back-to-back 50-goal seasons. Finished with 51 goals, including league-leading 21 power-play goals.
20. Vladimir Konstantionv
Years: 6 (1991-1997)
Position: Defenseman
Games: 446 (57)
Goals: 47 (120)
Assists: 128 (61)
Points: 175 (80)
Playoff points: 19 (66)
Stanley Cups: 1 (1997)
Awards: NHL All-Rookie Team (1991). NHL Second-Team All-Star (1995).
Comments: Drafted in 11th round in 1989. A member of the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1992, he recorded 30 points four times in six years. Finished in the top four in Norris Trophy voting in last two years. Runner-up behind Brian Leetch of the Rangers in 1997. Led the NHL at plus-60 in 1996, the highest rating since Wayne Gretzky was plus-70 in 1987. Konstantinov’s career plus-minus of plus-185 is fourth all-time with Red Wings. Career ended in limousine accident on June 13, 1997.
21. Chris Osgood
Years: 14 (1994-2011)
Position: Goalie
Games: 565 (2)
Wins: 317 (2)
Losses: 149 (4)
Ties: 75 (2)
GAV: 2.49 (6)
Playoff record: 67-37 (1)
Stanley Cups: 3 (1997, 1998, 2008)
Awards: Shared Jennings Trophy with Mike Vernon (1996) and Dominik Hasek (2008).
Comments: Drafted in the third round in 1991. Leads franchise in Stanley Cup wins (67), shutouts (14) and games (110) by a goalie. In 2008, recorded back-to-back shutouts against the Penguins, making him the fourth goalie in NHL history to start the finals with back-to-back shutouts. Finished 14–4 with a 1.55 GAA. Retired in 2011 with 401 career victories and three Stanley Cups, two of them as the starting goaltender.
22. Reed Larson
Years: 10 (1976-1986)
Position: Defenseman
Games: 708 (22)
Goals: 188 (17)
Assists: 382 (10)
Points: 570 (12)
Playoff points: 7 (127)
Stanley Cups: 0
Awards: Inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (1996). Lester Patrick Trophy (2006). NHL All-Star Game (1978, 1980, 1981).
Comments: Drafted in the second round in 1976 after three years with Minnesota Gophers coach Herb Brooks. Set NHL record for most points (60) by an American defenseman and finished fourth behind Mike Bossy of the N.Y. Islanders in Calder Trophy voting in 1978. First American defenseman to score 200 games. Played in Gordie Howe’s 23rd and final All-Star Game at Joe Louis Arena in 1980. Tenth all-time in franchise history with 382 assists.
23. Harry Lumley
Years: 7 (1944-1950)
Position: Goalie
Games: 324 (4)
Wins: 163 (4)
Losses: 105 (7)
Ties: 56 (4)
GAV: 2.75 (37)
Shutouts: 26 (3)
Playoff record: 24-30, 2.30 GAV
Stanley Cups: 1 (1950)
Awards: Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame (1980). Vezina Trophy (1954). First-Team All-Star (1954, 1955).
Comments: Youngest goalie to play in the NHL at age 17 with the N.Y. Rangers in 1944. Ranks fourth in franchise history with 324 games and 163 wins in the regular season. Ranks third with 54 playoff games (54) and fifth in wins (24). In 1950, Lumley led the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup title with three shutouts and a 1.85 GAA in 14 games. In 1951, GM Jack Adams traded Lumley to Chicago to make room for goalie Terry Sawchuk.
24. Marty Pavelich
Years: 10 (1947-1957)
Position: Left winger
Games: 633 (28)
Goals: 93 (55)
Assists: 159 (39)
Points: 252 (46)
Playoff points: 28 (41)
Stanley Cups: 4 (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955)
Awards: NHL All-Star Game (1949, 1951, 1953, 1954)
Comments: Four-time Stanley Cup champion checked Rocket Richard for 14 games during the regular season and was one of four players (Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Red Kelly) who finished on first-place teams for seven straight seasons. Never missed the playoffs playing on a checking line primarily with Glen Skov and Tony Leswick. Traded to Chicago in 1957 with Glenn Hall for Hank Bassen, Forbes Kennedy and Johnny Wilson.
25. Kris Draper
Years: 17 (1993-2011)
Position: Center
Games: 1,137 (5)
Goals: 158 (23)
Assists: 203 (27)
Points: 361 (26)
Playoff points: 46 (21)
Stanley Cups: 4 (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008)
Awards: Selke Trophy (2004). World Cup (2005). Winter Olympics (2006).
Comments: Acquired for $1 dollar in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets. Draper centered “The Grind Line” with wingers Darren McCarty, Kirk Maltby and Joey Kocur. Ranks fifth all-time in games played (1,137). Recorded career-high 24 goals, 40 points and won Frank Selke Trophy in 2004. Scored overtime goal in Game 2 of 1998 Cup final against Washington. Finished plus-78 in 17 seasons and plus-17 in 220 playoff games.
