| At the price of $100,000 Detroit received their first | | | | all-time leading scoring left winger during the 1955 - 56 |
| franchise with the NHL expansion of 1926 - 27. Detroit | | | | season. Ted scored Detroit's only goal in a 2 - 1 loss at |
| was awarded the franchise May 15, 1926 and | | | | the Montreal Forum - October 29, 1955. His 271st |
| purchased the Victoria Cougars September 25, 1926. | | | | career marker surpassed Aurel Joliat's 270 lifetime |
| Without a home rink, the newly founded Cougars | | | | total. Lindsay won four Stanley Cups with nine |
| were forced to play their home games across the | | | | first-place teams."Terrible" Ted is the oldest regular |
| river at the Border Cities Arena in Windsor, Ontario. | | | | season penalty leader. 1958 - 59, Lindsay led the NHL |
| November 22nd, 1927- the Cougars began the season | | | | in PiM with 184 minutes in the penalty box. "Terrible" to |
| in the Detroit Olympia. 1930- 31, unsuccessful with the | | | | the end...Ted was the oldest penalty leader at age 33. |
| Cougars name, ownership changed to the Falcons. | | | | TERRY SAWCHUK: Terry is the only player to |
| 1932, James Norris and Arthur Wirtz bought the | | | | capture 3 rookie-of-the-year awards in three pro |
| Falcons and changed the name. The partnership | | | | hockey leagues...winning the 3 awards in 4 years. The |
| purchased the Detroit Olympia for $250,000. The | | | | rookie "hat trick" began in 1947 - 48 with the USHL |
| Falcons were added to the deal for $100,000. Named | | | | Omaha Knights. Moving up the farm system Sawchuk |
| after the Montreal AAA team, "Red Wings" was the | | | | repeated in the AHL with the 1948 - 49 Indianapolis |
| name chosen by Norris. October 5, 1932 - Detroit | | | | Chiefs. Refining his skills another year in Indianapolis, |
| hockey fans were introduced to the new Red Wing | | | | "Ukey" was rewarded with a promotion to the Red |
| name, red uniforms and the fabled "Winged Crest". | | | | Wings. Terry captured the 1950 - 51 Calder Trophy. |
| RED WINGS FOUNDATION - GORDIE HOWE: The | | | | Terry Sawchuk was the first netminder to win 250 |
| first jersey number Gordie wore when he joined the | | | | games in a Red Wing uniform. March 15, 1959 - |
| Red Wings was, the soon to be forgotten, number 17 | | | | Sawchuk reached that total with a 4 - 1 win over |
| for the 1946 - 47 season. NHL tradition...only the team | | | | Chicago. |
| veterans received lower jersey numbers. Rookies got | | | | FACT OR FICTION? Early in the 1927 - 28 season, |
| the high numbers along with the upper berths on the | | | | Duke Keats was suspended by NHL President Frank |
| road trip train rides. Being the largest physical roster | | | | Calder. In anger, Duke swung his stick in the direction |
| member of the Wings, Gordie moved down to a lower | | | | of some jeering Black Hawks fans...nearly striking |
| train berth for the 1947 - 48 season. To make it | | | | actress Irene Castle. Irene just happened to be the |
| "official" with team vets, Howe also received number | | | | wife of the Hawks owner Major Frederic McLaughlin. |
| 9. Howe started his NHL career on a very positive | | | | The suspension was eventually lifted the same day |
| note. The rookie Red Wing scored his first NHL goal in | | | | that Keats was traded. Keats officially became a |
| his first game. Gordie beat Toronto Maple Leafs | | | | Chicago Black Hawk December 16, 1927. The "bargain |
| netminder Turk Broda at 13:38 of the second period. | | | | basement" contract figures for Gordie Howe's rookie |
| November 27, 1960 - "Mr. Hockey" became the first | | | | season with the Red Wings was $2,600. "Mr. Hockey" |
| National Hockey League player to score 1000 points. | | | | broke into the NHL, 18 years of age, with the 1946-47 |
| TED LINDSAY: Ted was the first Red Wings player | | | | Red Wings. Rumor has it, Gordie has even more |
| to score 200 goals in franchise history. Lindsay tallied | | | | excited at breaking into the Red Wing lineup when Jolly |
| the milestone goal with a 5 - 2 victory over the | | | | Jack sweetened the contract by giving Howe a Red |
| Rangers December 21, 1952. He became the NHL's | | | | Wings jacket. |