The Detroit Red Wings have featured not only some of the National Hockey League’s greatest teams in history, but also some of the greatest players to ever lace up the skates. From Gordie Howe to Steve Yzerman, Ted Lindsay to Nicklas Lidstrom, Sid Abel to Sergei Fedorov, and plenty of others in between, Detroit’s is a rich history of some of the biggest names in the game.
But like any team with a history as extensive as Detroit’s, there are plenty of players that fans can certainly be excused if they plain forgot about. Our latest countdown will explore some of those names, and maybe even bring back a few brief memories in the process.
No. 10: Goaltender Norm Maracle
No. 9: Forward Mark Mowers
No. 8: Defenseman Jesse Wallin
No. 7: Defenseman Jamie Rivers
No. 6: Forward Yuri Butsayev
No. 5: Forward Josh Langfeld
No. 4: Forward Darryl Bootland
We’re inching towards first on our list! Number three on the countdown was a Trade Deadline acquisition in 2007 from the rival Chicago Blackhawks that sent popular forward Jason Williams to the Windy City. And while the latter would find his way back to Detroit, their acquisition was simply a one and done.
No. 3: Forward Kyle Calder
Originally drafted in 1997 by the Blackhawks after a solid career with the Regina Pats of the WHL, Kyle Calder would become a regular in the NHL during the 2000-01 season, and proceeded to play in 351 games for Chicago before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers prior to the 2006-07 season.
After playing in 59 games with the Flyers, he was sent at the deadline back to Chicago, who promptly traded him to Detroit in exchange for Williams.
Calder immediately made an impact with Detroit, scoring a goal on his first shift with the team – ironically – against the Blackhawks.
He would appear in 19 regular season games with Detroit, scoring five times and adding nine assists. He’d then appear in 13 playoff games in 2007, registering a single assist.
After not being offered a new deal by Detroit, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2007 offseason.
