CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence

Mike and Marian Ilitch have a framed one dollar bill hanging on a wall in one of their offices. And, it wasn’t the first dollar that they’d earned when they were establishing their Little Caesars Pizza empire.

On June 30, 1993, the Wings had acquired Kris Draper for future considerations. 

Draper had played in only 20 games over 3 seasons for the future Coyotes, and the Jets wanted to unload the frisky forward. 

“We ended up giving them a buck,” laughed Jimmy Devellano.

Then, four years later, when Detroit had won their first Cup since the fifties, Draper handed a dollar bill to the Ilitchs, “Here you go. Investment paid in full!“ 

Detroit Red Wings – Stanley Cup Champions – 1997

Kris Draper has been a key player in Detroit’s regular and post-season successes. 

He’s provided stability, skill and grit throughout his decade and a half in Motown. 

On March 17th, he became only the 5th person to play 1,000 games in a Red Wings uniform (The others were Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman, and Nicklas Lidstrom.). 

He’s tied for second place – with Steve Yzerman – in the number of post season games played.

Detroit Red Wings – Stanley Cup Champions – 1998

Draper is 25th in all time Detroit Red Wings’ points scored during the regular, and 18th in points tallied during the post-season. 

Draper is Detroit’s 14th highest with 22 game winners, and is 15th highest with 3 game winners during the playoffs.

Kris Draper is behind only Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov with 21 shorthanded goals – during the regular season – and is behind only Fedorov and Kirk Maltby with 4 shorthanded goals in the second season.

Draper won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2004, as the NHL’s defensive player of the year.

Detroit Red Wings – Stanley Cup Champions – 2002

Kris Draper should be earning his fifth Stanley Cup ring a week or so from now.

Also receiving their fifth ring will be Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Kirk Maltby, and Darren McCarty.

Draper has been a team leader, a defensive specialist as well as an offensive threat. 

And he was always willing to take one for the team – or many, as he did when Claude Lemieux ran him face first into the boards.

It was during the 1996 Western Conference Finals, and Draper suffered a concussion, broken jaw, nose and cheekbone. 

This attack would later “[bring] the Red Wings together,” according to goalie Mike Vernon.

On March 26, 2007, the Red Wings avenged Draper, and with the emotion and momentum, went on to win their first Cup in a quarter century.

Detroit Red Wings – Stanley Cup Champions – 2008

courtesy of intergoldltd.com

*****

The 1997 and 1998 rings were designed by Diamond Cutters International, and the 2002 and 2008 were designed by Intergold Ltd.

The 2008 ring was also given to retired Red Wings who had played on Detroit’s Stanley Cup championship teams during the 1940s and 1950s. Each ring has the player’s name on one side, plus extra diamonds symbolizing how many Cups that player had won wearing a Red Wings uniform.

Stats courtesy of nhl.com