38-26 (.573)
Arena
Attendance
819,107 total
19,978 per game
19,978 per game
1997 Draft Picks
Round
Pick
Player
5
129
John Wikstrom D
6
157
B.J. Young R
RetroSeasons
RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
Detroit Red Wings
1996-97 Season Recap
After 2 straight President's Trophies the Red Wings finish in 2nd place in the Central Division with a 38-26-18 record. In the first round the Wings would beat the St. Louis Blues in 6 games. The Red Wings would pick up a full head of steam in the 2nd round sweeping the Anaheim Mighty Ducks as Mike Vernon established himself as the hot goalie. In a reversal of last year's Conference Finals the Red Wings take the first 2 games from the Avalanche in Colorado and would go on to win the series in 6 games. In the finals the Red Wings took command early beating the Flyers in the first 2 games in Philadelphia. As the series shifted back to Hockeytown USA the Wings went in for the kill completing the sweep to win their first Stanley Cup in 42 years. Goalie Mike Vernon who out played Chris Osgood early to end the rotating goalie tandem was rewarded with Conn Smythe award for Playoff MVP. However the celebration would be short lived as star defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov and masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov are critically injured in a one-vehicle limousine accident following a team party. The limo driver was stoned on pot when he crashed the limo, but he would never face serious charges. Konstantinov would remain in a coma for months when he emerged he was left severely brain damaged, as was Mnatsakanov.