Detroit Red Wings: Top 5 Homegrown Detroit Defencemen

4 of 5

The Detroit Red Wings have had their fair share of talented and elite players over the last few decades. Most people are familiar with front-end names like Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Steve Yzerman, and Sergei Fedorov, but, most people may not be as knowledgeable about some of the historic blue-liners in Detroit hockey history. In my humble hockey-obsessed opinion, here are the top 5 Detroit Red Wings’ defencemen of all-time.

#5: Gary Bergman (1964-1975)

Gary Bergman is a name that many hockey fans are probably not very familiar with. It’s a name I wasn’t very familiar with, but after doing some research, I decided it was a name that should be included on this list. Bergman wasn’t the flashiest or highest scoring defenceman of all-time, but, he was a solid and reliable player at a time when the Red Wings were not at their most successful.

Bergman played 706 regular-season games for the Red Wings, scoring 60 goals and 243 assists. Despite never winning a Stanley Cup title, Bergman’s consistent reliable play over the course of his time in Detroit ranks him 5th all-time in points and assists among Detroit defencemen.

Next: Number 4 is a slamming Swede

#4: Niklas Kronwall (2003-present)

It’s not often that a player’s name becomes a verb, but Niklas Kronwall is the exception to the rule. There were times in the past where one of Kronwall’s devastating hits could change the momentum of a game. Whenever you saw #55 turn around and start skating backwards along the side-boards, you knew somebody was about to get “Kronwalled”.

Sadly Niklas has slowly phased his trademark back-check out of his game, but that doesn’t take anything away from his status as Detroit’s current defensive leader. As the Red Wings continue to transition into a younger team, Kronwall’s veteran experience will be key when bringing up the kids from Grand Rapids.

Kronwall has played a total of 674 regular-season games so far with the Wings, collecting 71 goals and 268 assists. He has been a staple on the Red Wings power-play, and can be very efficient at sneaking into an offensive play and ripping a heavy slap shot from the slot.

Next: A Blue-Line Blast From The Past

#3: Reed Larson (1976-1986)

Reed Larson spent 10 of his 14 professional seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, but before coming to Detroit Reed was mentored at the University of Minnesota by the legendary Herb Brooks. Reed’s rookie season in Detroit saw him scoring 60 points and finishing second in the Calder Trophy voting behind Mike Bossy.

During his decade long tenure with the Red Wings, Larson played in 708 regular-season games. In those 708 games, Reed accumulated 188 goals and 570 points, both good enough totals to place Reed second all-time amongst all Detroit defencemen in those respective categories. He also ranks 11th in all-time scoring among all Detroit Red Wings players. Reed was also the first American-born defenceman to score 200 goals.

Next: Number 2 we stay in our blast from the past

#2: Red Kelly (1947-1960)

Everyone knows the names Howe, Lindsay, Abel and Delvecchio, but most people don’t know the defensive-stud who played and assisted behind those legendary forwards. Red Kelly was the Nick Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings in the 1950’s. Kelly was a four-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Red Wings, and tallied seven consecutive 40 point seasons.

Kelly played 846 regular-season games for the Red Wings (2nd most), and in his 846 games he scored 146 goals and 472 points. His 427 points places him #2 all-time amongst Red Wings’ defencemen. Red was also a six-time NHL First Team All-Star with the Red Wings, as well as a 3 time Lady Byng Trophy winner with Detroit. In 1954, Red Kelly was awarded the first Norris Trophy for being the NHL’s most outstanding defenceman. Kelly was a huge part of the Red Wings winning four Stanley Cup titles in six years.

Next: The Obvious #1 is #5

#1: Nicklas Lidstrom (1991-2012)

Who did you think it was going to be? Brendan Smith? I’m sure nobody thought it would be Smith, just going for emphasis there. Picking Nicklas Lidstrom as the number one homegrown Red Wings’ defenceman was the easiest choice for me to make on this list. What can I say about “The Perfect Human” that hasn’t been said? I’ll just let Saint Nick’s numbers speak for themselves.

He earned 7 seven Norris Trophies in a ten-year span, and he is also a 4 time Stanley Cup Champion. During one of his Stanley Cup runs, Lidstrom won the Conn Smythe trophy (2002). Speaking of all his trophies, Nicklas Lidstrom was the first European-born and trained player to win the Norris Trophy, The Conn Smythe Trophy, and to captain a Stanley Cup Winning team. He is also the first European-born trained player to reach 1,000 career points.

Lidstrom holds numerous NHL and Detroit franchise records, basically every record for a defenceman. Lidstrom’s 1,142 career points are more than twice the next highest scoring defenceman in Detroit history. He was truly a player who helped define and restore the winning tradition of Detroit Red Wings’ hockey.

In his book Leave No Doubt, former Red Wings’ coach Mike Babcock had this to say about Lidstrom;

“Do you know why Nick Lidstrom is one of the greatest to ever play the game? First is his immense talent. But another thing about Nick is he never gets bored with the details…The guy tapes his stick today with the same meticulous pride and attention to that he did as a rookie. It’s amazing, really. He knows it all counts.”

Next: Detroit Red Wings Roundtable

More from Octopus Thrower

Home / All-Time Lists