As strange as it is to say, the Detroit Red Wings came up in last week's Michigan Senate debate.
While responding Republican nominee Mike Rogers, Democrat representative Abdul El-Sayed remarked on Rogers' authenticity, bringing up the Red Wings in his response. "All of a sudden, he's doing an ad drinking a Labatt's and talking about the Red Wings. Be serious."
Of all the topics - and teams, for that matter - to bring up, the Red Wings were certainly not on anyone's bingo card. The Red Wings, who are currently one of the worst teams in the NHL, are, for the most part, an afterthought among most casual sports enjoyers. For the more hardcore fans, the Red Wings earning a mention during the debate is testament to the staying power Hockeytown has even through its current period of disappointment.
No amount of bungled contracts or public rebukes of ownership can take away from the fact that the Detroit Red Wings are still, somehow, culturally relevant.
After watching the debate, Octopus Thrower site expert Jake Rivard took matters into his own hands, reaching out to both the Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed campaign to get their comments on the Red Wings, the state of the team and what they hope to see moving forward.
This is what they had to say:
Abdul El-Sayed shares his current outlook on the Red Wings
El-Sayed - the candidate that brought up the Red Wings - lamented on the current state of the Red Wings while reminiscing on the great teams of the past.
“I was at the game when Darren McCarty took on Claude Lemieux," El-Sayed said. "The ‘97 and ‘98 Stanley Cup championships are still highlights of my childhood. The teams the last few years have been a far cry from the Wings I came to love as a kid. They’re stacking losing season on losing season, yet the Ilitch family’s wealth has done nothing but grow. Michiganders are sick of sky-high ticket and concession prices buying them nothing but disappointment.
"The team holding out on Simon Edvinsson is just the latest example in a long series of ownership prioritizing their bottom line over the team and the fans. Our teams aren’t just assets for billionaires, they’re part of our culture and heritage. Hockeytown deserves better.”
Mike Rogers paints a picture of Hockeytown USA
Rogers, 63, has seen several iterations of the Red Wings, from the hated Dead Wings era of the 1970s and 80s to Russian Five and the 2008 Stanley Cup win nearly 20 years ago. Despite the last decade of frustration, Rogers remains optimistic.
"Hockeytown, USA will always be a coveted destination for the world's top players," Rogers said. "The Detroit Red Wings boast one of the league's most storied and respected histories, dating back to their days as one of the Original Six franchises. Few professional organizations can match the tradition, legacy and prestige that define this iconic franchise. GO WINGS!"
The Michigan general election will take place on Tuesday, November 3. Polls close at 8 p.m., local time.
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