The Daily: Exactly 15 Years Since Red Wings Won Stanley Cup; Adin is King of The Hill

Can it really be 15 years since the Detroit Red Wings ruled over pro hockey?

While the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers are currently engaging in battle for NHL supremacy, another significant Stanley Cup final was passing quietly on Sunday.

It was on June 4, 2008 that the Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final to take the series by a 4-2 count. Henrik Zetterberg would net the Cup-winning goal and be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Brian Rafalski and Valtteri Filppula were the scorers of Detroit’s other goals. Chris Osgood was the goalie posting the victory. Nicklas Lidstrom would become the first European born and trained NHL captain to lift Lord Stanley’s mug.

The 15-year skid is the second-longest Stanley Cup drought in franchise history. Detroit went 42 years without a Cup from 1955 until the Red Wings beat the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1997 Cup final series.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Onetime Detroit coach Mike Babcock is going to be the new coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets
• Might the Red Wings be trading partners with the Winnipeg Jets for goalie Connor Hellebuyck?
• Looking at what the future might hold for Detroit forward prospect Elmer Soderblom
• Face it, the most valuable Detroit of the club’s most recent glory era was Nicklas Lidstrom

Red Wings Offseason

Here’s an interesting little tidbit about the Stanley Cup final. The last team to sweep a final series? The 1997-98 Red Wings, who beat Washington 4-0. The previous team to do so? The 1996-97 Red Wings, who beat Philadelphia 4-0.

Hockey Now Network

Vegas: Vegas Golden Knights netminder Adin Hill was the shining star in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

Florida: It was a tough night for forward Matthew Tkachuk is his Stanley Cup debut for the Florida Panthers.

Philadelphia: Will former Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Patrick get his name engraved on the Stanley Cup should the Vegas Golden Knights win over Florida?

Pittsburgh: Coach Mike Sullivan and new hockey operations head Kyle Dubas appear to agree on the changes the Pittsburgh Penguins will be requiring.

Washington: Could defenseman Dmitry Orlov be making a return to the Washington Capitals as a UFA?

Boston: Defenseman Dmitry Orlov says he’s looking forward to free agency, which would suggest he’s not planning to stay with the Boston Bruins.

Buffalo: Five steps the Buffalo Sabres must take in order to make the playoffs.

Montreal: The Montreal Canadiens are requesting a meeting with the NHL and top prospect Logan Mailloux. They want to sort out what he needs to do in order to be eligible to play in the NHL.

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Colorado: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is confirming that Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin will be eligible to play next season.

Chicago: Ethan Del Mastro, a prospect with the Chicago Blackhawks, is turning heads.

Calgary: Mikael Backlund is still in town, awaiting to talk contract with Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy.

San Jose: Looking at the reasons why the San Jose Sharks were allowing three draft picks to walk on June 1.

Los Angeles: A look at the best and worst contracts on the roster of the Los Angeles Kings.