by The Hamburgerler

Created on: May 05, 2008

When mentioning the best players of all time on the Detroit Red Wings, Steve Yzerman is obviously the number one player on this list. He changed the Red Wings, from the dead wings into Stanley Cup Champions. He is one of the most complete players to ever play the game and he led Detroit to three Stanley Cups. Steve Yzerman came into the league at 155 pounds and worked his way into one of the best players to ever play the game.

The second player on my list is the hall of famer, Geordie Howe, a true power forward and a warrior everytime he stepped on the ice. He is a legend for going out there everyshift and giving it his all. He played a physical and dominate game and was a scoring threat everytime the puck touched his stick.

Terry Sawchuk is perhaps the greatest goalie to play for the Red Wings, he currently holds the record for most career shutouts. Sawchuk was a great specimen at goaltender position, he was fearless and he is not only one of the best goalies to play for the Red Wings, but one of the best goalies to play in the NHL.

Red Kelly is another Hall of Fame player who should be considered for one the best hockey players of all time for the Detroit Red Wings. Even though he played way before my time, I still understand he was a great player, he has won the most Stanley Cups for a player never to play for the Montreal Canadiens. He also won the Norris and the Lady Byng trophy (which he won three times).

At 19 years old Ted Lindsey made his NHL debut, he wasn't the biggest at 5'8 163 pounds but he played big and that is why should be on this list as well. Playing with Geordie Howe did help his tremendous career, but Lindsey was a magician of the game. "Terrible Ted" was a solid player and had what it took to play some real hockey. He was ranked #21 on the NHL's greatest players list, so that just goes to show you that he was a forceful opponent in the NHL throughout his whole career.

Now looking at the current Red Wings roster you have to think that some of those players deserve to have their name on the list. The first name you look at when you take a peek at their current roster is Nicklas Lidstrom. Arguably the greatest european player to ever play the game, as well as the smartest defencemen to ever play. Lidstrom is a solid player, he provides huge offensive help as well as a mistake free game on defence. He is only the 4th player to win the Norris trophy four times, and should be awarded his fifth when the 2008 awards are announced.

Honourable mention's go to Marcel Dionne, Sid Abel, Alex Delvecchio, Sergei Fedorov, Brendan Shanahan, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy (and this list could go on and on). Looking at their current roster you have to think with how the Red Wings franchise is the peak of the NHL, that some of those players will soon deserve to be added to this list such as Henrik Zetterbeg and Pavel Datsyuk.

Honestly though Steve Yzerman is the greatest Red Wings player ever, he led on and off the ice, he holds the record for longest serving captain in the NHL. He helped turn one of the worst teams in the league into a current day power house. The Red Wings would not be where they are if it wasn't for one man, and the man is Steve Yzerman.

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