hokeychik22 17 Report post Posted October 12, 2008 I don't think this was posted already. But oh well. Kris Draper is the luckiest man in Detroit. And he's got scars and four Stanley Cups to prove it. When you think about his career with the Red Wings -- he's entering his 15th season in Detroit -- it's hard to argue against that proclamation. It seems like he's been here forever. He's like a comfortable set of drapes, if you will, in an old house. You consider replacing them, but then think about how well they work, so you leave them alone. So while players and coaches have come and gone through Hockeytown, teams have been created and disappeared from the NHL and a new wave of fans has embraced the game, Draper, a 37-year-old center, remains. "Everything's been so positive," said Draper, who was traded from the Winnipeg Jets to the Wings for $1 in 1993. "I consider myself the luckiest athlete in Detroit. "I have a great relationship with the fans. I don't take anything for granted. I'm lucky." Indeed. A player like Draper -- a hard worker, not a star -- doesn't normally stick around this long. Steve Yzerman, yes. Nicklas Lidstrom, yes. Kris Draper, no. "He's one of those guys in a locker room, who just kind of brings everybody together," said Yzerman, now a Wings vice president. "On the ice, he does a lot of the little things well. He's a good penalty killer, an excellent faceoff man. Those things are very valuable." Darren McCarty, who knows Draper well, says the intangibles are what separate "Drapes" from so many other players. "Everybody knows his work ethic, his dedication and what a stand-up guy he is," McCarty said. "But he's the blood flow in this locker room and has been for a long time." Draper has enjoyed many magical moments, but none better than winning the Stanley Cup last season. This time, Draper enjoyed it with his wife and three kids. "My son (age 6), looking at me, we were out on the ice and he said, 'Dad, I want to see the Stanley Cup,' " Draper said. "That's something I'll never forget. "The most important things for me are my family and being a part of the Detroit Red Wings, and both of those things kind of came together on that night." Draper was fortunate to eventually return to the ice after a vicious check from behind by the Avalanche's Claude Lemieux in the Western Conference finals in 1996. Draper was never afraid of absorbing a big hit. The only thing that made him nervous was the NHL trade deadline. Each spring, Draper feared he was going to be sent packing from Hockeytown. But, somehow, he always survived. "That was always a scary day for me," said Draper, who won the Selke Trophy in 2004 as the NHL's best defensive forward. "When I don't have any messages on that day, I feel like, 'Oh, man, I got by another one.' "I never wanted to go anywhere. To me, this is the best place to play hockey, the best organization -- ownership to players." Among those players, he's closest to goaltender Chris Osgood and McCarty. In fact, Draper had a hand in getting McCarty back into the NHL. After a long lunch during which the two rekindled their friendship -- McCarty became distant after his personal life went haywire -- McCarty asked his buddy for help. "He said yeah, that he would open as many doors as he could," McCarty said. "But he told me I had to do the work." In that case, then, McCarty was lucky to know Draper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yc172 3 Report post Posted October 12, 2008 good article.. just reinforces my love for these types of players. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted October 12, 2008 draper is awesome, i love what he does and who he is to the team, i just really wish he had more of an offensive side. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holiday 0 Report post Posted October 12, 2008 Trade him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellarina 1 Report post Posted October 12, 2008 Trade him. Just in: Doc Holiday has just been traded, pack up your keyboard and good riddance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HkyTwn 5 Report post Posted October 12, 2008 Great article. I love Drapes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted October 12, 2008 (edited) Reminds me of a Papa Roach Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPVFGoXUl1k Edited October 12, 2008 by Rivalred Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doc Holiday 0 Report post Posted October 13, 2008 Just in: Doc Holiday has just been traded, pack up your keyboard and good riddance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted October 13, 2008 What did ya expect after that Quebec comment... That member is from Quebec... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellarina 1 Report post Posted October 13, 2008 What did ya expect after that Quebec comment... That member is from Quebec... mas un bouhou Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bellarina 1 Report post Posted October 13, 2008 What did ya expect after that Quebec comment... That member is from Quebec... This I gotta hear, What about Quebec?? I want to see what your thoughts are about Quebec. I'm pretty sure that you don't know s*** about Quebec. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted October 13, 2008 This I gotta hear, What about Quebec?? I want to see what your thoughts are about Quebec. I'm pretty sure that you don't know s*** about Quebec. It's a Ween album. Sorta average, for Ween. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PROBIE4PREZ 58 Report post Posted October 13, 2008 so drapes has gotten better and better every year even into his 30's whats Maltby's excuse? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
red_wing 1 Report post Posted October 13, 2008 Man, I effing love Draper. Easily my favorite Wing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted October 13, 2008 mas un bouhou This I gotta hear, What about Quebec?? I want to see what your thoughts are about Quebec. I'm pretty sure that you don't know s*** about Quebec. http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...0&start=560 I responded to you PM and there is no need for your comment to me via PM or here; it may be Quebecoise, but some American born do understand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest LivingtheDream Report post Posted October 14, 2008 (edited) This I gotta hear, What about Quebec?? I want to see what your thoughts are about Quebec. I'm pretty sure that you don't know s*** about Quebec. Well, I can assume at least one resident is a troll. Edited October 14, 2008 by LivingtheDream Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
