Red Wings' Success

[Luciphron 0]

Hi, i'm writing a paper about the Red Wings and I need to include an interview in my paper. What do you guys think is the key to the Red Wings success over the past few seasons?

[Rice 42]

Work ethic and high talent level. Specifically, finding highly skilled players in lower rounds thanks to other teams passing on them due to their size.

[Luciphron 0]

Work ethic and high talent level. Specifically, finding highly skilled players in lower rounds thanks to other teams passing on them due to their size.

thanks.

[Jedi 1,865]

I would make the argument that the single most important piece to the Wings success has been their owners.

Mike and Marian Ilitch have been committed to bringing a winning attitude to this franchise. They treat their players and employees like family, including former players who might have retired long ago. When they won the Cup in 2008, the Ilitches ordered Stanley Cup rings for every retired player who won a cup for the franchise, but never received a ring (since back in the 40's and 50's the players didn't get Cup rings).

From there, they make sure they've hired people who are as committed to excellence. Hiring coaches such as Scotty Bowman and Mike Babcock, and a GM such as Kenny Holland.

From there, they make sure the players that are here are shown that they are part of the family. But they also instill a belief that while they have been given quite alot to be here, they are expected to perform at the level they've been paid for. In fact, there's a sign that the players walk under on the way from the locker room to the ice that says "To whom much is given, much is expected".

You can have all the talent in the world on the ice. You can have the greatest coaching. You can have the best scouting. You can have the smartest people in the front office. But it takes owners that are committed to bringing all of these things together, to create a winning franchise like the Wings have been for the last 20 years.