How One Trade Altered Hockeytown and the Red Wings’ Future

In the early 1990s, the Detroit Red Wings were a high-flying team that could score goals, but struggled to win when it mattered most. That narrative seemed to shift after they landed Stanley Cup champion goalie, Mike Vernon, from Calgary. It wasn’t just a hockey trade; it was a move to help Detroit finish the job by winning the Stanley Cup.

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Finishing the Job

Before Vernon arrived, Detroit, although a strong team with superstars like Steve Yzerman, was often labeled as a group unable to win it all. Vernon helped change that narrative. He brought the grit of a Stanley Cup champion to a locker room that seemed to be tired of not finishing the job. Reflecting on the move, Vernon remarked:

“Playing for the Red Wings kind of prolonged my career. There were 10 years apart from both cups in Calgary and Detroit, but it was to prove to myself that I could still play in the league.”

By the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs, Vernon was an absolute wall. His stellar performance in net for Detroit during the Stanley Cup Finals was legendary. He stifled Philadelphia and helped lead Detroit to a Stanley Cup championship. He finished the post-season with an astounding 1.76 GAA, helping to end a forty-two year drought and rightfully earning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

A Legacy of Mentorship

Mike Vernon’s biggest gift to Detroit might have been the time he spent with goalie partner Chris Osgood. Watching the veteran goalie navigate the pressure of the 1997 Stanley Cup run, for example, served as a masterclass for Osgood.

Even though Mike Vernon was traded to San Jose shortly after his 1997 Playoff MVP performance—a move that stunned fans and columnists like Mitch Albom, who had an immediate reaction of, “You’ve got to be kidding!”—the foundation was already set. Osgood took those veteran lessons and immediately led Detroit to another Stanley Cup in 1998.

The Mike Vernon trade didn’t just win one trophy; it taught a legendary franchise exactly how to become champions.

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