2008–09 Detroit Red Wings season

The 2008–09 Detroit Red Wings season was the 83rd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The Detroit Red Wings attempted to defend their Stanley Cup title, but they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games in the Stanley Cup Finals, the team they defeated in the finals the previous season. The Red Wings roster featured former Penguin Marian Hossa, who signed a one-year contract with Detroit during the summer of 2008, as well as former Penguins backup Ty Conklin. With the elimination of the MLB's New York Yankees from the playoffs for the first time since 1993, the Red Wings owned the longest active playoff streak in North American sports, qualifying every year since 1991.

They won 51 games during the regular season, their fourth consecutive season of 50 or more victories.

Off-season
June 9: Dominik Hasek announced his retirement from the NHL.

June 10: Detroit signed head coach Mike Babcock to three-year contract extension.

June 11: Assistant coach Todd McLellan signed with the San Jose Sharks as their new head coach.

June 30: The Detroit Red Wings re-signed defenseman Andreas Lilja to a two-year contract.

July 1: Brad Stuart re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings. It is a four-year deal worth $3.75 million per season, and a no-trade clause for the first two.

July 2: Marian Hossa signed a one-year, $7.45 million contract.

July 15: Dallas Drake announced his retirement from the NHL.

July 23: Ryan Oulahen re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings with a one-year deal.

July 30: Valtteri Filppula re-signed on a five-year, $15 million contract.

Regular season
Excluding six shootout-winning goals, the Red Wings scored 289 goals during the regular season, the most of all 30 teams in the NHL. They also scored the most power-play goals, with 90, and had the best power-play percentage, at 25.50% (90 for 353).

Schedule and results

 * Legend:

Playoffs
Detroit had not missed the post-season since 1989–90. The 2008–09 season was their 18th consecutive playoff season.


 * Legend:

During the Finals, Head Coach Mike Babcock joined Mike Keenan as the only coaches in NHL history to coach in Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals on two different teams, having been with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2003. When the Red Wings lost Game 7, Babcock had the unfortunate distinction of becoming the first coach in NHL history to lose a Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals on two different teams, as his Ducks lost to the New Jersey Devils in 2003.

Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; GAA= Goals against average; SA= Shots against; SV= Saves; Sv% = Save percentage; SO= Shutouts

Draft picks
Detroit's selections at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa, Ontario.

Farm teams
The Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) remain the minor league affiliate of the Red Wings for the 2008–09 season.