Detroit Red Wings

The National Hockey League's most successful American franchise, the Detroit Red Wings have existed since 15 May, 1926, when the NHL awarded a team to a group of investors from the Motor City.

The team bought the roster of the Western Hockey League's Victoria Cougars, the defending Stanley Cup Champions, and took to the ice of Windsor's Border Cities Arena as the Detroit Cougars for the 1926-1927 season. The franchise's inaugural season was marked by a 12-28-4 record, good for last place in the American Division.

Changes would be made before the start of the next season, most importantly the addition of Jack Adams as the team's manager. Adams led the Cougars into their first game in their new home, Detroit's Olympia Arena, on 22 November, 1927. Detroit fell to defending Stanley Cup champion Ottawa, 2-1.

The following seven seasons were difficult for the franchise, which made the playoffs only twice in that time. Changes continued to be made, including switching the team name to the Detroit Falcons in 1930, but the results stayed the same.

In 1932, things took a turn for the better for the troubled franchise. Millionaire James Norris purchased the team that summer. Norris gave the team their current logo in tribute to the Motor City and to the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, and renamed them the Red Wings.

Finally having funds available to work with, Adams was able to bring in several key players to complete Detroit's lineup for the 1932-1933 season. The Red Wings reached the Stanley Cup semifinals in their first campaign with Norris as owner and the Finals in Norris' second season.

Detroit fell short of the playoffs in 1935 but picked up center Marty Barry for the next season and soared to the top of the standings. They met the Montreal Maroons in the first round of the playoffs. The Red Wings swept the defending champion Maroons, including a 1-0 win in game one, which lasted an NHL-record 176 minutes and 30 seconds. After defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the finals, the Wings claimed their first of many Stanley Cup titles.