Back to the Detroit Red Wings Newsfeed

How Detroit Red Wings hit the mother lode at NHL draft 30 years ago

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman discussed his readiness for the NHL draft and more. Filmed June 13, 2019 in Detroit. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

The site where the Detroit Red Wings hit the mother lode is now home to an IKEA, fittingly so given the events of that summer day in 1989.

The NHL held its annual entry draft on June 17th that year, at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minn. The Quebec Nordiques made Mats Sundin the first Swede drafted first overall in NHL history.

The Wings made their first pick at 11th.