As the Detroit Red Wings watch their magnificent 25-year playoff streak come to a close, there is an aura of uncertainty surrounding the organization. For years, the Wings have been the NHL’s model franchise, shining as a beacon of excellence. The Wings found a way to be successful despite three lockouts, two expansion drafts, institution of a salary cap, and multiple rule changes.
The biggest driver of the Red Wings’ success was finding ways to strike gold in the later rounds of the NHL Entry Draft. They found Nick Lidstrom (3rd round), Sergei Fedorov (4th round) and Vladimir Konstantinov (11th round) in the 1989 draft.