1988–89 Detroit Red Wings season

1988–89 Detroit Red Wings
1988–89 Detroit Red Wings
Norris Division champions
Division	1st Norris
Conference	4th Campbell
1988–89 record	34–34–12
Home record	20–14–6
Road record	14–20–6
Goals for	313
Goals against	316
Team information
General manager	Jim Devellano
Coach	Jacques Demers
Captain	Steve Yzerman
Alternate captains	Gerard Gallant; Mike O'Connell
Arena	Joe Louis Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Steve Yzerman (65)
Assists	Steve Yzerman (90)
Points	Steve Yzerman (155)
Penalty minutes	Gerard Gallant (230)
Plus/minus	Larry Trader (20)
Wins	Greg Stefan (21)
Goals against average	Glen Hanlon (3.56)
	← 1987–88 1989–90 →

The 1988–89 Detroit Red Wings season saw the Red Wings finish in first place in the Norris Division with a record of 34 wins, 34 losses, and 12 ties for 80 points. They were the only team even to have at least a .500 record, but they lost the Division Semi-finals four games to two to the Chicago Blackhawks.^[1]^[2]

Offseason

NHL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	17	Kory Kocur (RW)	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
2	38	Serge Anglehart (D)	Canada	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
3	47	Guy Dupuis (D)	Canada	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
3	59	Petr Hrbek (RW)	Czechoslovakia	Sparta Prague (Czechoslovakia)
4	80	Sheldon Kennedy (RW)	Canada	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
7	143	Kelly Hurd (RW)	Canada	Michigan Technological University (WCHA)
8	164	Brian McCormack (D)	United States	St. Paul's School (USHS-NH)
9	185	Jody Praznik (D)	Canada	Colorado College (WCHA)
10	206	Glen Goodall (C)	Canada	Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
11	227	Darren Colbourne (RW)	Canada	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
12	248	Don Stone (C)	United States	University of Michigan (CCHA)
S	22	Gary Shuchuk (C)	Canada	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

Regular season

October 6, 1988: In a game against the Detroit Red Wings, Wayne Gretzky made his debut as a member of the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky scored on his first shot, and contributed 3 assists in an 8–2 victory.^[3]

Final standings

Norris Division
	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Detroit Red Wings	80	34	34	12	313	316	80
St. Louis Blues	80	33	35	12	275	285	78
Minnesota North Stars	80	27	37	16	258	278	70
Chicago Blackhawks	80	27	41	12	297	335	66
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	28	46	6	259	342	62

^[4]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Norris Division

1988–89 NHL records^[5]
Team	CHI	DET	MIN	STL	TOR	Total
Chicago	—	4–2–2	4–2–2	1–6–1	3–3–2	12–13–7
Detroit	2–4–2	—	5–3	3–3–2	5–3	15–13–4
Minnesota	2–4–2	3–5	—	2–3–3	3–4–1	10–16–6
St. Louis	6–1–1	3–3–2	3–2–3	—	6–2	18–8–6
Toronto	3–3–2	3–5	4–3–1	2–6	—	12–17–3

Vs. Smythe Division

1988–89 NHL records
Team	CGY	EDM	LAK	VAN	WIN	Total
Chicago	0–3	2–0–1	0–3	1–2	3–0	6–8–1
Detroit	0–3	2–1	0–3	0–0–3	2–0–1	4–7–4
Minnesota	0–2–1	0–1–2	1–2	2–1	2–1	5–7–3
St. Louis	0–3	0–3	2–1	0–3	1–1–1	3–11–1
Toronto	1–0–2	0–3	0–3	2–1	0–3	3–10–2

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Adams Division

1988–89 NHL records
Team	BOS	BUF	HFD	MTL	QUE	Total
Chicago	0–3	1–2	1–2	0–1–2	2–0–1	4–8–3
Detroit	2–0–1	0–3	1–2	2–1	1–2	6–8–1
Minnesota	2–0–1	1–0–2	1–2	0–1–2	1–2	5–5–5
St. Louis	0–3	2–1	0–1–2	0–2–1	3–0	5–7–3
Toronto	0–3	1–2	1–2	1–2	3–0	6–9–0

Vs. Patrick Division

1988–89 NHL records
Team	NJD	NYI	NYR	PHI	PIT	WSH	Total
Chicago	1–2	3–0	0–2–1	0–3	0–3	1–2	5–12–1
Detroit	0–2–1	3–0	3–0	2–1	0–2–1	1–1–1	9–6–3
Minnesota	1–1–1	1–2	1–2	1–2	2–1	1–1–1	7–9–2
St. Louis	1–2	2–1	0–3	3–0	1–1–1	0–2–1	7–9–2
Toronto	1–2	2–1	1–1–1	1–2	1–2	1–2	7–10–1

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 6, 1988	2–8	@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)	0–1–0
2	T	October 8, 1988	3–3 OT	@ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)	0–1–1
3	L	October 10, 1988	2–5	@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)	0–2–1
4	T	October 14, 1988	8–8 OT	St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	0–2–2
5	W	October 15, 1988	5–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	1–2–2
6	W	October 18, 1988	4–3 OT	Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	2–2–2
7	L	October 21, 1988	2–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	2–3–2
8	T	October 23, 1988	3–3 OT	New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	2–3–3
9	W	October 26, 1988	4–2	Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)	3–3–3
10	W	October 28, 1988	4–1	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	4–3–3
11	L	October 29, 1988	2–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	4–4–3
12	T	November 1, 1988	3–3 OT	Washington Capitals (1988–89)	4–4–4
13	L	November 4, 1988	3–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	4–5–4
14	W	November 6, 1988	5–2	Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)	5–5–4
15	W	November 9, 1988	6–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	6–5–4
16	W	November 12, 1988	5–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	7–5–4
17	W	November 13, 1988	5–3	@ New York Rangers (1988–89)	8–5–4
18	W	November 16, 1988	4–3	@ Hartford Whalers (1988–89)	9–5–4
19	W	November 18, 1988	5–2	Boston Bruins (1988–89)	10–5–4
20	W	November 20, 1988	5–4 OT	@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)	11–5–4
21	L	November 23, 1988	3–8	Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)	11–6–4
22	W	November 25, 1988	6–3	Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)	12–6–4
23	L	November 27, 1988	3–4	Washington Capitals (1988–89)	12–7–4
24	W	November 29, 1988	5–3	New York Islanders (1988–89)	13–7–4
25	W	December 1, 1988	7–3	Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)	14–7–4
26	L	December 3, 1988	4–6	@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)	14–8–4
27	L	December 5, 1988	2–7	@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)	14–9–4
28	W	December 9, 1988	4–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	15–9–4
29	W	December 10, 1988	8–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	16–9–4
30	W	December 13, 1988	5–4	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	17–9–4
31	L	December 16, 1988	4–6	Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)	17–10–4
32	L	December 17, 1988	2–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	17–11–4
33	W	December 20, 1988	6–3	St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	18–11–4
34	T	December 22, 1988	4–4 OT	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	18–11–5
35	L	December 23, 1988	2–7	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	18–12–5
36	L	December 28, 1988	1–4	@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)	18–13–5
37	L	December 30, 1988	3–4	@ Hartford Whalers (1988–89)	18–14–5
38	L	December 31, 1988	2–3	Hartford Whalers (1988–89)	18–15–5
39	W	January 4, 1989	4–2	St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	19–15–5
40	T	January 6, 1989	2–2 OT	Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)	19–15–6
41	L	January 7, 1989	2–5	@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	19–16–6
42	W	January 9, 1989	3–2	Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)	20–16–6
43	T	January 11, 1989	2–2 OT	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	20–16–7
44	T	January 14, 1989	5–5 OT	@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)	20–16–8
45	W	January 15, 1989	8–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)	21–16–8
46	L	January 17, 1989	1–7	Calgary Flames (1988–89)	21–17–8
47	L	January 20, 1989	2–3	Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	21–18–8
48	W	January 22, 1989	4–3	@ Washington Capitals (1988–89)	22–18–8
49	L	January 25, 1989	3–6	Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)	22–19–8
50	W	January 27, 1989	8–1	Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	23–19–8
51	L	January 28, 1989	5–10	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	23–20–8
52	L	January 30, 1989	3–4	Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)	23–21–8
53	L	February 2, 1989	2–3 OT	@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)	23–22–8
54	L	February 3, 1989	5–8	@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)	23–23–8
55	W	February 5, 1989	6–2	@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)	24–23–8
56	L	February 9, 1989	3–6	New Jersey Devils (1988–89)	24–24–8
57	W	February 11, 1989	5–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	25–24–8
58	T	February 13, 1989	2–2 OT	Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)	25–24–9
59	W	February 15, 1989	4–2	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	26–24–9
60	L	February 17, 1989	3–5	Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	26–25–9
61	L	February 19, 1989	4–8	@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)	26–26–9
62	W	February 21, 1989	6–5	@ New York Islanders (1988–89)	27–26–9
63	T	February 23, 1989	6–6 OT	Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)	27–26–10
64	W	February 25, 1989	5–0	Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	28–26–10
65	T	February 26, 1989	4–4 OT	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	28–26–11
66	W	March 1, 1989	6–5	New York Islanders (1988–89)	29–26–11
67	W	March 4, 1989	5–4 OT	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	30–26–11
68	L	March 7, 1989	3–5	@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	30–27–11
69	W	March 9, 1989	3–2	New York Rangers (1988–89)	31–27–11
70	L	March 11, 1989	3–5	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	31–28–11
71	T	March 14, 1989	2–2 OT	@ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)	31–28–12
72	W	March 15, 1989	8–6	@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)	32–28–12
73	L	March 18, 1989	2–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	32–29–12
74	L	March 19, 1989	3–5	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)	32–30–12
75	W	March 24, 1989	6–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	33–30–12
76	L	March 25, 1989	5–6	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)	33–31–12
77	L	March 27, 1989	2–3	St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	33–32–12
78	W	March 29, 1989	4–3	New York Rangers (1988–89)	34–32–12
79	L	March 31, 1989	1–5	Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)	34–33–12
80	L	April 2, 1989	2–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)	34–34–12

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season
Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/–	PIM
Steve Yzerman	80	65	90	155	17	61
Gerard Gallant	76	39	54	93	7	230
Adam Oates	69	16	62	78	–1	14
Paul MacLean	76	36	35	71	7	118
Dave Barr	73	27	32	59	12	69
Steve Chiasson	65	12	35	47	–6	149
Shawn Burr	79	19	27	46	5	78
Lee Norwood	66	10	32	42	6	100
Petr Klima	51	25	16	41	5	44
Richard Zombo	75	1	20	21	22	106
Joey Kocur	60	9	9	18	–4	213
Michael O'Connell	66	1	15	16	–8	41
Miroslav Frycer‡	23	7	8	15	–4	47
James Nill	71	8	7	15	–1	83
Tim Higgins	42	5	9	14	0	62
Jeff Sharples	46	4	9	13	5	26
Doug Houda	57	2	11	13	17	67
John Chabot	52	2	10	12	–18	6
Adam Graves	56	7	5	12	–5	60
Jim Pavese‡	39	3	6	9	–1	130
Joe Murphy	26	1	7	8	–7	28
Bob Probert	25	4	2	6	–11	106
Dale Krentz	16	3	3	6	–3	4
Kris King	55	2	3	5	–7	168
Torrie Robertson†	12	2	2	4	0	63
Gilbert Delorme	42	1	3	4	–11	51
Brent Fedyk	5	2	0	2	–1	0
Douglas Halward‡	18	0	1	1	–11	36
John Mokosak	8	0	1	1	0	14
John Blum	6	0	0	0	–2	8
Scott King	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jeff Brubaker	1	0	0	0	0	0
Miroslav Ihnacak	1	0	0	0	0	0
Randall McKay	3	0	0	0	–1	0

Playoffs
Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/–	PIM
Steve Yzerman	6	5	5	10	–7	2
Adam Oates	6	0	8	8	–1	2
Petr Klima	6	2	4	6	0	19
Dave Barr	6	3	1	4	1	6
Lee Norwood	6	1	2	3	2	16
Steve Chiasson	5	2	1	3	–3	6
Shawn Burr	6	1	2	3	2	6
Gerard Gallant	6	1	2	3	–2	40
Paul MacLean	5	1	1	2	–2	8
John Chabot	6	1	1	2	0	0
Doug Houda	6	0	1	1	–1	0
Joey Kocur	3	0	1	1	0	6
Gilbert Delorme	6	0	1	1	3	2
Torrie Robertson	6	1	0	1	–1	17
Richard Zombo	6	0	1	1	–3	16
Randall McKay	2	0	0	0	–2	2
Tim Higgins	1	0	0	0	0	0
Michael O'Connell	6	0	0	0	0	4
James Nill	6	0	0	0	–1	25
Kris King	2	0	0	0	0	2
Adam Graves	5	0	0	0	–1	4
Jeff Sharples	1	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

Regular Season
Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO
Greg Stefan	46	2499	21	17	3	167	4.01	1290	0.871	0
Glen Hanlon	39	2092	13	14	8	124	3.56	1055	0.882	1
Sam St. Laurent	4	141	0	1	1	9	3.83	91	0.901	0
Tim Cheveldae	2	122	0	2	0	9	4.43	74	0.878	0

Playoffs
Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO
Greg Stefan	5	294	2	3	18	3.67	151	0.881	0
Glen Hanlon	2	78	0	1	7	5.38	47	0.851	0

^[6]

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Red Wings. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only.
^‡Traded mid-season
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Playoffs

The Red Wings won their second straight division championship and went against Chicago in the first round in a best of seven series and lost in 6 games, or 2–4.

Awards and records

Steve Yzerman, Club Record, Most Points in One Season (155)
Steve Yzerman, Lester B. Pearson Award
Gerard Gallant, Left Wing, NHL Second All-Star Team

References

Red Wings on Hockey Database

^ "NHL Roundup – UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
^ "There's nothing like scoring an important goal in a... – UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
^ Gretzky's Tears, Stephen Brunt, pp.182-183, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, Toronto, Canada, 2009, ISBN 978-0-307-39729-4
^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
^ 1988–89 Detroit Red Wings at Hockey Reference

[1] "NHL Roundup – UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 29, 2024.

[2] "There's nothing like scoring an important goal in a... – UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved January 29, 2024.

[3] Gretzky's Tears, Stephen Brunt, pp.182-183, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, Toronto, Canada, 2009, ISBN 978-0-307-39729-4

[nhl-gd-standings-4] Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.

[5] "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

[6] 1988–89 Detroit Red Wings at Hockey Reference

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e Detroit Red Wings seasons
1920s	1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930s	1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940s	1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950s	1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960s	1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970s	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980s	1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990s	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
2000s	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010s	2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020s	2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Highlighted seasons indicate Stanley Cup championship

v t e Detroit Red Wings
Founded in 1926 Based in Detroit, Michigan
Franchise	Team General managers Coaches Players Captains Draft picks Seasons Current season
History	History (Original Six) Records Award winners Retired numbers Broadcasters
Personnel	Owner(s) Ilitch Holdings (Christopher Ilitch, chairman) General manager Steve Yzerman Head coach Derek Lalonde Team captain Dylan Larkin Current roster
Arenas	Windsor Arena Olympia Stadium Joe Louis Arena Little Caesars Arena
Rivalries	Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Toronto Maple Leafs
Affiliates	AHL Grand Rapids Griffins ECHL Toledo Walleye
Media	TV Bally Sports Detroit Radio WXYT WXYT-FM
Culture and lore	Victoria Cougars Al the Octopus Grind Line Hockeytown Legend of the Octopus Production Line Red Wings–Avalanche brawl Hakan Andersson "Stanley's Cup" (South Park) Russian Five Karen Newman Budd Lynch Al Sobotka London Lions "Don't Stop Believin'" "Without Me" Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F 1938 European tour 1954 prison game 2009 NHL Winter Classic 2014 NHL Winter Classic 2016 NHL Stadium Series NHL Centennial Classic 2025 NHL Stadium Series
Category Commons

v t e 1988–89 NHL season
Patrick	New Jersey NY Islanders NY Rangers Philadelphia Pittsburgh Washington
Adams	Boston Buffalo Hartford Montreal Quebec
Norris	Chicago Detroit Minnesota St. Louis Toronto
Smythe	Calgary Edmonton Los Angeles Vancouver Winnipeg
See also	Entry draft Supplemental draft Waiver draft All-Star Game Stanley Cup playoffs Stanley Cup Finals