OT: The Russian Five
Just watched the Russian Five. Great memories and a great documentary. Ended on the very sad story of Vladimir Konstantinov. I found myself wondering what his absence meant to future Red Wing success. Can you imagine him on the blue line with Nicklas Lidstrom for another 10-12 years? Two Hall of Fame defensemen.
January 16th, 2020 at 8:42 PM ^
Where can I find this again? I keep saying I need to watch it.
January 16th, 2020 at 8:46 PM ^
Amazon
January 16th, 2020 at 9:02 PM ^
Thanks!
January 16th, 2020 at 10:57 PM ^
It will be airing on NBCSN on the following:
January 17th, 2020 at 8:07 AM ^
I mean, if anyone would have this info it would be Putin.
January 17th, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
Thanks, Comrade!
January 16th, 2020 at 8:52 PM ^
Konstantinov's accident was a real tragedy. The blue line was never the same without him. His hit on Lindros was awesome.
January 17th, 2020 at 7:47 AM ^
The '97 team... There were big questions about how they would stop Lindros going into that Final. But they surprised everyone in hockey when they didn't even try to stop him. They changed the paradigm by stopping everyone else from getting him the puck. Instead of trying to get the puck away from him, they denied him the puck. He was useless that entire series - it was a brilliant strategy designed by one of the games all-time brilliant minds (Bowman) and executed by some of the games all-time best players ever (Fedorov, Lidstrom, Yzerman, Fetisov, etc...).
That '97 team was just incredible... I think it was the best of the dynasty years, even better than the '98 team.
January 17th, 2020 at 11:17 AM ^
But not as good as 02.
January 17th, 2020 at 4:54 PM ^
Maybe not, but the 97-98 teams were a lot more rugged than the 02 team.
January 16th, 2020 at 9:47 PM ^
This looks like a completely different sport from what the 2019-2020 Red Wings are playing. A team that can actually possess the puck and complete passes. I will always be grateful for the great memories this team provided but I miss watching high quality Red Wing hockey.
LGRW!
January 16th, 2020 at 9:51 PM ^
hockey changed so much after the red wings dynasty. the 90s game was better hockey in my opinion than what is being played currently.
January 17th, 2020 at 9:15 AM ^
That was my favorite era of hockey as a fan, but it is hard to watch replays of those games. The hooking/holding was off the charts. There was no rhyme or reason for when the refs actually would call it.
January 16th, 2020 at 11:43 PM ^
Cheers to 1997. Incredible sports year. The Red Wings were in the infancy of their dynasty. So much fun watching that team play. Incredible hockey players up and down that roster and they were extremely well coached and hard working. A friend of mine was the manager at Andiamo's in Bloomfield Hills and that restaurant was an after-game hangout for a bunch of Wings players. They had a Stanley Cup celebration party after the 1998 championship and my friend got me in to the party. I met and spoke with pretty much everyone on the Wings except Yzerman and Shanny. Those two pretty much stayed away from the general public. Draper and McCarty were my favorites. Funny, nice, engaging. Just two regular guys. Larionov was a true gentleman. He had a taste for fine wine.
And of course a Michigan national championship.
January 17th, 2020 at 10:47 AM ^
Oh god, there goes my day!
January 16th, 2020 at 9:01 PM ^
Hey I absolutely HEART Vladdie, but people way overstate what he would've meant.
Two to three more Stanley's guaranteed, obviously,
buuuuut........ no more than 10, that's just ludicrous.
I mean show a little objectivity people!
January 16th, 2020 at 9:49 PM ^
If they don't lose Vlady, do they make the trade for Chelios in '99?
Another huge loss was Jiri Fischer - he was just starting to emerge as a top d-man.
January 17th, 2020 at 8:53 AM ^
For what they gave up to get Chelios (Anders Erikkson and a late 1st round pick), why not? However, maybe they allocate those resources elsewhere to shore up another area. The goaltending area was certainly unsettled with Billy Ranford manning the pipes in that 99 series.
January 17th, 2020 at 2:37 PM ^
The '99 team looked poise for a 3-peat after they made the trade deadline moves to get Wendel Clark, Chelios, and a backup goalie who had won a cup as a starter in Ranford. We won the first 6 games of the playoffs (the 2nd round vs Colorado started late because of the Columbine shooting). Osgood getting hurt was a big blow as Colorado was able to get through Ranford and Maracle and what seemed like a sure bet (up 2-0 in the conf semis) suddenly the season ended and the team flamed out in similar fashion for the 2000, 01, 03, and 04 playoffs.
January 17th, 2020 at 3:23 PM ^
If I recall correctly, Detroit was up 2-0 in the semis COMING BACK to Detroit.
I get lightheaded thinking about some of those early playoff exits from 1993 to 2006 (i.e. Maple Leafs, Sharks, Kings, Ducks, Flames, and Oilers).
January 16th, 2020 at 9:07 PM ^
Who the fuck downvoted this?
You should be floated out in the Detroit River to the Atlantic along with Ken Holland you piece of human garbage.
January 16th, 2020 at 9:35 PM ^
I watched Russian Five earlier this week on a Delta flight. It was well done. Too much Jeff Daniels though...
January 16th, 2020 at 9:37 PM ^
I just bought the dvd from eBay.
January 16th, 2020 at 9:43 PM ^
I watched it on a flight to Florida yesterday. Outstanding. The story of how they ‘kidnapped’ Federov caused me to start laughing mid-flight.
January 16th, 2020 at 9:50 PM ^
A long time ago I was introduced to the Wings and the Production Line and another 16, Ron Harris at the red barn, A bull on the line. Fast forward to the 90's and 16 is on the line, another killer. Hope we can find another run but never again will hockey be treated to another Russian 5, or the Production Line. Thank you for the posts, it was great going back in time.
January 17th, 2020 at 12:02 AM ^
I don't go back as far as the Production Line but my uncle never stopped talking about guys like Gordie, Ted Lindsay, Terry Sawchuk and the others. Seeing games at the Olympia in the 60's with my Dad are memories for a lifetime.
January 17th, 2020 at 8:00 AM ^
Back in the days in between periods the players just walked into the locker room with only saw horses. Fans would give Fats a cigar. Girls would go nuts over Unger. After we lost to Montreal in 66 I went on the ice and pulled one of metal net posts. While practicing on the ice Budd Lynch said after the Big M trade it’s time to have Norris go. After Abel had his say he was gone and up to the booth.
January 16th, 2020 at 9:51 PM ^
Retire #91.
January 17th, 2020 at 9:22 AM ^
A thousand times yes! Arguably the best player on a loaded team of the course of their three cup run
Federov was one of the best athletes I've ever seen.
At different all star events he won the fastest skater competition AND the hardest shot competition. There is not another player who could do that.
Just a ridiculous wealth of athleticism.
From the Great One himself: “I have never seen a player dominate the game the way Sergei did.”
January 17th, 2020 at 9:57 AM ^
Not only that, he was a shutdown defenseman when needed after they lost Vladdy. I love me some McJesus, but even he isn't that versatile.
January 17th, 2020 at 4:17 PM ^
Amen to that. Sergei was in a different league in terms of physical talent than anyone. Closest to him IMO was Jager in his prime.
January 16th, 2020 at 10:06 PM ^
It’s playing on NBC Sports next Tuesday at midnight.
January 17th, 2020 at 8:49 AM ^
Vladdie was a fearless warrior and you better have your head on a swivel if he was on the ice. I think they would have likely won another cup between 99-01 when in those years they lost to the Avs twice and the Kings.
For those that enjoyed the Russian Five, I highly recommend the Bob Probert story as well. Another tragic ending unfortunately but a guy that brought us a lot of joy in the late 80's / early 90's.
January 17th, 2020 at 9:01 AM ^
Wings would have won 4-5 Cups in a row with Vlady at his best. He had seasons being plus 70-80, amazing numbers. The definition of a shut down defenseman.
January 17th, 2020 at 5:02 PM ^
I'd put a Vlad-Lidstrom defensive pairing up against any team, anywhere.
They could shut you down in so many ways at any point in the game at any location on the ice.
Vlad's hands and touch were ridiculously good for a guy that was harder than a coffin nail.
January 17th, 2020 at 10:08 AM ^
A few years ago I listened to a long form radio special made up of interviews with Igor Larionov (produced by his daughter I think). It was fascinating, detailing his being noticed and eventually playing at the highest level in the Soviet league as part of the KLM line, to moving to the NHL, spending time at Gretzy's home, and of course the Russian Five with the Red Wings. Great story told by a very thoughtful and intelligent guy.
January 17th, 2020 at 10:32 AM ^
Can you imagine him on the blue line with Nicklas Lidstrom for another 10-12 years?
Wasn't he 30 or 31 when the accident happened? 10-12 more years would't have happened. I bet he would have been around for the 2002 Cup though. Maybe he helps them get to another final in that time.
January 17th, 2020 at 12:23 PM ^
It's fun to have championship teams .
Red Wings made it a priority to be elite.
January 18th, 2020 at 3:24 AM ^
A marvelous documentary with a heartbreaking ending.