The Detroit Red Wings have formed rivalries with numerous different NHL teams. Who are they?
The Detroit Red Wings are no strangers to rivalry. As one of the initial six teams in a new league, they have seen every expansion team in NHL history. That alone is cause enough for rivalries to form.
We are all familiar with the legendary rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks, as well as the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup rivalry with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Of course, the “Spirited” rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche cannot be overlooked.
However, NHL rivalries have mostly faded away. Sure, the Battle of Alberta between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames continues, and the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins retain some of the “Original Six rivalry” charm. Overall, rivalries between teams like Detroit and Colorado are almost non-existent in the modern NHL.
That hasn’t prevented the Red Wings from attempting to build a few, primarily within their division. Various elements have fueled these rivalries. Some started on social media amongst fanbases, while others began with an incident on the ice between players.
The Florida Panthers have long been a source of frustration for the Detroit Red Wings.
The Florida Panthers, the newly crowned Stanley Cup champions, haven’t always been so good. For the majority of their existence, they were one of the league’s “mid” clubs, and at times, one of the worst. Throughout that time, they were the Red Wings’ nemesis.
The Red Wings have had no luck against the Panthers, regardless of how good or horrible they were. In fact, until the 2023-24 season, the Red Wings had only won three of their previous seventeen games versus the “Tropical Cats.” Even last season, they only won one game against them, a 3-2 overtime victory.
Aside from the current win/loss record, the two teams’ last few games against each other have been extremely competitive. Both appear to get under each other’s skin and are unable to leave each other alone in front of the net or take “cheap shots” during board battles. Even so, each game is entertaining in some manner.
