2021 Detroit Red Wings Year in Review

DETROIT -- 2021 was a year unlike any other for Hockeytown and the Detroit Red Wings.
As the Red Wings and the rest of the NHL fought through the COVID-19 pandemic, Detroit adjusted to enjoy several memorable team moments, individual achievements and milestones throughout the calendar year.

As 2021 comes to an end in less than 48 hours, let's look back on the best moments in Hockeytown from the past 12 months.

January 1 - Forty players start 2020-21 training camp in advance of condensed 56-game season

For more than nine months, there was no professional hockey in Detroit. Then on New Year's Day, the Red Wings returned to the ice at the BELFOR Training Center for the first time since March 2020 to kick off training camp in advance of a regular season that was shortened too 56 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

January 13 - Dylan Larkin named 37th captain in franchise history

One day before the 2020-21 season kicked off, Red Wings center Dylan Larkin was named team captain, becoming the first Michigander and native metro Detroiter to wear the 'C' for the club. A native of Waterford, Mich., Larkin had served as an alternate captain for the Red Wings since 2018-19. He became the franchise's first captain since Henrik Zetterberg, who retired on Sept. 14, 2018.

February 7 - Givani Smith earns "Gordie Howe Hat Trick"

The iconic "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" consists of a player scoring a goal, recording an assist and dropping the gloves for a fight during a single game. Against the Florida Panthers, Red Wings forward Givani Smith did all three to help Detroit earn a 4-1 win and snap an eight-game losing skid.

April 22 - Jakub Vrana scores four goals against Stars

Just 10 days after being acquired by the Red Wings in a trade, forward Jakub Vrana showed Hockeytown his tremendous scoring potential as he scored four goals to lead Detroit to a 7-3 win over the Dallas Stars. Vrana's offensive outburst was the first time a Red Wings player had a four-goal outing since Oct. 6, 2019, when Anthony Mantha, the player he was traded for, also netted four goals against the Stars.

May 1 - Thomas Greiss records back-to-back shutouts

Red Wings veteran netminder Thomas Greiss finished his 2020-21 season on a high note and collected back-to-back shutouts for the third time in his career to help him earn the NHL's First Star of the Week honors for the week ending May 2.
On April 27, the 35-year-old blocked all 33 shots by the Columbus Blue Jackets to earn his first shutout with the Red Wings. In his next start, he made 33 saves against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was the first time that a Red Wings goaltender earned consecutive shutouts since Petr Mrazek did it from Jan. 14-22, 2018.

May 18 - Red Wings extend head coach Jeff Blashill

After Jeff Blashill completed his 10th season in the organization and sixth as head coach, Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced that Blashill agreed to a contract extension. Since taking over as head coach in 2015, Blashill has overseen a transitional period and has served as a key factor for the development of several young players, including Tyler Bertuzzi, Larkin, Moritz Seider and more.

October 14 - Tyler Bertuzzi kicks off 2021-22 regular season with four goals

To open the 2021-22 home slate at Little Caesars Arena, Bertuzzi scored four goals to lead a Red Wings offense that found the back of the net six times against the Lightning. The 26-year-old became the ninth player in NHL history to score at least four goals in a season opener.

October 14 - Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond make their NHL debuts

There was an added level of excitement in the air at Little Caesars Arena before the puck dropped between the Red Wings and Lightning for the 2021-22 season opener as Seider and Lucas Raymond made their NHL debuts.
Against the Lightning, Seider collected two assists and Raymond had one helper. Through 31 games, Seider and Raymond have continued to emerge as two of the top rookies in the NHL.

October 24 - Lucas Raymond's first career hat trick leads Detroit past Chicago

Detroit recorded its first road win of the 2021-22 season and Raymond celebrated his first career hat trick as the Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 6-3, at the United Center. Raymond became the first Detroit skater age 19 or younger to score a hat trick since Yzerman did it on April 30, 1985.

November 30 - Red Wings notch 3,000th victory with win over Boston

Led by a 41-save night from goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, the Red Wings beat the Boston Bruins, 2-1, to secure the franchise's 3,000th win. With the victory, Detroit raised the club's all-time points total to 7,001 and became the fourth team in NHL history to win at least 3,000 games.

December 4 - Red Wings extend their winning streak to five games

With 1:27 to play in overtime, Seider recorded his second overtime goal of the season as he fired a shot past New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin to extend Detroit's winning streak to five straight games. It was Detroit's longest winning streak since the club won six consecutive contests from March 23 - April 2, 2019.

December 18 - Dylan Larkin's first career hat trick guides Red Wings past Devils

The Red Wings faithful showered the ice at Little Caesars Arena with hats and beanies after Larkin scored his third goal of the night against the New Jersey Devils to secure his first career hat trick. On the night, the Red Wings captain tallied four points - his best outing of the 2021-22 season to date.