The Ottawa Senators and the Detroit Red Wings are in the midst of starting one of hockey’s hottest rivalries, and how. Nowadays, certain qualities of a simpler time seem to pass us by in this world of autonomous electric cars and AI predicting sports outcomes. One thing that has lost its glow, is sports rivalries. Maybe not so much for existing hockey clashes, but how can one be expected to recreate the passion that has been passed down through the generations? Thus, everyone knows of the emotion that exists for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. But here we shall explore the birth of a new kind of rivalry, one with all the ingredients for a longstanding feud.
Newly Formed Rivalries Should Include the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings
In terms of rivalries for the Ottawa Senators, Detroit was a new one. If we go way back to the Detroit Cougars franchise, their first year in the NHL was 1927. In addition, this was the first year the Stanley Cup format changed. Previously, it was a showdown between the top team from the East and the West. This was the first year the Stanley Cup was contested between NHL teams only. And fittingly, the last time an Ottawa Senators franchise won the Cup. We will throw in there, that Detroit wasn’t that good that year. Therefore, the cities never developed a rivalry, and before too long, the Ottawa franchise was no more.
The Red Wings Don’t Mind a Good Scrap
There have been rivalries throughout the NHL since the reincarnation of the Ottawa Senators. In the late nineties, Detroit had one of its own with the powerful Colorado Avalanche. Whether it was epic playoff matchups featuring Darren McCarty and Claude Lemieux, or a more skilled affair with legends Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic. This was just one of the great rivalries that seemed to develop out of the battles for or in the playoffs. So, how does this relate to the current Wings and Sens teams?
How the League Has Changed
Indeed, the past animosity isn’t there between the Ottawa Senators and the Detroit Red Wings to grow as other rivalries. That’s why the timing of it seems so fitting. If we think back to the 2011-12 season, the Winnipeg Jets joined the NHL that year in the Southeast division. It wasn’t until the 2013-14 season, when the NHL had the sense to go from six divisions to four divisions, and the alignment became more logical. Teams geographically connected such as Detroit, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo, and Montreal all ended up in the same division. This was the first opportunity for the Wings and the Sens to really form any sense of competitiveness. Even back when both teams were perennial playoff participants in the late 90s, being in separate conferences never allowed for the geopolitical neighbours to interact.
Bringing Together the Sens and Wings
Now that there became some sort of rivalry possibly developing, there was one further development to lead to extra meaning. Coincidentally enough, it did synch up with the two teams being connected through divisional alignment. Daniel Alfredsson made the decision to finish out his career as a member of the Winged Wheel. After 17 years as a Senator, and many of those as a captain, Alfie felt as though he was not being fairly treated. Feeling he had more in the tank, the 40-year-old took what he felt was owed, and accepted the one-year offer from the Wings. It is not really the Wings organization’s fault for landing Alfie, who wouldn’t want to have him? It just added to the emotion when an Ottawa and Detroit matchup took place.
Fuelling Rivalries Between the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings
These days this idea of rivalries, specifically between the Wings and Ottawa Senators is starting to gain some traction. If we recall from late in 2022-23, Detroit still had an outside chance of qualification for the playoffs. Then all of a sudden, Ottawa flexed their muscle and crushed any dreams Wings fans had at the postseason. This was accomplished during a back-to-back set of games. This is the type of action that rivalries are born out of and a great way to prepare for the intensity of playoff hockey.
Since then, a couple more items have popped up, sparking the bubbling feud. During the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, it was well documented that Sens General Manager Pierre Dorion was looking to move DeBrincat. DeBrincat had been unwilling to re-sign a long-term extension. Conversely, Wing General Manager Steve Yzerman was playing hardball, and wouldn’t budge at the time. Eventually, Yzerman came around. Perhaps he wanted to do what he could to prevent Ottawa from selecting in the 2023 early rounds.
As we have gone on, there have been reported grumblings from Alex DeBrincat on his time in Ottawa. Nothing is overly substantiated, and it just didn’t help that he had a down year production-wise for his own standards. Essentially, he was being frustrated for scoring only 27 goals (his second-lowest total in NHL, and that was the 18 in the shortened 2019-20 campaign). Furthermore, it was the second worst shooting percentage at 10.3% (8.7% also in the 2019-20 season).
It Will Be a Fight to the Finish
Either way, it was the general consensus that DeBrincat would rather not be in Ottawa. Having ended up on Detroit has fuelled a sense of resentment amongst the Ottawa faithful. Also, when the teams meet, they do have one headline, in the battle of budding German superstars. Sens fans will tell you Tim Stutzle is a star right now. Also, it is hard to deny the fact defenceman Moritz Seider is not near the status as well. In addition, for this season, many of the prognosticators have the Sens and Wings battling it out for the final playoff spot. Don’t forget, battling it out along with the Buffalo Sabres.
We will see tonight if there is enough fuel to ignite a fire between the clubs. As they square off, they do so as top team’s in the Atlantic division standings along with Boston. It is yet to be seen how the Sens fans respond to DeBrincat. Let’s hope for some hard hitting action, and the players to take of it themselves.
Main photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
