The 2008–09Detroit Red Wings season was the 83rd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The Detroit Red Wings attempted to defend their Stanley Cup title, but they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games in the Stanley Cup Finals, the team they defeated in the finals the previous season. The Red Wings roster featured former Penguin Marian Hossa, who signed a one-year contract with Detroit during the summer of 2008, as well as former Penguins backup Ty Conklin. They won 51 games during the regular season, the fourth consecutive season of 50 or more victories.
Off-season
June 9: Dominik Hasek announced his retirement from the NHL. June 10: Detroit signed head coachMike Babcock to three-year contract extension. June 11: Assistant coachTodd McLellan signed with the San Jose Sharks as their new head coach. June 30: The Detroit Red Wings re-signed defenseman Andreas Lilja to a two-year contract. July 1: Brad Stuart re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings. It is a four-year deal worth $3.75 million per season, and a no-trade clause for the first two. July 2: Marian Hossa signed a one-year, $7.45 million contract. July 15: Dallas Drake announced his retirement from the NHL. July 23: Ryan Oulahen re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings with a one-year deal. July 30: Valtteri Filppula re-signed on a five-year, $15 million contract.
Regular season
Excluding six shootout-winning goals, the Red Wings scored 289 goals during the regular season, the most of all 30 teams in the NHL. They also scored the most power-play goals, with 90, and had the best power-play percentage, at 25.50%.
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Schedule and results
Playoffs
Detroit had not missed the post-season since 1989–90. The 2008–09 season was their 18th consecutive playoff season. During the Finals, Head Coach Mike Babcock joined Mike Keenan as the only coaches in NHL history to coach in Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals on two different teams, having been with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2003. When the Red Wings lost Game 7, Babcock had the unfortunate distinction of becoming the first coach in NHL history to lose a Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals on two different teams, as his Ducks lost to the New Jersey Devils in 2003.
Player statistics
Skaters
Regular season
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Playoffs
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Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime Losses; GA = Goals against; GAA= Goals Against Average; SA= Shots Against; SV= Saves; Sv% = Save Percentage; SO= Shutouts
