Sports
Kris Draper
born 1971 · ice hockey forward and executive
Four-time Stanley Cup champion who spent 17 seasons with the Red Wings as part of the famed "Grind Line," then stayed on in the front office as assistant general manager.
- Born
Toronto, Ontario
age 55- Birth name
- Kristopher Bruce Draper
- Detroit years
- 1993–2011, 2011–present
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Draper had played only 20 NHL games in four seasons with the Winnipeg Jets when Detroit acquired him in 1993 for one dollar, a trade that became one of the best bargains in franchise history. He became a fixture on the defensively relentless "Grind Line" with Kirk Maltby and either Joe Kocur or Darren McCarty, and won the Stanley Cup with Detroit four times, in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward and served as an alternate captain, and on March 17, 2009, became only the fifth player in Red Wings history to play 1,000 games for the club, joining Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidström. His planned retirement was announced at a press conference at Joe Louis Arena in 2011. He immediately joined the Red Wings' front office, working his way up to assistant general manager by 2023.
Highlights
- Won four Stanley Cups with Detroit (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008)
- Key member of the famed defensive "Grind Line" with Kirk Maltby
- Won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for best defensive forward
- One of only five players to reach 1,000 games in a Red Wings uniform
- Assistant general manager of the Red Wings since 2023
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 1993–2011
Joe Louis Arena
Demolished · 1979–2019
His home ice for all 17 seasons and all four championships; his retirement was announced here in 2011. Demolished in 2019–2020.
Worked here · 2017–present
Little Caesars Arena
Where he continues his front-office work for the Red Wings.