You Never Know Where Old Red Wings Might Show Up

You just never know when and where a former Detroit Red Wings player is going to be showing up. In the past week alone, they’ve been popping up in the midst of a Detroit Lions touchdown celebration, transferring their pro wrestling skills to the ice and showing their teammates some new dance moves.

One of the perks of being a former pro athlete is that you can get good seats to just about any event. Yes, that was former Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader helping Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown vault into the seats following his TD reception last Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field.

Abdelkader, who played 739 games for the Red Wings from 2008-20, scoring 23 goals in 2014-15, was sitting in front row end zone seats. That’s the perfect location to become part of the Lions version of the Lambeau Leap.

Former Red Wings McCarty Getting Nasty

Since he’s left the NHL, former Red Wings Grind Lind member Darren McCarty has tried his hand at music, radio and pro wrestling. And he was able to put those athletic simulation skills you master in the ring to use in the rink.

McCarty was among the Red Wings Alumni who took on the cast of the TV show Shoresy in a recent hockey game at Little Caesars Arena. In the midst of the battle, McCarty stood and went toe-to-toe with minor league tough guy legend Jon (Nasty) Mirasty.

Darren McCarty can STILL throw hands. 👊#LGRW pic.twitter.com/XbFgAXMyrH

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) November 12, 2024

In can only be described as an epic tilt. McCarty and Mirasty were staging one of the most sensational faux hockey fights you’ll ever witness.

According to data compiled by HockeyFights.com, McCarty fought 142 times as a pro. He collected at least 100 PIM in seven of his 11 seasons with the Red Wings. Mirasty’s career would never see him climb higher than the AHL on the hockey ladder. He’s given credit for 262 pro bouts.

Jussi’s Got Some Moves

If only Jussi Olkinuora could’ve blocked pucks as fluidly as he busts a move. Then he might’ve played goal for the Red Wings. As it was, Olkinuora spent just half a season with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins in 2022-23 after signing a pro contract with Detroit. He was playing just 15 games with the Griffins before the Red Wings were releasing him.

Finnish ice hockey goalie Jussi Olkinuora doesn't just play in Frankfurt, Germany – he also gives out very Finnish dance lessons, apparently!pic.twitter.com/8xIKNwLHX3

— thisisFINLAND (@thisisFINLAND) November 19, 2024

Today, Olkinuora is playing in Germany for the Frankfurt Lions. However, following a recent video clip of Olkinuora showing his teammates his on-ice dance moves, Jussi might be getting a call from Dancing With The Stars.

Kaski Out For Season

Oliwer Kaski was another European free agent signing of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman who didn’t pan out. The Finnish defenseman would play 19 games for the Griffins in 2019-20 prior to being dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes.

This season, he’d been playing for HV71 of Sweden’s SHL. Well, he was until suffering a serious upper-body injury in the club’s season opener. Kaski, 29, hasn’t played since and won’t be playing again for awhile. He’ll be undergoing surgery. Expectations are it will be season-ending.