Brett Hull did not hold back when reflecting on the loaded 2003 Detroit Red Wings roster and their shortcomings. The lineup had Stanley Cup pedigree and several eventual Hall of Fame players. However, they were unable to reach the Stanley Cup finals.
The Red Wings had high expectations ahead of the 2002-03 NHL season. After winning the 2002 Stanley Cup, both goaltender Dominik Hasek and head coach Scotty Bowman announced their retirements. They addressed Hasek’s retirement by signing Curtis Joseph, who had been a key contributor for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dave Lewis, who served as assistant coach under Bowman, was named the new head coach. Despite the familiarity with the roster, Detroit was upset in the 1st round by the 7th seeded Anaheim Ducks.
Hull and former teammate Ray Whitney explained that Lewis’ line combinations and coaching philosophy were not ideal. The strategy demanded too much from the veteran stars, who were all well into their 30s and dealing with injuries.
Brett Hull and Ray Whitney Say Dave Lewis’ Line Management Cost Red Wings
Brett Hull and Ray Whitney shared their honest take on Dave Lewis‘ coaching strategies and line management after he took over for Scotty Bowman. Instead of running four set lines, Lewis implemented a different strategy involving four players per line.
“Dave Lewis came up with the idea of three lines of four players, so you play for three shift and then you sit out the next one,” Whitney told Ice Guardians Podcast. “It’s taking away from players that were playing. It just wasn’t working.”
At the time, captain Steve Yzerman missed a large portion of the season after undergoing knee surgery during the offseason. When he returned, Lewis heavily relied on him, and he logged significant ice time as a result.
Hull acknowledged that Lewis was an excellent assistant coach but not a strong head coach. He recalled the physical toll the system created, particularly on veterans.
According to Hall, Lewis did not fully utilize Detroit’s talented young stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
Both Hull and Whitney revealed that they approached Lewis and offered to play on the fourth line to help balance the lines.
“I [told Lewis], ‘If you think that we’re gonna win the Stanley Cup when you’re playing [Brendan] Shanahan and [Steve] Yzerman 22, 24 minutes a game, when Stevie can’t even walk, and you’ve got Datsyuk and Zetterberg and they’re playing 13 minutes a game, it’s asinine,'” Hull said.
Hull added: “That should be flip-flopped. [Datsyuk and Zetterberg] were unreal. It’s just crazy.”
How did Hull Perform During 2002-03 Season?
While Hull did not agree with Lewis’ coaching strategies, he thrived offensively during the 2002-03 season.
During his first season in Detroit, Hull scored 30 goals and added 33 assists for a total of 63 points. Under Lewis, Hull’s production improved.
Hull, then 38, finished the 2002-03 season with 37 goals and 39 assists for a total of 76 points. It marked his final 30-goal season, as he went on to score 25 goals the following year.
After the lockout, Hull retired after only five games with the Phoenix Coyotes, where he registered only one assist.
Brett Hull Reveals Why the Star-Studded 2003 Red Wings Failed