Draper: Wings-Avs alumni game 'going to be amazing'

The Detroit Red Wings-Colorado Avalanche rivalry was arguably one of the most heated in professional sports from 1996-2002.

Kris Draper believes that's what will make the Feb. 26 alumni game at Coors Field just as good as the Stadium Series regular-season game a day later.

"What we went through in 1996 to 2002, I guess it's going to be interesting to see how that game plays out," the former Red Wings forward, now a special assistant to the general manager, said today at a news conference in Denver. "Every time the Detroit Red Wings get mentioned up here, everyone kind of smiles and laughs. I think I know why."

First of all, the Red Wings and Avalanche were great teams; they combined for five Stanley Cups from 1996-02, with the Red Wings winning in 1997, 1998 and 2002 and the Avs winning in 1996 and 2001.

But the two teams also engaged in plenty of on-ice high jinks over the years, including a massive brawl in March 1997 at Joe Louis Arena that included a goalie fight between Mike Vernon and Patrick Roy. That brawl stemmed from an incident in the 1996 Western Conference Finals, when Claude Lemieux checked Draper face-first into the boards.

While it's doubtful we'll see any of that on Feb. 26, when stars from both teams take the ice one more time, Draper is still pretty hyped about the reunion in Denver.

"I was just inside talking to Joe (Sakic)," Draper said today. "The players he has coming out to this event, it's going to be amazing."

Though the full rosters are still to be determined, Draper said the Wings will have Steve Yzerman, Paul Coffey, Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Osgood and Vernon. The Avs will have Joe Sakic, Roy, Peter Forsberg, Rob Blake, Milan Hejduk and Adam Foote.

Contact Brian Manzullo: bmanzullo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianManzullo.