Page "Detroit Red Wings" Paragraph 22

Only a year after making the Finals, the Red Wings finished a distant fifth, 24 points out of the playoffs.

It was the beginning of a slump from which they would not emerge for almost 20 years.

Between 1967 and 1983, Detroit only made the playoffs twice, winning one series.

From 1968 to 1982, the Wings had 14 head coaches ( not counting interim coaches ), with none lasting more than three seasons.

In contrast, their first six full-time coaches – Art Duncan, Adams, Ivan, Jimmy Skinner and Abel – covered a 42 – year period.

During this dark era in franchise history, the team was derisively known as the " Dead Wings " or " Dead Things ".