Detroit Red Wings Unveil Centennial Logo, New Secondary Marks Ahead of 100th NHL Season

A century of the NHL in Hockeytown will be celebrated in 2025-26 as the Detroit Red Wings unveiled their commemorative 100th anniversary season logo this morning.

The centennial logo features a redrawn version of the Red Wings’ 1932 “Winged Wheel,” directly integrated into the number “100.” The numbers are designed specifically to match the style of the wheel in the logo, creating a nice extension of the classic logo. The design uses the team’s traditional Red Wings red paired with a new vintage white tone created specifically for the anniversary campaign.

In addition to the centennial mark, the Red Wings introduced two new secondary logos, both nods to the early days of the franchise.

The first is a redrawn version of the original Winged Wheel, which the team used from 1932 to 1948. This version features a simplified spoke and wing design more consistent with its earliest renditions.

Graphic via Detroit Red Wings

The second is a revival of the “Cougar D” monogram, first worn by the team in its inaugural season as the Detroit Cougars in 1926–27. The updated logo maintains the angular, blackletter-inspired styling of the original while refining the lines and spacing for modern use. It will be used as a secondary mark throughout the centennial season.

LINK: Detroit Red Wings logo and uniform history

The club did not unveil a new uniform as part of this release, but did say they’ll be unveiling one later this summer. The uniform will be “inspired by 100 years of hard work, perseverance, and dedication,” and will “pay tribute to the franchise’s rich history by blending both modern and original detailing.”

The Red Wings were initially known as the Detroit Cougars when they joined the NHL in 1926, a name inherited from their previous home in Victoria, British Columbia. The Cougars’ identity had first been used by that club in the old PCHL back in 1922, referencing a native wildcat of Vancouver Island. Other names reportedly under consideration at the time included Oaks, Sunbeams, and Roses.

The Cougars name lasted four seasons in Detroit but never fully caught on. Several losing seasons and the gradual departure of players from the original 1925 Stanley Cup-winning Victoria roster diminished interest in the original name. Reports at the time also suggested that many local fans mispronounced the name, and others noted that the nickname had no connection whatsoever to the city of Detroit.

The Detroit Cougars above and the 1933-34 Detroit Red Wings below

Ahead of the 1930-31 season, the team ran a fan contest to help choose a new name. A panel of local sportswriters selected “Falcons” from among thousands of entries, including finalists such as Trojans, Wanderers, and Magnetos. The Falcons name remained in use for two seasons.

In 1932, following a change in ownership, the team was renamed the Red Wings. The Montréal AAA club, the first Stanley Cup Champions in 1893, inspired the new name as they wore a winged wheel on their sweaters. This also allowed the team to reference Detroit’s automotive heritage through their own winged wheel logo. The Red Wings’ logo and name have remained in use ever since.

The Red Wings are the last of the six “Original Six” teams to release a centennial anniversary logo, following the Montréal Canadiens in 2009, the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017, the Boston Bruins in 2024, as well as the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks who will both celebrate alongside Detroit in 2025-26.