Infamous Red Wings Free Agent Lands Head Coaching Role with New Hockey Team
Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Uwe Krupp is the new head coach for HC Lugano in the Swiss National league.
HC Lugano has had a tough year. They are currently in 13th place in the league, putting them in danger of being relegated next season.
As a result, they have elected to make a change behind the bench, bringing in former Red Wings defenseman Uwe Krupp to serve as their bench boss.
Krupp revealed in his introductory press conference with the team that several clubs around Europe had interest in him, but he did not want to be a head coach.
However, things changed when he started talking with Lugano, although he did not specify exactly what enticed him to sign with the team, only pointing to their history and 'great tradition.'
During the press conference, he also briefly explained how he plans to tun things around with the team, consulting with fellow former NHLer and assistant coach Antti Tormanen in the process.
Krupp had a lengthy career in the NHL but became infamous towards the end of it after he signed a four-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings ahead of the 1998-1999 season.
he appeared in just 22 games that year, putting up 5 points before he suffered a serious back injury that effectively ended his NHL career.
In the years following the injury, he would appear in just 12 regular-season NHL games, and only 8 of those came with Detroit.
As a result, he has been long remembered as one of the worst free agency signings in Red Wings history.
To this day, the team still seems to struggle with their free agent signings.
However, one signing that has worked out for them came this summer, when they signed Patrick Kane to a one-year deal.
Kane is now fourth on the team in scoring with 10 goals and 27 points through 38 games.
Certainly, his deal has worked out a bit better that Krupp's ever did.
