By most accounts, the 2016 off-season for the Detroit Red Wings was an anticlimactic experience. It was a summer that saw zero defensive signings, a position which was viewed as Detroit’s greatest need, and was paired with the unsuccessful cock tease of attempting to sign Steven Stamkos. So when Detroit fans ended up with Frans Nielson and Thomas Vanek without even getting the chance to negotiate with the Tampa Bay star forward, Wings fans were on edge. The former American hockey dynasty needed a signing or transaction to give them hope for the upcoming season.

Enter: Steve Ott.

On July 1st, 2016 the Detroit Red Wings signed 13-year-vet and former 25th overall pick of the 2000 NHL entry draft, Steve Ott.

Steve Ott was the cherry on top to to the dump sundae concocted by Ken Holland and the Red Wings front office. After signing the then 33-year-old, the Red Wings social media team posted this photo on their Instagram.

 

I’m a big fan of the Wings social media presence, but man, I don’t know who thought it would be a good idea to flash Otter’s 2015-16, 0 goal, 2 assist campaign to a group of already disgruntled fans. Needless to say, it wasn’t received well.

I’ll be the first to admit the signing had me scratching my head as well. And by “scratching my head” I mean “violently breaking company property” in my work cubicle. With young fellas in a flourishing farm system, I did not understand the reasoning behind bringing in an aging vet at the end of his career who would not add to the offense and take up a roster spot.

But as I did my research, Ott started to tug on my heart strings. I have been criticized by my friends for having a soft spot for these “love of the game, love of the Wings” type of guys. The ones who are proud as fuck to don the Winged Wheel. I defended the Wings when they resigned Cleary. Something I ended up eating my own shit on. But god damn it did that guy love being a Red Wing. Here are excerpts from an NHL.com article written on the day Ott signed with Detroit:

Steve Ott once signed an $11,800,000 deal from 2010-2014 with the Dallas Stars, yet this $800K, one year deal he just signed with Detroit is his most exciting. The guy is a grinder who loves the mother fucking Detroit Red Wings, then in pre-season him and poster boy Larkin did this:

Adorable. But even with all his Detroit love, I still couldn’t fully look beyond the puzzling contract for someone who was passed his prime and not going to add much to the stat sheet. That was until my buddy sent me a link of this video.

Yes. That Steve Ott’s kid raging sack to the greatest sports anthem ever concocted. A song I grew up on and watched the Wings go to 6 Stanley Cup finals, raise 4, and never miss the playoffs since my birth in ’91. Secondly, that kid’s name is fucking Maverick. MAVERICK. Is there a hotter name in the game? The answer is no. The Wings should already be looking into signing that kid.

From this video I obviously dug further and made the discovery of Erica, the most down-ass chick in the hockey-wife community. Her Twitter (@EricaRene4) and Instagram (@erica_ott) are drenched with Detroit, Red Wings, hockey, family, and husband love.

In addition to just loving on Detroit and the greatest game on earth, I’ll get to the reason 98% of you clicked on this article. She’s also a complete smokeshow.

With a fiercely attractive wild/borderline psycho side:

Pair Detroit+Red Wings+hockey-in-general love, with a sprinkle of grit, a dash of insanity, and a whole bucket of down-to-ride and you have yourself the coolest most bad-ass sports wife in Detroit.

Sorry Kelly B. Hall, Stafford is absolutely ripping it right now but Erica Ott is my gal.

Not only has this cleared my head about the confusing signing of Ott, it has made me consider buying his jersey, and infuriated me that his deal was only for one year. So keep kicking ass and taking names on the 4th line, Steve. You’re officially my Red Wing for the 2016-17 season. Don’t take no shit from no one, not even the biggest mother fucker in the league. #LGRW.

🍾

 – Frank