Red Wings’ Maltby was the ultimate pest  Though he never played
on a #1 line, Kirk Maltby played against many of them.  Maltby’s
skills were such that he was often asked to disrupt the tactics
of the most talented players on the opposing team. He was like a
defensive specialist in basketball, shutting down the best
scorer, all the while poking and pestering them until they grew
so frustrated that they snapped.  Then, he had them right where
he wanted them.  As part of Detroit’s famous “Grind Line” with
Kris Draper and Darren McCarty (and at times, Joey Kocur),
Maltby played a crucial role for the Red Wings in his 14 seasons
in the red and white. This wasn’t lost on the fans at Joe Louis
Arena, and as a result, Maltby became one of the most beloved
players in franchise history.  In all of Detroit sports history,
few athletes enjoyed the widespread allegiance that Matby did.
And though his #18 may never hang from the rafters of The Joe
alongside famous teammate Steve Yzerman, Maltby drew cheers for
his gritty p