Darren McCarty Darren McCarty ( born April 1 , 1972 in Burnaby , British Columbia ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . McCarty has been known more for his fists than his scoring ability , taking on the role of the Red Wings enforcer most of his career , a role in which he won four Stanley Cup s in 1997 , 1998 , 2002 , and 2008 , the last of which after resurrecting his career in the Red Wings minor league system . Playing career . Detroit Red Wings . Drafted in the 2nd round , 46th overall , by the Red Wings in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft , McCarty scored 26 points in his rookie season as the Wings won the Central Division title . In the 1996 – 97 NHL season , McCarty scored a career best 19 goals and 42 points as the Wings swept the Philadelphia Flyers for their first Stanley Cup in 42 years . McCarty scored the Cup - clinching goal in Game 4 . This goal , scored on an inside - outside move around a Flyers ' defenseman and goalie , was honored as one of the best goals of the year . From the 1997 – 98 season until his departure from the team , McCarty was part of Detroit ' s famous Grind Line with centre Kris Draper and winger Kirk Maltby , which was often matched up against the opponent ' s top offensive line . One of McCarty ' s most infamous moments was in the famous incident on March 26 , 1997 , where a massive brawl broke out between the Colorado Avalanche and Red Wings . McCarty fought Avalanche right winger Claude Lemieux with a blistering punch , and continued punching Lemieux while Lemieux covered to avoid damage . McCarty also scored the winning goal in overtime , a 6 - 5 Detroit victory . In the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs , McCarty registered his first hat trick in Game One of the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche ' s Patrick Roy . McCarty scored four goals in the series , a career best . Detroit won the series and eventually a third Stanley Cup in six years . Calgary Flames . After 11 seasons with the Red Wings , McCarty and the team parted ways as the lockout cancelled the 2004 – 05 NHL season . McCarty ' s contract was bought out by the Red Wings . He then signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames on August 2 , 2005 . In the 2006 – 07 season , McCarty appeared in only 32 games and for the first time in his career , failed to score a point . Flint Generals . On December 31 , 2007 , the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League announced that McCarty had signed with the team . The Generals are co - owned by McCarty ' s former Grind Liner , Kris Draper , who encouraged McCarty to make a comeback to professional hockey . McCarty made his home debut for the Generals on January 12 , 2008 and recorded one assist in the 4 – 3 victory . In ten games with the Generals , McCarty had three goals , two assists , and thirty penalty minutes . Grand Rapids Griffins and return to the Red Wings . On January 30 , 2008 , the Grand Rapids Press reported that McCarty would sign a professional tryout contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins . On February 4 , 2008 , this was made official . In his Griffins debut at Van Andel Arena , he tallied a hat trick and added an assist to power Grand Rapids to a 6 – 3 win over the Lake Erie Monsters . On February 20 , media outlets began to report on Detroit Red Wings manager Ken Holland ' s speculation that McCarty would likely be offered a contract by the organization . On February 25 , the Red Wings signed McCarty to a one year contract . On March 7 , 2008 , McCarty was called up by the Red Wings . Facing Nashville in the opening round of the 2008 playoffs , McCarty scored the opening goal in Game Two , a 4 - 2 Detroit win . The season concluded with McCarty winning his fourth Stanley Cup . McCarty signed a one - year contract with the Wings in the offseason . On November 18 , 2008 , the Red Wings placed McCarty on waivers . McCarty cleared waivers and remained with the team . After being sent to Grand Rapids for one game , McCarty was soon recalled . He played 13 games in the 2008 - 2009 season amassing 1 goal and 25 penalty minutes ( all of which came from fighting majors ) . In late - November Mccarty suffered a groin strain which landed him on Injury Reserve . On February 24 , 2009 the Detroit Red Wings reassigned McCarty to the Grand Rapids Griffins , following his activation from injured reserve and recovery from his sports hernia surgery in January . He played in 19 games for the Griffins in the 2008 - 2009 season scoring 5 goals and getting 6 assists for a total of 11 points . He was in one fight ; it was against Alex Henry of the Hamilton Bulldogs in the last game of the season and it added five minutes to his final regular season total of 21 penalty minutes . During the Griffins playoff run McCarty played all 10 games and posted 3 goals , 1 assist and 8 penalty minutes . On May 10 , just days after the Griffins were eliminated in the playoffs by the Manitoba Moose , McCarty was recalled by the Red Wings along with several other Griffins players .