Here, though, the tradition is rooted as deep as Lake Superior, and a couple of decades of playoff runs — not to mention four Stanley Cups — have created a more forgiving fan base.
It helps, too, that the icon of those runs is now running the franchise. If you’re looking for an explanation for the Wings’ relatively dedicated and throaty crowds, there it is.
Inside the franchise it’s known as the Steve Yzerman bump. Faith in what he has done and what he will do has allowed for a kind of patience.