been given a tremendous opportunity to remain a Red Wing as long as I have. A thousand games in a Red Wings uniform is something that I'm really proud of. I never imagined we'd be sitting here talking about something like that." On July 25, 2011, the Detroit Red Wings prematurely announced the retirement of Draper, which was to be announced the next day at an 11 a.m news conference in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. The news of the retirement was leaked through a photo album the organization posted on their official website. The album, titled "Kris Draper in Photographs," contained 71 pictures. The 68th picture was accompanied by a caption that read, "After 1,157 games and four Stanley Cup championships, Kris Draper announced his retirement during a press conference on July 26, 2011." It was reported that Draper desired to play another season; however, the team did not have a roster spot for him, and he refused to sign a two-way deal or attend training camp to try out for a roster spot. Draper retired on July 26, 2011. Draper returned to the ice on December 31, 2016, playing for the Red Wings in their Centennial Classic alumni game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. During the game, Draper was involved in a heated physical exchange with Gary Roberts, an uncommon occurrence in alumni games. Management career Immediately following Draper's retirement from hockey, he was added to the Red Wings' front office staff. He previously served as the special assistant to the general manager, Ken Holland. In this position Draper "work[s] closely with Detroit’s management team, assisting in player evaluation at both the professional and amateur levels. He will be asked to provide input regarding potential trades and free agent signings, as well as providing insight into potential selections at the annual NHL Entry Draft." On July 11, 2019, Draper was promoted to director of amateur scouting by new GM and former teammate Steve Yzerman, following the departure of Tyler Wright to Edmonton. Personal life Draper and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Kennedi and Kamryn, and a son, Kienan. Kienan was drafted by the Saginaw Spirit in the eighth round of the 2018 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft. He played for the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League during the 2020–2021 season, and currently plays for the Michigan Wolverines. Kienan was drafted in the seventh round,