Sergei Fedorov: Red Wings legend never far away from hockey
DETROIT (BVM) – Russian icon Sergei Fedorov made quite an impression during his time with the Detroit Red Wings. In the wake of his tremendous success with Detroit, many wonder what he’s up to today.
Fedorov left the former Soviet Union after Detroit picked him in the fourth round of 1989’s NHL Entry Draft. And the 6-foot-2 Pskov product had a very sudden impact.
Fedorov’s NHL impact
No. 91 was quickly recognized and earned a spot on the NHL All-Rookie team. That was just the beginning as he racked up a pile of prestigious awards.
He scored six All-Star nods along with the 1993-94 Hart Memorial Trophy. Plus he bagged the Lester B. Pearson Award that season, in addition to a Selke Trophy. Two years later, he added another Selke award.
His career with the Wings was one for the ages. Fedorov streaked past defenders and spun them around in circles. In sum, he totaled 954 points (400 goals, 554 assists). Fedorov finished No. 4 all time in goals for Detroit, and sixth in total points while helping the Wings win three Stanley Cup titles.
Bad blood with Red Wings?
Even so, there may be some bad blood between Fedorov and his former squad.
Once the previous Wings coach Jeff Blashill got canned in April, rumors started to fly. Word began circulating that Fedorov was in line to become Detroit’s next head coach.
Yet that would not be a realistic possibility. No doubt there is still friction between the two sides. The issues date back almost a quarter century. In 1998, he signed an offer sheet from the Carolina Hurricanes that the Wings were forced to match. Detroit was on the hook for $38 million. Fedorov would stay five more seasons, but the damage was done.
In July 2003, he inked a deal to play for Anaheim. He rejected a four-year $40-million offer from the Wings that would’ve made him the NHL’s highest-paid player. This only deepened the divide between the two sides. Fedorov stayed with the Ducks until November 2005, then was traded to Columbus.
He remained with the Blue Jackets until February 2008. At that point, he was dealt to the Washington Capitals. After a season and a half in Washington, Fedorov signed as a Free Agent with Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Where is Fedorov now?
Fast forward ahead to the present and Fedorov remains involved in the game.
He is currently the head coach of the CSKA Moscow team (KHL). The club is affiliated with the Russian Army. He guided them to a Gagarin Cup championship last year.
Sergei is joined by ex-Red Wings slash members of the Russian five Igor Larionov and Vyacheslav Kozlov in the KHL coaching ranks. Larionov leads the Torpedo team and Kozlov heads rival Spartak Moscow.
No. 91 will make an appearance from time to time.
Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider recently won the Calder Memorial Trophy and Fedorov chimed in to congratulate him.
To Mo.
Love, The Boys pic.twitter.com/m7TgIUCVOb
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 21, 2022
With ex-captain Steve Yzerman now in charge, could those icy relations finally be thawing?
