Sergei Fedorov was a cultural icon
The Red Wings have announced the hall of fame center Sergei Fedorov’s number 91 will be retired this season. This may be the highlight for a summer where signings like veteran Travis Hamonic have underwhelmed fans of the franchise. The team’s 100th anniversary is providing another glimpse into the more recent glory days of Detroit.
Selected in the fourth round of the 1989 NHL entry draft, Detroit had tapped into something much more than a prolific centerman. Fedorov became a featured athlete with Nike, had action figures made (the really tall action figures) and became a well known face in pop culture. No one could argue that he was an integral part of three Stanley Cups for Detroit.
Leaving Detroit changed Fedorov’s legacy, for a while
The Russian 5 was front and center when Detroit shattered a 42-year playoff drought in 1997. After that Cup win, an offer sheet from a Carolina would change Fedorov’s legacy for the next 27 years. Even though Detroit would win two more cups (the third against Carolina), the table had been set for an ugly separation.
The Carolina Hurricanes put together a deal for Fedorov that would put Detroit in a difficult situation. In a retrospective on Yahoo sports:
“Just $12 million of the $38 million is Fedorov’s base salary, which will be paid at $2 million per year. He will receive a $14 million signing bonus, which will bump him to $16 million this year, leaving a final $12 million.
But that’s the kicker, a scare tactic the Hurricanes hope discourages Detroit owner Mike Ilitch from matching the offer. The $12 million will be paid to Fedorov over the next four years unless the team reaches the conference finals. Then the bonus must be paid in one lump sum”
Fedorov only played 21 games in the 1997-1998 season, and he was well paid for that performance. That contract dispute was credited for a raise in salaries for many players across the league. Still, damage had been done to the relationship in Detroit.
Even in hockey, Time Heals all Wounds
Fedorov’s departure in 2003 seemed inevitable, and the “Mighty Ducks” of Anaheim were the beneficiary. The debate around retiring Sergei Fedorov’s #91 still had heated discussions amongst fans nearly three decades later. This decision by Detroit will finally put #91 in the rafters, where it belongs.
Detroit’s rebuild that began with Steve Yzerman in the late 1980s saw an incredible influx of star talent. The team benefitted from a league wide attitude that frowned on bringing in Russian Players. In the modern era, it’s difficult to think that Fedorov would slip to the 4th round in any draft. His contributions to three cup winning teams cannot be understated.
