Crimson Wings set to lastly honor franchise legend

Some may argue that Fedorov taking his rightful place amongst fellow Crimson Wings legends is lengthy overdue — he performed his final NHL sport in 2012 and was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 2015 — however it’s lastly occurring nonetheless. 

Fedorov has all the time deserved the dignity for his accomplishments on the ice, however his story has been a sophisticated one since he turned one of many faces of the NHL within the Nineteen Nineties after defecting from Russia. 

From that time on, the Russian celebrity would develop into one of many league’s finest gamers and a advertising sensation off the ice as nicely. He scored precisely 400 objectives and registered 954 whole factors in 13 seasons with the Crimson Wings. Fedorov was an All-Star six occasions, named league MVP in 1994 and helped Detroit seize three Stanley Cup titles. Fedorov would end his profession with 483 objectives and 1,179 factors, additionally spending time with the Anaheim Geese, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals. 

Nevertheless, regardless of his brilliance on the ice, Fedorov’s relationship with the Crimson Wings has been rocky since he left Detroit 22 years in the past. The preliminary drama started in 1997 when Fedorov held out as a restricted free agent early within the season throughout a contract dispute. He even signed a suggestion sheet with the Carolina Hurricanes. Detroit matched the supply, however the wounds between Crimson Wings proprietor Mike Ilitch and Fedorov by no means absolutely healed.  

Then got here Fedorov’s precise departure as an unrestricted free agent in the summertime of 2003. At the moment, he rejected a bigger supply to stick with Detroit and as a substitute determined to signal with the Geese, the workforce that simply upset the then-defending champion Crimson Wings within the first spherical. 

Fedorov’s choice was seen as a betrayal by followers, resulting in the previous fan favourite being booed mercilessly upon his return to Joe Louis Enviornment the next season. 

Sadly, this led to Fedorov being separated from the Crimson Wings for a few years, even after retiring. 

Quick ahead to the current day, and the 2 sides are united once more, this time endlessly. And it feels proper as a result of, in Fedorov’s personal phrases from his Corridor of Fame induction speech, he is a Crimson Wing at coronary heart. 

However now that one hockey injustice has been corrected, the stress stays on normal supervisor Steve Yzerman, Fedorov’s former teammate from 1990-2003, to make sure the Crimson Wings’ future is as shiny as its previous.