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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'My Heart Beat Faster': Sergei Fedorov Recaps Finding Out Of Jersey Retirement News
The iconic No. 91 jersey of former Detroit Red Wings forward Sergei Fedorov will soon be taking its rightful place in the rafters of Little Caesars Arena, and will be displayed alongside the eight previously retired numbers that include his teammates Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom. Over 22 years after his departure from the franchise in a contentious free agency saga, Fedorov is being appropriately honored for his time in Detroit that included three Stanley Cup wins, a 1994 Hart Trophy win, multiple All-Star Game appearances, and several other personal accolades. Fedorov revealed how he found out about the news from Red Wings CEO Chris Ilitch, saying that his heart instantly began beating faster when he learned of the honor. 'The day before, I had been told to expect a call,' Fedorov said via 'I understood the general idea but didn't ask too many questions. I've always had a good, respectful relationship with the organization. The next day, I got a message saying that Chris Ilitch would be calling me. My heart immediately started beating faster." 'When we spoke, we first exchanged the usual questions about how things were going, how our families were doing, and then he shared the news with me. Honestly, in the first three or four minutes of the conversation, I wasn't 100 percent sure where it was headed." Fedorov explained that a wave of nostalgia overtook him as Ilitch began describing some of the amazing accomplishments that he helped the franchise achieve. "But then he started listing all of our victories, our achievements, and how long it took to get there," he said. "At that moment, it took my breath away. Memories rushed back—our struggles, our bumps along the road, and of course that unforgettable parade of emotions after winning our first Stanley Cup." Fedorov was one of the key elements in Detroit's 1997 Stanley Cup victory, which was the franchise's first title in 42 years. But his relationship with the team took a turn in the months that followed after he held out of Training Camp and the first several months of the regular season as part of a contract dispute. Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. Fedorov also signed a lucrative offer-sheet from the Carolina Hurricanes, owned at the time by bitter Mike Ilitch business adversary Peter Karmanos. The Red Wings matched the offer sheet and ended up paying Fedorov $28 million in 1998 alone, which included a $2 million base salary, a $14 million signing bonus, and a $12 million bonus for reaching the Conference Final, which they did en route to a second straight Stanley Cup win. Fedorov remained with the Red Wings through 2003, adding another Stanley Cup to his résumé in 2002. That offseason, in a controversial move, he signed a free-agent contract with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the very team that had eliminated Detroit in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs just months earlier in a stunning four-game sweep. For many Red Wings fans, the decision felt like a betrayal after they had spent over a decade cheering him. When Fedorov returned to Hockeytown in December 2003 with the Mighty Ducks, he was met with relentless boos. Thankfully, the passage of time has mended the fences between not only Fedorov and the organization, but with the fans. Fedorov's No. 91 will raised to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena on January 12, and no doubt the cheers will be deafening - not only from fans who were fortunate enough to watch his Red Wings career in real time as it unfolded, but also from younger fans who know his brilliance only through highlight reels. Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites.
National Post
a day ago
- Sport
- National Post
Detroit Red Wings finally retiring legend's number
Article content The Russian's No. 91 will be retired at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 12, 2026 before a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Red Wings announced Tuesday. Article content Article content Article content 'We are honored to celebrate Sergei Fedorov and raise his #91 to its rightful place hanging in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena, among the all-time greats who have worn the Winged Wheel,' Red Wings governor and chief executive officer Chris Ilitch said Tuesday in a release. Article content 'His exceptional skill, relentless drive, and lasting impact playing a pivotal role bringing three Stanley Cup championships to Detroit make him the perfect embodiment of the qualities deserving of our franchise's most prestigious honor. My parents, Mike and Marian Ilitch had a special reverence for Sergei as one of the most dynamic and charismatic players of his era, and someone who made a tremendous impact on our organization. All of us at the Red Wings look forward to hosting Sergei and his family in January to pay tribute to his remarkable career.' Article content Fedorov ranks fourth on the team's all-time goals list and sixth in points. He's also in the Top 10 in many other categories and only he and Steve Yzerman had multiple 100-point seasons as a Red Wing. Article content Article content 'I'm extremely grateful for this tremendous honor,' Fedorov said. 'Thank you to everyone with the Red Wings organization, especially those who helped bring me to Detroit and gave me the chance to play for such a historic franchise. I was fortunate to be part of some unforgettable teams, and above all, I'm proud of the three Stanley Cup championships we won for our amazing fans in Hockeytown. The memories made along the way – with legendary teammates, coaches, and exceptional ownership – will stay with me forever. Lastly, I want to thank Chris Ilitch for the call yesterday to share the news about retiring my number. It's a moment I'll always cherish. I can't wait to see everyone in January.' Article content Amongst Russian players, only Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin have notched more NHL goals and points than Fedorov and he was the first European-trained player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy and is still the only player to win the Hart and Frank J. Selke Trophy as best defensive forward in the same season (he also won the Ted Lindsay Award voted on by players that year too). Article content The jersey retirement likely took this long because of Fedorov's messy exit from Detroit to Anaheim following a contract dispute. Article content The 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee will become the ninth Red Wing with a retired number, joining Sid Abel (No. 12), Alex Delvecchio (No. 10), Gordie Howe (No. 9), Red Kelly (No. 4), Nicklas Lidstrom (No. 5), Ted Lindsay (No. 7), Terry Sawchuk (No. 1) and Yzerman (No. 19).
CBS News
a day ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Sergei Federov's jersey number 91 to be retired by Detroit Red Wings
The career of professional hockey player Sergei Federov is being honored as his jersey number 91 will be retired by the Detroit Red Wings. "We are honored to celebrate Sergei Fedorov and raise his #91 to its rightful place hanging in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena, among the all-time greats who have worn the Winged Wheel," Detroit Red Wings Governor and Chief Executive Officer Chris Ilitch said. The ceremony will take place Jan. 12 when the Red Wings host the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena. This will be the ninth retired number in the franchise's history. "I'm extremely grateful for this tremendous honor," Federov said. "Thank you to everyone with the Red Wings organization, especially those who helped bring me to Detroit and gave me the chance to play for such a historic franchise." A native of Pskov, Russia, Federov played for his country at three Winter Olympics and won other awards. He was one of the Soviet Union hockey players who defected to the United States at the dawn of the 1990s. When Federov joined the Red Wings, the announcement said, he was issued number 91 as it was the inverse of Steve Yzerman's number 19. Federov then played 13 seasons with the Red Wings from 1990-2003, including three years when they won Stanley Cup championships. Federov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2016. He was also named one of the 100 greatest National Hockey League players in 2017.
CBS News
a day ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Sergei Fedorov's jersey number 91 to be retired by Detroit Red Wings
The career of professional hockey player Sergei Fedorov is being honored as his jersey number 91 will be retired by the Detroit Red Wings. "We are honored to celebrate Sergei Fedorov and raise his #91 to its rightful place hanging in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena, among the all-time greats who have worn the Winged Wheel," Detroit Red Wings Governor and Chief Executive Officer Chris Ilitch said. The ceremony will take place Jan. 12 when the Red Wings host the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena. This will be the ninth retired number in the franchise's history. "I'm extremely grateful for this tremendous honor," Fedorov said. "Thank you to everyone with the Red Wings organization, especially those who helped bring me to Detroit and gave me the chance to play for such a historic franchise." A native of Pskov, Russia, Fedorov played for his country at three Winter Olympics and won other awards. He was one of the Soviet Union hockey players who defected to the United States at the dawn of the 1990s. When Fedorov joined the Red Wings, the announcement said, he was issued number 91 as it was the inverse of Steve Yzerman's number 19. Fedorov then played 13 seasons with the Red Wings from 1990-2003, including three years when they won Stanley Cup championships. Fedorov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2016. He was also named one of the 100 greatest National Hockey League players in 2017.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Red Wings to retire Sergei Fedorov's No. 91 jersey in January
DETROIT — Sergei Fedorov is the only Detroit Red Wings player ever to wear No. 91. It's going to stay that way. The Red Wings are retiring Fedorov's No. 91, the team announced Tuesday, becoming the franchise's ninth retired jersey number. The ceremony is scheduled for the team's Jan. 12 game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Advertisement Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch called Fedorov on Monday morning to deliver the news. 'We are honored to celebrate Sergei Fedorov and raise his #91 to its rightful place hanging in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena, among the all-time greats who have worn the Winged Wheel,' Ilitch said in a press release. 'His exceptional skill, relentless drive, and lasting impact playing a pivotal role bringing three Stanley Cup championships to Detroit make him the perfect embodiment of the qualities deserving of our franchise's most prestigious honor. My parents Mike and Marian Ilitch had a special reverence for Sergei as one of the most dynamic and charismatic players of his era, and someone who made a tremendous impact on our organization. All of us at the Red Wings look forward to hosting Sergei and his family in January to pay tribute to his remarkable career.' A 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Fedorov spent 13 of his 18 NHL seasons with the Red Wings, who originally drafted him out of Russia in 1989 — part of a legendary Detroit draft class that also included Nicklas Lidstrom, Vladimir Konstantinov, Mike Sillinger, Bob Boughner and Dallas Drake. After defecting from the Soviet Union in 1990, Fedorov went on to a storied career that saw him score 483 goals and 1,179 points in 1,248 regular-season games, win three Stanley Cup championships in 1997, 1998 and 2002 (all with Detroit), win two Selke Trophies as the league's best defensive forward and the 1994 Hart Trophy as league MVP. Fedorov was, of course, a central piece of the famed Russian Five, made up of Fedorov, Konstantinov, Igor Larionov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Viacheslav Fetisov. The five Soviet-born players played together in Detroit beginning in 1995 and were a significant part of the team's 1997 Stanley Cup victory. Fedorov left the Red Wings in 2003, playing for Anaheim, Columbus and Washington to close out his career, but Fedorov's best days were in Detroit. He ranks sixth in franchise history in points (954) and fourth in goals (400) while also being one of the greatest defensive forwards of his era. Advertisement For all those reasons, his place in Red Wings history has long been secure. But by retiring his number, that place will be in the Little Caesars Arena rafters for all to see. 'I'm extremely grateful for this tremendous honor,' Fedorov said in the press release. 'Thank you to everyone with the Red Wings organization, especially those who helped bring me to Detroit and gave me the chance to play for such a historic franchise. I was fortunate to be part of some unforgettable teams, and above all, I'm proud of the three Stanley Cup championships we won for our amazing fans in Hockeytown. The memories made along the way — with legendary teammates, coaches, and exceptional ownership — will stay with me forever. Lastly, I want to thank Chris Ilitch for the call yesterday to share the news about retiring my number. It's a moment I'll always cherish. I can't wait to see everyone in January.' The subject of retiring Fedorov's jersey has been a hot topic among fans for years, growing loudest when the team last retired a number, raising Hall of Fame defenseman Red Kelly's No. 4 to the rafters during the 2018-19 season. Fedorov was already one of the greatest, most popular (and most historically significant) players in franchise history and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. For those reasons, he always seemed worthy of having his number retired in Detroit someday. By doing so, the Red Wings will formally put him in their most elite company. The Red Wings are celebrating their centennial season in 2025-26. Though the anniversary is not the reason they're retiring Fedorov's number, honoring one of the defining players of an iconic era in a historic year for the franchise certainly adds a special element. The Red Wings don't retire jersey numbers lightly, with only nine in the team's 100-year history: Terry Sawchuck's No. 1, Kelly's No. 4, Lidstrom's No. 5, Ted Lindsay's No. 7, Gordie Howe's No. 9, Alex Delvecchio's No. 10, Sid Abel's No. 12, Steve Yzerman's No. 19 and now Fedorov's No. 91. Advertisement But with that said, two more strong candidates could be on the horizon. Pavel Datsyuk (No. 13) and Henrik Zetterberg (No. 40) rank among the top seven in franchise history in points, and the top eight in goals. They were driving forces on the Red Wings' 2008 Stanley Cup team. Datsyuk was also part of the 2002 Cup team and was a 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, while Zetterberg was the team's captain from 2013 until his retirement in 2018. Both played every game of their NHL careers for the Red Wings, and while Datsyuk was technically traded to Arizona in 2016, he never played a game for the Coyotes and signed a symbolic one-day contract last season to formally end his career as a Red Wing. Given the time passed between the end of Fedorov's career and his jersey retirement (and between Kelly and Fedorov's jersey retirements), it's unclear when the team will next consider adding a number to the rafters. But if and when they do, Datsyuk and Zetterberg stand out as strong candidates for the honor somewhere down the line. Spot the pattern. 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