The Detroit Red Wings are moving into the brand new Little Caesars Arena this fall after having played at Joe Louis Arena since 1979. While the new venue promises to be a masterful state-of-the-art new home for the Original Six franchise, it won’t be fully complete without one final detail.
The Red Wings needs to raise Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 to the rafters.
Last season, the team’s theme was “Farewell to the Joe”, and featured several in-season tributes from past team alumni. The Red Wings seemingly adopted Fedorov when they helped him secretly defect from the Soviet Union in 1990. For the better part of a decade, Fedorov went on to become among the most dynamic, explosive, and exciting players not only to don the Winged Wheel but in the entire National Hockey League.
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He won the 1994 Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player as well as the Selke Trophy in 1994 and 1996 as the NHL’s best defensive forward. During his entire Red Wings career, he scored 400 goals – many of which will forever remain on NHL highlight reels. Fedorov also received praise from figures such as Wayne Gretzky, who stated: “I have never seen a player dominate the game the way Sergei did.”
Of course, Fedorov was also an integral part of three Stanley Cup champion winning teams in 1997, 1998, and 2002.
The alleged theories as to why his number isn’t officially and permanently enshrined in team history are well known. The first instance goes back to Fedorov’s infamous signing of a heavy front-loaded offer sheet from the Carolina Hurricanes, who are run by Peter Karmanos – a bitter business adversary of the late Mike Ilitch. What better way to stick it to your rival by poaching one of his best players?
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The Red Wings reluctantly matched Carolina’s offer, and were forced to pay Fedorov a total of $28 million (most of which were bonuses) for the 1997-98 season alone.
Secondly was the well-publicized ultimate divorce from the Red Wings, leaving to sign a free-agent deal with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the summer of 2003 (who had just swept Detroit from the playoffs months earlier) for less money than he was offered by Detroit. The bolt left a bitter taste in the mouths of fans, and they mercilessly booed Fedorov upon his return to Detroit with the Mighty Ducks in December of 2003.
All of this, however, occurred well over a decade ago. Fans seemed to have softened their stance on Fedorov, whom they adored and then viewed as a modern-day Benedict Arnold.
Fedorov was warmly received by the fans during the 2014 Winter Classic Alumni Showdown at Comerica Park that preceded the Winter Classic between the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Additionally, he was given a standing ovation when he dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff in November of 2015 at Joe Louis Arena shortly after his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He also admitted that while he’d feel honored to have his number retired, he’s still going to look back fondly at his memories with the team no matter what.
“I don’t want to put any pressure. It’s going to be a great honor if it happens,” Fedorov said. “If it’s not, it’s still (an honor) to be a part of it for 13 seasons here, three Cups and celebrations, rallies, victory rallies. What else can you wish for?”
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The Detroit Pistons did the right thing and looked past the bitter departure of defensive star Ben Wallace to the Chicago Bulls in 2006, retiring his No. 3 permanently in 2003. There’s absolutely no reason why the Red Wings can’t do the same with Fedorov, whose accolades far outweigh what Wallace brought to Detroit.
When you think of all-time Red Wings greats, Sergei Fedorov is right there with Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, Gordie Howe, and Ted Lindsay amongst others. Number 91 needs to be right next to numbers 1 (Terry Sawchuck), 5 (Lidstrom), 7 (Lindsay), 9 (Howe), 10 (Alex Delvecchio) 12 (Sid Abel), and 19 (Yzerman).
It’s time to let bygones be bygones. It’s impossible to ignore the legacy of Fedorov and the undeniable accomplishments that were as much a part of the Red Wings success as anyone’s. Little Caesars Arena opens this fall, but it won’t be fully finished without the extra detail of another retired number taking its rightful place in the rafters.
Number 6 should be a higher priority.
First Wings Captain…. why not? Though almost nobody alive, nor the average Wings fan, can remember the last (and only) Red Wings to ever wear the #6 Larry Aurie “Lil Dempsey.”
…I however am not your average Wings fan.
It would be really nice to see Larry Aurie #6 that was retired before
hang in the rafters. Besides the fact that it was already retired, #6 represents
the decades of the 1920’s and 1930’s that is missing in the rafters now.
It represents the Cougars, the Falcons, and the Red Wings first Stanley Cups.
Larry isn’t in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but neither is Willie Horton #23 for the Tigers in the Baseball Hall of Fame whose number was retired with the same ownership. It would be terrible if someone in the future felt Mr. Ilitch who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame should have his plaque taken done after he is already there and deserves to be…also kind of the same thing that happened to Larry Aurie and his #6 that was retired by the Red Wings.
Retiring Fedorovs number is a terrible idea right now for one reason and one reason only. Sergei is my favorite player all time, so this is not out of some loss of love… it’s me looking at the bigger picture. What number does Stamkos wear? Why do you think the Wings brass held off on retiring #91? Can’t lure Stammer away if you can’t give him his number. Well we all know how that turned out, but there is still another player with organizational changing dynamic thats yet to be extended…. and could be a UFA next summer. His name is John Tavares, and he is also #91. The Wings would be foolish to retire Fedorovs number before they are sure that signing Tavares is an impossibility.
He’s signed to the Lightning for 8 years, he’s gone. If he came it would be by trade, and so no luring would be required.
I know Stammer is gone, Im talking about Tavares being un extended, and a potential UFA next summer. Don’t want to retire #91 if thats coming.
Terrible idea. The guy thought he was bigger than the team and turned his back on teammates for money, then his career wen’t down the pan. Lost a lot of respect for him and despite his ability, his conduct was not becoming of a number retiree.
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