Could Sergei Fedorov be returning to the Detroit Red Wings?

Newly appointed Detroit Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman hinted towards making a few changes during his initial announcement. He mentioned to the media that he had a couple of ideas. Could Sergei Fedorov be one of those options?

It’s time for the Detroit Red Wings organization and its’ fans to let bygones be bygones recognizing Sergei Fedorov for what he is. One of the greatest Red Wings of all-time. Many fans remain salty with how the superstar forward’s time ended with the franchise. Steve Yzerman seems like the perfect person to help mend the fences that separate both parties involved; perhaps he is in the ideal position to do so too.

I think back to all of the kind things Sergei Fedorov expressed towards the Detroit Red Wings organization during his Hall of Fame induction speech. To me, reading between the lines some; Fedorov was trying to smooth over some tension between the organization shortly after he would find himself at center-ice inside of Joe Louis Arena being recognized with a thunderous cheer for his extraordinary accomplishment of entering the Hockey Hall of Fame.

During that time, I remember Fedorov mentioning that one thing he regrets the most was leaving the Wings organization.  I feel he felt like he was in Steve Yzerman’s shadow, he knew there was some tension lingering from his holdout, but looking back now he probably realizes it was nothing that couldn’t be repaired.  I always felt the reason why he left was that he envisioned himself being the face of a franchise rather than riding shotgun for the remainder of his career.  I felt if he’d stayed the Detroit Red Wings would have won at least another championship, that’s what hurts the most.

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Things started to spiral after the team ended its 42-year drought in 1997 by sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers. As you know, a lot of unfortunate, devastating circumstances occurred that summer. The terrible limo accident ended Vladimir Konstantinov‘s career. The health of all parties involved was at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

That same summer Sergei Fedorov was seeking a new contract, in turn, deciding to hold out. I couldn’t imagine all of the emotions flowing for him at this time seeing his countryman and friend laid up in critical condition. Fans seemingly couldn’t believe the star forward chose that summer to hold-out. Well, fans don’t like when anyone holds out, to be honest.

Andreas Athanasiou held out for a short time to start the year two years ago; fans didn’t lose their minds, but they certainly didn’t enjoy it. William Nylander held out for a couple of months to start this season; it didn’t go over nearly as gentle with the Toronto fans as the Athanasiou news did in Detroit. Part of that is because the Leafs saw themselves as contenders while the Red Wings were rebuilding.

Fedorov would eventually get a deal signed just before the regular season ended. After playing a significant role in the back to back Stanley Cup championships while celebrating on the ice someone asked Mike Ilitch about how critical it was to get Fedorov signed for the playoffs, he replied it was the best money he’d ever spent.

In an article published by 97.1 the ticket written by Evan Jankens, they mention Yzerman and Fedorov remain close friends with some rumblings that Sergei isn’t fully satisfied with his current position in Russia. I feel it could be the perfect storm for the franchise to retire his number along with adding him into the organization in some capacity all, of course, being orchestrated by Yzerman.

The Russian forward scored 20 or more points in the four-straight playoff’s between 1994-95 thru 1997-98. He accumulated 163 playoff points in 162 games with the Detroit Red Wings. His regular season totals are eye-popping, in 908 career games with the Wings Fedorov recorded 400 goals totaling 954 points. His numbers tailed off some after he left the Wings but he finished his career with 1179 points in 1248 career games. Simply remarkable.

It’s time the Wings retire number 91. That jersey deserves to hang high above the ice inside Little Caesars Arena alongside the other Red Wings legends. When you think of the Wings post-1990 the first three players that will likely come to your mind are Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Sergei Fedorov. Two of those jerseys are retired, and one should be.