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Thank you Sergei! A look back at the legendary career of Sergei Fedorov
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Sergei Fedorov, you will be missed! (Associated Press Photo/Nick Wass
The first significant additions and subtraction was made by the Capitals last week, below is the rundown:
- June 25th- Sergei Fedorov leaves the Capitals to sign a two year contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Continental Hockey League in Russia.
- June 26th- Washington selects Swedish forward Marcus Johansson in the first round of the NHL draft.
- June 26th- Washington selects Russian defenseman Dmitri Orlov in the second round of the NHL draft.
- June 26th- Washington selects forward Cody Eakin, of the Western Hockey League in Canada in the third round of the NHL draft.
- June 26th- In a marginal move Washington traded minor league defenseman Sami Lepisto for a 2010 5th round draft pick.
Okay let’s start with Fedorov, and although he left our team, this story doesn’t start with the Capitals. It was of course first in Russia as a boy that folks recognized he had a skill, and it was on CSKA Moscow that the flashy Russian forward really made a name for himself playing on the same line as future NHL superstars Alexander Mogilny and Pavel Bure.
While playing an exhibition game in Portland, Fedeorov was able to defect to America and in 1990 found himself as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. He talks about the experience of defecting to America and playing Detroit without understanding a word of English in this interview with Lindsey Czarnek below.
One of the very interesting aspects of the interview was just how much being a 20 year old helped Fedorov. Usually we see someone that age and think, “we’ll he’s working his way into the world, but he’s still probably on mommies insurance plan.” Maybe that’s true for some, but for others the lack of real world experience means a lack of an understanding of the consequences and to take more risks. And a risk is exactly what Sergei took, committing a penalty during an exhibition game in Portland that got him ejected early from the game, and escaping out of the back way from a hotel to a plane bound for Detroit. It was a place where he knew no one.
Still, Fedorov had no idea just how big an impact he was making. As he tells us in the interview 19 years since the defection, Sergei had, “no idea how big a move that is,” and that, “I would obviously never do it at my age right now, no way!” Oh to be young again!
While others such as Alexander Mogilny, (who was the first Russian to defect in 1989) didn’t adjust right away to the NHL, Federov was comfortable even without a basic understanding of English. He had no trouble translated his game to America and in his first year he scored 31 goals and made the NHL’s all-rookie team.
From the very beginning he was one of the NHL fastest skaters, but what Fedorov did better than anyone is make it look effortless. In strides that were neither short nor overly pronounced and forceful, Federov was a model of efficiency as he made it look like he was born with skates attached to his legs.
In 1993-94, no one outside of the Wayne Gretzky was more dominant in the league. With Steve Yzerman out with a injury Federov took control finishing the year second in points with 120, and recording 54 goals and 66 assists on the season and took home the MVP trophy. Fedorov would finish his career with the Red Wings with 450 goals 677 assists and 1,127 point good enough for 5th all-time in all three categories. Sergei would also take home three Stanley Cups and star in perhaps the greatest hockey ad of all-time along the way.
And while I don’t believe Sergei was really fast enough or a good enough player to have been given the 2nd line center position during his final year with the Caps, in typical Fedorov fashion he made it cont when it mattered, sending the Rangers home with this goal in the last five minutes of the third.
That goal would be his last ever in the NHL. What a way to go out!
So thank you Sergei for your time here! I’ll always like you better than the other “turncoat” Sergei who plays in Pittsburgh. The Caps and the NHL are not only missing someone who was the all-time Russian leader in scoring, hockey will be missing someone who genuinely cared about his surroundings.
In Detroit, Sergei donated his entire 1998-99 salary to establish the “Sergei Fedorov Foundation,” which was created to help Detroit area children by providing scholarships to Michigan Universities for at-risk students and established an autism and developmental disabled daycare camp for kids. In announcing the foundation, Sergei said, "I remember the country I left," I found here a second home. I've lived in Detroit for nine years, I've been with the Red Wings for nine years. I have a chance to give something back."
With his goal against the Rangers and guiding presence to Ovechkin and Semin, Fedorov has more than given back to the Caps. So while the fans are nice, and the money is better, in the end it is only right that he gives back to the people who really matter, ..family.
According to Fedorov’s agent, the move to Metallurg Magnitogorska fulfills his father’s lifelong dream to see Sergei return and play on the same team as Fedor, who is also on the team.
War, the loss of Michael Jackson, swine flu, bad drivers. There’s a lot to be upset about in the world today. There is a lot to be happy about too. When Federov first entered the NHL in 1990, the possibility that he could return back to Soviet Russia was laughable at best. Now he is welcomed back with open arms. If that isn’t progress, I don’t know what is.
For more info: Click here to see the only interview with Federov and the four other Russian's on the Caps. Oh and next interview we'll look at some of the Capitals additions and why I have a problem with the team's approach to free agency.
If you missed it: Click here to read my interview with Capitals owner Ted Leonsis.
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