It’s finally happening. The Detroit Red Wings will retire Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91, arguably the greatest Russian player to ever step foot on the ice, in a ceremony on January 12, ironically enough, against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch made the annoucement Tuesday morning:
“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,” said Ilitch. “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.”
NHL.com
Fedorov, who spent 13 seasons with the Red Wings from 1990-2003, which included three Stanley Cups, multiple 100-point seasons, a Hart Trophy, and ranks at the top of multiple statistical categories for Detroit, called the announcement a “tremendous honor” in a released statement.
“I’m extremely grateful for this tremendous honor,” said Fedorov. “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.”
Honestly, it’s embarrassing for the Red Wings that it took this long for No. 91 to be raised to the rafters of the LCA. Red Wings fans everywhere can appreciate Mike Ilitch’s commitment to building a winner here in Detroit, especially after his son has decided to nickel and dime the organization seemingly at every opportunity. However, Mike’s apparent pettiness when it came to Fedorov that lasted long after his death was incredibly cringeworthy and unfortunate for a team that mostly did things right when it came to retiring numbers and honoring their greats of the past.