Will the Detroit Red Wings ever retire Fedorov’s #91?!

[gdrag]

What seems to be forgotten is most of the massive signing bonus in the contract was donated to a children’s hospital in Detroit. How many folks do you know would donate millions of dollars like that. Fedorov was and is a stand up guy.

[wilshirejkk]

As a red wings fan I can say with great confidence that we as a fan base would be very happy if 91 was in the rafters

[mikegeiler]

900 games. 400 goals. And those are just his red wings numbers. It really should be retired

[matthewaxford]

Fedorov is my favorite Red Wing in my lifetime! I want to live to see his number 91 in the rafters next to 19! The memories of the RWs rise to a dynasty in the 1990s are some of the most cherished memories of my life in Detroit…as a native! Steve Yzerman is quoted as saying what he thought of Fedorov when the organization was considering his being draftees: “I see no reason why you would not, he is better than me!” I love Stevie Y but, Fedorov was a certain something, something! A quiet, private, superstar! First European to win the Hart; only player ever to win that and the Selkey in the same season! Anyone who does not think it was a very big rift only need pay attention to the A on his sweater in 1996-7 and the absence thereof in 1997-8!!

[andrewsoja]

As a lifelong Wings fan, I feel like I can say this with confidence that not a single fan would have any qualms about #91 being retired 🐙

[FMichael]

#91 deserves to be retired in Detroit...

[joellercovich]

My favorite player as a kid and im canadian thats saying something lol

[Men_of_Tomorrow]

One of the all time greatest hockey players, let alone a Wings legend, and it’s still not up there. Absurd.

[stevenjames]

Offer sheet or not Fedorov is a legend pull your head put your Get it done

[miketylenda]

Most won’t agree but to me Federov was the most skilled hockey player of all time. He didn’t have the point totals of other greats but his speed and grace on the ice was unmatched.

[JohnSmith-jrwl]

Clubs expect loyalty but will trade or cut a player when it suits them and say it’s just business

[ckpizzle]

an all time legend of the sport. he deserves to have his number retired. absolute joke and petty that it isn’t

[Shawn-ohyq]

The Illitch family holds weird grudges. #6 was retired for Larry Aurie in the 1940s. Illitch refused to have a banner for it for whatever reason after he bought the team.

[jeremykraenzlein]

I think that the lack of a number retirement had more to do with him actually leaving Detroit six years later, this time as a UFA so Detroit couldn't match the offer. The infuriating thing is that he signed with Anaheim for less money than Detroit had been offering him.

For the next few years, whenever Fedorov played in Detroit for another team, the fans would single him out for boos. Around the same time as he retired, the Chicago Blackhawks had a pregame ceremony to honor Chris Chelios before a game against the Red Wings, and it became a fiasco with the fans booing the player that the team had intended to honor. That basically ended any chance of retiring Fedorov's number anytime soon, as the Red Wings management feared a similar fiasco at a number retirement ceremony. For the record, just last season the Chicago fans made up for it by giving Chelios a better reception, again before a game against the Red Wings, which was also Patrick Kane's first game back in Chicago as a member of the road team.

In any case, we might still see number 91 retired in Hockeytown for Fedorov. When Detroit hosted Toronto in an outdoor game (2018, if I remember correctly), people were surprised at the positive reaction Fedorov got from the fans as he was introduced for the alumni game. It seems like the fans' grudge only applied to nights when he was actively trying to score goals against the Wings, and is moot now that he is retired. Also, the Red Wings subsequently retired Red Kelly's number, demonstrating that it is never too late for a number retirement ceremony.

[Drumrock]

That offer sheet and him leaving after the 03 season burned a lot of bridges with management.

[lenrussell]

I've heard the Red Wings may have a toxic (or at least enabling of abuse) type management system. Them refusing to retire Fedorov's number over something like this just seems to feed into that rumor for me. Smh.

[brianfeeney]

PUT the Number 91 in the Rafters
Arguably One of THE ………
Greatest Hockey 🏒 Players of ALL-TIME
Period.
Detroit Owes it to The Game 🏒

[Pride]

In between periods of playoff game federov told coaches he can’t play he’s hurt . While he’s in trainers room Larionov got wind of him pulling out and in front of the whole team he told Federov to get a shot & get your ass back to the ice . He says “we’re all fucking hurt” 🤣🤣😂

[DanRivard-ej]

Can’t wait he totally deserves it he was unstoppable

[arkhaminmate]

As a Flyers fan I hated Fedorov. I consider that a true testament to how great he was back then.