Former Red Wings great Sergei Fedorov enters Hockey Hall of Fame

Photo by Jen Hefner/MiHockey
Photo by Jen Hefner/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

He was one of the first ‘hidden gems’ Red Wings scouts found in the construction of a modern hockey dynasty.

Sergei Fedorov may not have finished his career in Detroit, but he started his prolific career in Hockeytown.

Fedorov is one of the 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees, joining former teammate Nick Lidstrom.

“I have always played hockey because I loved it, not because I wanted to win awards,” said Fedorov, via the HHOF. “But now that my career is over I realize how special it is to be recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame. I am deeply honored to be an inductee.”

An NHL career that featured 483 goals and 696 assists for 1179 total points began in Michigan in 1990-91, after Fedorov played four seasons with CSKA Moscow in his native Russia. That first season in the NHL was the first of six seasons where Fedorov played to a point-per-game average or better, as he recorded 79 points in 77 games for the Wings as a rookie forward.

From there, Fedorov posted points totals of 86, 87, 120, 50 (in 42 games), and 107. While his points totals dipped in the following two seasons, Fedorov played an important role in the Red Wings capturing back-to-back Stanley Cups, ending a 42-year title drought for Hockeytown.

The Russian superstar, who went on to play for the Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals, concluded his NHL career in 2009 before playing three seasons with Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the KHL.

Fedorov won the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP in 1993-94, as well as the Selke Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Trophy in the same season. He also captured another Selke Trophy in 1995-96.