His induction this week into the Hockey Hall of Fame has reopened the debate as to whether the No. 91 worn by Sergei Fedorov during his time with the Detroit Red Wings should join the other retired numbers lifted aloft into the rafters at Joe Louis Arena.
The Wings admit it’s a matter that will be debated, but don’t believe the issue to be as cut and dry as many Detroit fans would think.
“Actually I was just thinking about that,… Detroit general manager Ken Holland admitted. “It will be discussed by (Detroit senior vice-president) Jimmy D(evellano), (owners) Mr. (Mike) and Mrs. (Marian) Ilitch, and at the appropriate time I’ll weigh in.
“Certainly he’s someone that Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch and Jimmy D and I and the other few people – (president and CEO of Olympia Entertainment) Tom Wilson, (Ilitch Holdings Inc. president and CEO) Chris Ilitch – are going to discuss to eventually come to that decision.…
A Wing from 1990-2003, Fedorov was a Hart Trophy winner in 1993-94 and a key contributor to Stanley Cup wins in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 2001-02. In 1995, Fedorov led all playoff scorers in assists (17) and points (24) as Detroit reached the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1966. His 10 goals in the 1998 playoffs was also No. 1 in the NHL.
“Certainly being selected to go in the hall of fame is an incredible accomplishment,… Holland said. “He was a great player and a great Red Wing. So it’s certainly worth serious consideration.…
The hang up in Fedorov’s career isn’t so much what he accomplished in a Red Wings sweater, but rather the circumstances under which he doffed his Detroit jersey, leaving for the Anaheim Ducks as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2003 after acrimonious and drawn out contract negotiations with the Wings.
“I think at the tail end of his career we tried to re-sign him and it didn’t work out and he ended up leaving,… Holland said. “Other than obviously Steve Yzerman and Nick Lidstrom, who finished their careers here, they were incredible years and the following year we basically put their jerseys into the rafters. Sergei I think might take a little bit of time to discuss.…
Holland isn’t certain as to whether Fedorov’s ending in Detroit has caused any hard feelings toward him with anyone in the organization.
“I don’t know,… Holland said. “We’ve never talked about it. All I’m saying to you is he had a great career, he’s going into the Hockey Hall of Fame. At the end of his career he left.
“It’s a little easier to make the decision when the player plays 20 years for you and he retires and it’s Steve Yzerman, who’s the captain and it’s Nick Lidstrom, who’s one of the greatest defenseman that ever played the game with seven Norris Trophies. Those are decisions that I think get made very quickly.
“In Sergei’s case, at the end of his career I think he left. Is that going to factor in? I think part of the reason we put players’ jerseys in the rafters is because of what they accomplished for the Detroit Red Wings. I think if we start just putting jerseys up there – if you think about the ’02 team, we could start putting jerseys up there every year. But many of those great careers were elsewhere. They came here for a very short period of time. I think we’ve got to factor in and look at what they accomplished in a Red Wings jersey versus what they accomplished in their careers.
“I think it’s a long answer to say you take a little bit of time to make sure. Those jerseys that go in the rafters are incredibly special. He’s certainly somebody that will be discussed and talked about but we haven’t got to that decision yet and I really don’t have an answer for you why.…
There’s no timetable on when the matter might be discussed, but Holland expects that it will.
“I don’t want to gauge it, but we’re certainly going to have that conversation,… Holland said. “I’m not sure when we’re going to have that conversation.
“We’ll talk about whether his number should be in the rafters or not.…
Saarijarvi Signs It’s been a whirlwind week for defenseman Vili Saarijarvi.
Selected 73rd overall by the Wings from the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers in Saturday’s NHL entry draft, Friday, the Wings and Saarijarvi agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract that could pave the way for Saarijarvi to play this season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Flint Firebirds and be just an hour away from Detroit. The Firebirds selected Saarijarvi ninth overall in Tuesday’s CHL Import Draft.
Originally, Saarijarvi, 18, had planned to play in Finland for Karpat Oulu and indicated he had a contract with the team.
Now he’s hopeful that Flint will be his destination for the 2015-16 season.
“I think so,… Saarijarvi said. “They are talking, so we’ll see later. I want to go there. There’s more ice time for me there.
“I want to learn the North American hockey style so Flint would be a good place for that.…
Holland is of the same opinion, that Flint would be the best locale for both Saarijarvi and the Wings.
“Well, he’s been drafted by Flint but he’s got a contract with Karpat in the Finnish League,… Holland said. “They won the championship and they’ve got some established players.
“We’re going to let him make the decision but if we hear that he’s going to play in North America with Flint, which is an hour up the road, it would be great to be able to watch him play junior hockey.…
Holland also believes it’s the best option available in terms of Saarijarvi’s development.
“When you’re a young player and you play in a men’s league in Europe, he’s going to be on the fringes,… Holland said. “He’s going to play a few minutes and it’s not going to be in key moments. When the game is on the line he’s probably going to be on the bench.
“In order to compete for championships like Karpat has been doing, they’ve got good players. I just think if you’re a young player – it’s the same thing if you’ve got a 12 or 13 year old – do you move ahead or do you stay behind and dominate? I like the idea as an athlete that they dominate and that they’ve got responsibility. When the game’s on the line and you’re protecting or you’re trying to score, that you’re in the mix and not on the bench just sort of watching.
“That’s my philosophy. If somebody’s got another philosophy, I’m not going to say that mine’s right and theirs is wrong, but my philosophy is you need to play; you need to play important minutes. Certainly if he plays in Flint, he’ll be important and he’ll play important minutes. I’ve got to believe in Finland he won’t be as important as he will be in Flint.…
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