In a move that was long overdue, the Detroit Red Wings announced this morning that the iconic No. 91 jersey number of Sergei Fedorov will be retired and raised to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena.
The ceremony will take place on January 12 before a game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
91 TO THE RAFTERS.https://t.co/EzoLOkDqWzpic.twitter.com/NOdxptplNv
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 19, 2025
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 19, 2025
Fedorov's story of defection from the Soviet Union in the middle of the night was nothing short of incredible, and he would go on to become one of the greatest and most thrilling players not only in Red Wings history, but in all of the NHL.
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Fedorov won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player in 1994, and would help the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2002. Fedorov was also a six-time NHL All-Star while winning the Lester B. Pearson Award (1994) and twice winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy (1994, 1995).
The relationship between Fedorov and the Red Wings wasn't without complications, as he infamously held out following the 1997 Stanley Cup victory and even signed an offer sheet with the Hurricanes, who were owned by Peter Karmanos, a bitter business adversary of Mike Ilitch.
The Red Wings matched the offer, and Fedorov remained with Detroit for several more years. During his time with the Red Wings, he played in 908 games and scored exactly 400 goals while adding 554 assists, along with 50 goals and 113 assists in 162 playoff games.
His 954 career points in a Red Wings uniform rank sixth all time in team history.
Fedorov’s time with the franchise officially ended in the 2003 offseason when he signed with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the same team that had eliminated the Red Wings from the playoffs earlier that spring, after reportedly turning down a pair of contract offers from Detroit.
Upon Fedorov's return to Joe Louis Arena in December 2003 with the Mighty Ducks, he was treated as a villain and heavily booed by the fans.
Fedorov would later play for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals before returning to Russia to play in the KHL.
Thankfully, Fedorov’s relationship with Red Wings fans has been mended in recent years, as he received a warm welcome during the 2013 Alumni Game at Comerica Park…