Detroit — The Red Wings are going to retire a number that many fans had hoped would have been honored a long time ago.
The organization announced Tuesday morning — fittingly at 9:10 a.m. — that Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 will be retired in a pre-game ceremony Jan. 12, 2026, when the Wings host the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena.
Fedorov was a dynamic, popular and key piece of the Wings’ dynasty of the late 1990s and early 2000s that featured several future Hockey Hall of Famers, including current general manager Steve Yzerman, Igor Larionov, Nicklas Lidstrom and Brendan Shanahan, winning Stanley Cup championships in 1997, 1998 and 2002.
Chris Ilitch, the Wings’ governor and chief executive officer, called Fedorov Monday morning with the news.
“We are honored to celebrate Sergei Fedorov and raise his No. 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 in a press release. “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.”
The retiring of Fedorov’s number will occur during the Wings’ 100th season, a centennial season that already promises to have a myriad of special evenings and ceremonies. But Fedorov’s number-raising should be emotional.
Fedorov, 55, spent 13 seasons with the Wings from 1990-2003 and ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders with 908 games played (tied for 11th), 400 goals (fourth), 554 assists (seventh), 954 points (sixth), a plus-276 rating (second), 117 power play goals (fifth), 31 shorthanded goals (second), and 12 overtime goals (first). Fedorov reached the 30-goal mark nine times in a Wings uniform, including six of his first seven seasons.
“I’m extremely grateful for this tremendous honor,” said Fedorov, of having his number retired, in a prepared statement. “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.”
Fedorov became the first European-trained player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL most valuable player) in 1994. Fedorov posted his best statistical season in 1993-94, earning a spot on the NHL All-Star First Team after leading all Wings in goals (56), assists (64), points (120), a plus-48 rating, shorthanded goals (four) and game-winning goals (10).
Fedorov also won the Selke Trophy, given to the league’s best defensive forward, as well as the Lester B. Pearson Award (now Ted Lindsay Award) as the most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHL players’ association in 1994 — and remains the only player in NHL history to win the Hart and Selke trophies in the same season.
The Wings selected Fedorov in the fourth round (74th overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, making him the highest-drafted player from the Soviet Union at the time. Fedorov would defect to the United States following an exhibition game in Portland between the Soviet Union and Team USA.
Jim Lites (then-executive vice-president) and Nick Polano (then assistant GM) discreetly arranged a plan for Fedorov to sneak away after the game, and to Mike Ilitch’s private jet. Fedorov arrived in Detroit on July 23, 1990, signing a five-year contract with the Wings.
“I remember when Sergei was going to defect,” Mike Ilitch said of the episode, years later. “I had a pilot for my plane, and it was his first day on the job. I said, ‘I’ve got a player who’s going to defect from Russia and you’ve got to go pick him up.’ His (the pilot) eyes got like saucers and he said, ‘I’ve got to go to Russia?’ I said “No, no, no. He was petrified. Probably ready to quit right away.”
Fedorov made an immediate impact with the Red Wings, where he was issued No. 91 because it was the inverse of Yzerman’s No. 19. Fedorov debuted with the Red Wings in 1990-91, earning NHL All-Rookie Team honors and finishing runner-up in voting for the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) after leading all rookies in goals (31), assists (48) and points (79) in 77 regular-season games.
In 1995-96, the iconic “Russian Five” consisting of Fedorov, Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Igor Larionov debuted as a five-man unit. Fedorov surpassed the 100-point mark for the second time that season, leading all Wings skaters in goals (39), assists (68) and points (107). Fedorov earned his second Selke Trophy as the Wings clinched their second straight Presidents’ Trophy with an NHL-record 62 wins and 131 points.
Fedorov delivered one of the most memorable individual performances in franchise history during the 1996-97 season when he scored all five goals, including the game-winner 2:39 into overtime, in a 5-4 win over the Washington Capitals on Dec. 26, 1996 at Joe Louis Arena.
In 1998, Fedorov was signed to a six-year, $38 million offer sheet by Carolina, including $26 million in bonuses. The Wings quickly re-signed Fedorov, who was instrumental in a Wings’ Stanley Cup run.
Fedorov did leave for Anaheim as an unrestricted free agent in 2003. The move left scars in the Wings’ front office, as Fedorov left for Anaheim for less money ($40 million over five years, compared to the reported $50 million over five years the Wings’ offered). Fedorov either declined the Wings’ offer, or told owner Mike Ilitch he wanted to test the free-agent market, leading Ilitch to pull his contract offer to Fedorov.
Fedorov ultimately played in 18 NHL seasons, compiling 1,179 points (483 goals, 696 assists, and a plus-261 rating in 1,248 regular-season games between the Wings, Mighty Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals.
Following the 2008-09 season, Fedorov returned to Russia and signed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League to play on the same team as his brother, Fedor. Fedorov tallied 74 points (22-52-74), a plus-35 rating and 123 penalty minutes in 141 regular-season games in Russia’s top professional league from 2009-12, serving as team captain during his final two seasons with the club Fedorov’s career in hockey came full circle in 2012 when he returned to CSKA Moscow, where he spent four seasons as a player from 1986-90 prior to signing with the Wings. Fedorov worked 12 seasons in CSKA Moscow’s front office, serving as general manager from 2012-17, senior advisor from 2017-21 and head coach from 2021-24. He was named the KHL’s Coach of the Year in 2021-22 and 2022-23, leading CSKA Moscow to back-to-back Gagarin Cup championships in 2022 and 2023. Fedorov also won a silver medal as an assistant coach with the Russian Olympic Committee at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
Fedorov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2015.
Fedorov’s No. 91 becomes the Red Wings’ ninth retired number in franchise history, joining Sid Abel (No. 12), Alex Delvecchio (No. 10), Gordie Howe (No. 9), Red Kelly (No. 4), Nicklas Lidstrom (No. 5), Ted Lindsay (No. 7), Terry Sawchuk (No. 1) and Yzerman (No. 19).
“He’s one of the best players I’ve ever had as a teammate,” said Lidstrom, during Fedorov’s time with the Wings.
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.