The Detroit Red Wings will be retiring Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 before a January 12 game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena.

Yes, the irony of the situation that the opponent is the Hurricanes is not lost on Fedorov.

It was Carolina in 1998 that presented an offer sheet to restricted free agent Fedorov, which ended up costing Red Wings owners the Ilitch family $38 million to keep him in the fold.

Sergei Fedorov’s sweater will forever be in Detroit’s rafters 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9SmHoXCfoT

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 19, 2025

As far as Fedorov is concerned, it’s all water under the bridge.

“It’s all in the past now,” Fedorov told website rg.org. “Everyone made their choices, and they were honest and understandable.

“Fate is fate. And here it is, bringing us together again.”

For Fedorov, Dealings With Red Wings Were Just Business

Similar to his decision in 2003 to sign with the Anaheim Ducks as an unrestricted free agent, ending his 13-year tenure with the Red Wings, Fedorov never saw the choice as anything more than a business decision.

“I was always a Red Wing, even when I played for other teams,” Fedorov said. “But we all understand that hockey in North America is also a big business.

“I can’t say we ever had a bad relationship. Every decision—mine or the Red Wings’—was made by professionals. Everyone understood what was happening behind the scenes.”

Fans Took Out Their Wrath On Fedorov

Telling the fans that business is business is an entirely different matter. Fedorov succinctly understands that fact of life.

“Of course, from the outside, especially for the fans, things might have looked different,” Fedorov said.

📆: December 26th, 1996

Sergei Fedorov scored all five goals, including the OT Winner in a 5-4 win against the Capitals#DetroitRedWings | #Wings pic.twitter.com/43vJGOQLvj

— Missin Curfew (@MissinCurfew) August 19, 2025

Fedorov was subjected to persistent boos when he’d appear in Detroit in another team’s uniform.

“I can say this: all sides acted honestly,” Fedorov said. “Detroit’s fans had every right to their opinions, and they voiced them. But I know one thing—I was always honest with them. I always said exactly what I thought.”