If you think the Detroit Red Wings made Sergei Fedorov wait a long time to see his No. 91 go up in the rafters, you haven’t been paying attention to the history of retired numbers at the club.

Sure, some like Steve Yzerman (No. 19), Nicklas Lidstrom (No. 5), and Gordie Howe (No. 9) were all honored quickly following the conclusion of their playing days. But that’s been the exception, not the rule.

Sid Abel played his last game for the team in 1952. His No. 12 was retired on April 29, 1995. Terry Sawchuk’s last Detroit game was in 1969. The team honored his No. 1 on March 6, 1994. Ted Lindsay’s final Red Wings contest was in 1965. His No. 7 was hoisted to the rafters on November 10, 1991. That same day, the team retired Alex Delvecchio’s No. 10, long after his farewell appearance as a player in 1973.

Then there was Red Kelly. He left the Red Wings in 1960. His No. 4 was retired on February 1, 2019.

Still, now that Fedorov’s number will be going aloft on January 12, the clock is again ticking. Which Red Wings player will be next to receive the team’s highest honor? Well, there are a few deserving candidates.

Red Wings Datsyuk (No. 13) Recent Hall of Famer

Last November, Pavel Datsyuk was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He won two Stanley Cups in Detroit, along with multiple Selke and Lady Byng Trophies. The Magic Man was a two-time 97-point producer. It’s not inconceivable that he’ll be next in line for a retirement ceremony.

“I’ve never really thought about it,” Datsyuk told website rg.org. “Sometimes people ask me… Sometimes the thought crosses my mind, but nothing concrete.

“If I went to every game and looked up at the rafters, that would be different. But what if someone takes number 13 now and plays really well? Then they’ll remember me even more often. So I’d be happy if someone played well wearing 13 in Detroit.”

Zetterberg (No. 40) Loyal Detroit Soldier

Playing alongside Datsyuk for the majority of his career, Henrik Zetterberg was named captain of the Red Wings in 2013. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy while helping carry the Red Wings to the 2007-08 Stanley Cup title. Playing all of his 1082 games for Detroit, Zetterberg finished his NHL career with 960 points.

🏅 IIHF HALL OF FAME INDUCTION 2023 – Henrik Zetterberg

The 21st member of the IIHF’s Triple Gold Club, Henrik Zetterberg was a player of exceptional skill and class during a career that spanned two decades in both Sweden and North America. #IIHFHockey @trekronorse pic.twitter.com/N89fMJZNx6

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 28, 2023

In retirement, while not officially part of the team’s staff, Zetterberg remains loyal to the club. Whenever he’s asked to give a helping hand with a prospect in his native Sweden, he’s always willing to help.

Osgood (No. 30) Remains Underappreciated

A three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Wings, Osgood was twice the go-to goalie on a successful Cup run. He ranks 13th all-time with 401 NHL wins.

His .602 winning percentage is fourth-best in NHL history. In Stanley Cup play, Osgood is ninth in wins (74) and tied for fifth in shutouts (15).

Is It Time To Make Aurie (No. 6) Official?

Only the most ardent of Red Wings fans know the story of Larry Aurie. Joining the team in 1927, Aurie played 11 seasons with the team, winning two Stanley Cups. He was on his way to an NHL scoring title in 1936-37 when a late-season leg fracture derailed his chance. He still wound up with an NHL-leading 23 goals.

Red Wings coach-GM Jack Adams held the 5-foot-6 winger in the highest regard. “Pound for pound, he has more courage than any player hockey has ever known,” Adams told the Associated Press in 1937. When Aurie played his final game for the Wings, Adams deemed that no other player would ever wear his No. 6 jersey.

Larry Aurie was born OTD in 1905. He played for the Detroit Cougars, Falcons, and Red Wings from 1927-39. He was a key part of the 1936 and 1937 Stanley Cup winning teams, although he missed the playoffs in 1937. pic.twitter.com/YyOahN9dBn

— IncrementalRisk (@IncrementalRisk) February 8, 2025

“It wouldn’t seem right for anyone else to wear it,” Adams said.

Since that day, Cummy Burton, Aurie’s nephew, is the only Detroit player to don No. 6, at the request of his uncle. However, the digit was never officially retired.

“The papers were never filed with the league,” former Red Wings director of media relations Bill Jamieson once explained. In the 1990s, the Red Wings considered returning No. 6 to circulation, but thought better of it.

“We decided those were Jack’s wishes and decided not to do so,” Jamieson said.