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Prodigal Return?
by IwoCPO on 02/15/08 at 04:32 AM ET
Comments (18)
Updated at 0843 with Spector’s reaction. You may be surprised. See bottom of post.
Sergei Fedorov won’t be playing in Detroit tonite, much to the chagrin of the hundreds--if not thousands--of idiots who would actually pay for the opportunity to boo him. Darren McCarty will be playing in Grand Rapids, and anyone with a brain and a designated driver will be there for that and the one dollar beers.
And those two guys may be where Ken Holland’s attention lies the next ten days.
Oh, the rumors (or rumours if you’re Canadien, or trying to sound Canadien) are out there. The Fedorov ones, especially. And if you’re a Detroit Digger...you need only turn to one person to fuel the fire. That person used to be Jimmy D, but no longer. Nope. Meet the new Jimmy D.
“He’s in great shape and I don’t think he’s lost any of his skills, that’s for sure,” said Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, who keeps in touch with Fedorov.
Chelios doesn’t think Fedorov would mind a return to Detroit.
“I know he loves Detroit,” Chelios said. “His family is still here. I’m sure it would be an option (when Fedorov becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer).
“He has a lot of friends (in Detroit). He gets back here as much as he can. I know he likes Detroit a lot.”
Detroit fans haven’t returned the love. Fedorov has been a target of fans who felt jilted when he left as a free agent.
“That doesn’t matter,” Chelios said. “They’ll welcome him back with open arms. He’s going to be a favorite if he ever comes back here.”
Reaction? I’ve got some. But first...interesting how this came about. Been following? Well, in case you “misremembered”, let me help. Kevin Allen appeared on WDFN this week with Stoney and Wojo. In between meals, Wojo goaded Allen into discussing the possibility of a Fedorov return. Allen, who’s mentioned it a few times over the last month or so, said the idea shouldn’t be discounted. The Free Press, who Wojo doesn’t work for, ran the transcript of the interview this morning.
I think it’s realistic. I think it’s a move that makes tremendoussense, and I think it’s the type of player they’ll be looking at. You know, they’re not going to be in the Mats Sundin sweepstakes, they’re not going to be giving away enough to get that done, and they’re going to be looking at that second level of scorer. I think that’s one of the guys they’ll look at.
So...Wojo works for the Detroit News, interviews Kevin Allen on WDFN. Ted Kulfan, who also works for the Detroit News, hears the interview, seeks out Jimmy D Jr. for a few quotes, but doesn’t cite the radio show where the rumor started even though the show is hosted by a guy who works for the same paper he does, but his paper’s main competitor runs the whole thing even though the host is the lead columnist for...whatever.
Fedorov back to the Wings? From a hockey perspective? Yep. Immediately makes the the second power play unit immensely better. Immediately makes the second line as good as any first line in hockey. Defensively responsible, and even a potential Dman if (when) injuries require it. Chemistry? Interesting thought. I make no predictions on that because I’m not in that room, but I’d guess he’d be accepted by the players. If Hasek has lasted the last two years without slappers to the face in practice, Fedorov can come back too.
And you’d accept him. I’d guess his first game back would be met by exactly zero boo’s. None. All you hypocrites who would have jeered him tonite will give him a standing O like he’d been a POW for the last five years.
The question in my mind is money. He makes more than six million per year but that would be considerably pro-rated due to the point in the season he’s acquired. I don’t even attempt to figure that out, but the salary wouldn’t be a huge stumbling block. In return? Not much I’m guessing. A prospect, a second rounder, maybe Meech or Quincey?
Will it happen? Probably not, because this stuff never pans out. But the Diggers are on it. On it I tell you. So let the conversation begin in earnest.
--------
Spector reacts in his Trade Rumors section: “Fedorov could still attract some interest as a rental player at the deadline, concussion or remaining salary aside, provided the Jackets asking price isn’t expensive. Detroit could be a possibility but I think GM Ken Holland has other, more attractive targets in mind.”
Interesting. There are quite a few players, admittedly, who would fall into the category of “more attractive targets.” I could name a few but you’ve seen them all before. One guy I haven’t mentioned is Jokinen.
Oh wait. Yes I have. In 19 different posts now.
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Comments
The injuries worry me, too. He’s put an awful lot of mileage on his hockey odometer, but still smart as anything.
I’m biased, because he’s one of my favorite players, but I think it would be great to see him back in Detroit. Purely from a sentimental standpoint as far as I’m concerned.
Maybe he wouldn’t even cost very much to get in trade, either. The major plus for Columbus would be salary cap relief, I suppose.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/15/08 at 09:20 AM ET
I blame watching Mr. Dressup and Canadian Sesame Street for my improper and colourful spelling 
I dunno about Sergei. If he’s gotten his stuff together (i.e. no more DUIs), if he’s willing to laugh when Daddy Fedorov (Viktor) and his Bestest Buddy (Sport-Express’s Igor Larin) complain that those evil, Russian-hating Red Wings and Caveman Babcock are the reason Sergei’s not playing 75 minutes a game and scoring eight billion goals (methinks Daddy Fedorov is not only bitter, but also toasts Mr. Larin every time one of them says “NHL") instead of letting Daddy’s comments affect his play, and if he’s willing to promise that Pat “Baghdad” Brisson won’t espouse upon the reasons that the Red Wings mistreat Fedorov because he can’t be “the man” with Nicklas Lidstrom in town during contract negotiations...Then, sure. He’s got baggage, and if he can carry it himself, okay. If he still requires an extra seat on Red Bird II for his ego, then, not so much.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 02/15/08 at 09:24 AM ET
I would absolutely love to see him come back to Detroit. If for no reason than to get the people who boo him (they must have forgotten about all the championships) to shut up.
It will surprise me if it actually happens, but I’d be happy about it.
Posted by Dan from Michigan on 02/15/08 at 09:28 AM ET
I’d like to see the Fed back in Motown very much. Could happen. But so could trading Jagr for Federov, straight up.
Posted by TheFreak on 02/15/08 at 10:05 AM ET
Got it in one, George.
He’s not the dominant forward he once was, but still could put up 40-50 points, and more importantly, he’s versatile, which is exactly what we need right now. If we need some dynamism on the second PP unit, he’s it. We need to improve the PK, he’s it. We need a shooter, he’s it. We need a fill-in on D, he’s it. Maybe he can even add a little sandpaper (though I’m not entirely convinced on that part-- that’s why I hope D-Mac is progressing well in GR or Cleary comes back to full form). Most importantly, he can do what we wanted him to do four years ago-- mentor the young players coming through. Happy and Fil would be a heck of a lot more consistent this year if they’d had Fedorov mentoring them over the past year or two. You can’t say that if Fil had played on a line with him last year, that you’d have any reservations about predicting he’d pot twenty-five this year.
But-- can the ego, the John Hahn special orders, the poisonous words in Cyrillic script, be put aside? Can he accept a more low-key role and the lower pay that comes with it, realize he’ll never be The Man, take an A on his sweater and as Crosby says in the ad, play for the logo on the front, not the name on the back?
I’ve nver booed him. He was, and still is, a remarkable player whom we were lucky to have, and disagreements and mistakes on both sides drove him away. I’d love to see him end his career in red & white. But if his attitude is still stuck in 2001 while his body is in 2008, every part of him should stay in Columbus.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the Number 91 bus to Hockeytown on 02/15/08 at 10:22 AM ET
Can he accept a more low-key role and the lower pay that comes with it, realize he’ll never be The Man, take an A on his sweater and as Crosby says in the ad, play for the logo on the front, not the name on the back?
Maybe. Before he left for the Ducks he had never played anywhere other than Detroit, so he didn’t have much basis for comparison. Since then he’s been traded, injured, divorced, played on losing teams, and dealt with things that can either make you wiser or just older. Apparently he’s actually been pretty good with Nash and Zherdev, too.
Making the boo-birds shut up would be awesome beyond words.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/15/08 at 11:12 AM ET
Taking a random guess (which all someone sitting in his home office in frozen G.R. can do), I’d have to guess that Sergei is Plan B for Kenny. I’d guess that Plan A is someone like Vinny Propal (and I’m going to keep harping on that until they get him).
If Prospal (or Antropov or some other “non-star” player) can’t be had for a reasonable price, then Sergei is a great second choice. Or, again if the price is right, maybe the Wings will get both Sergei and another player...Prospal might be a good choice. 
But no matter who the Wings get (and all of the injuries make it certain that they will get someone), I sure hope it’s someone the Wings can resign for at least next season.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 02/15/08 at 11:36 AM ET
The potential for Fedorov to fill in on the blueline is definitely the most intriguing part of the whole idea of bringing him back. Before, I generally wrote it off as wishful thinking, but I can see it as a real possibility, if Holland is thinking along the same lines.
Sergei is not the player he once was, but his versatility makes him more attractive than many of the other available players, I would think.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 02/15/08 at 11:36 AM ET
I would love Fedorov back in Detroit. I would never boo him. Broken ribs and competing the in the WCF and SCF...those clutch goals when the team needed them. I think he could really help Val and Jiri. Help the PP, just help all over. I know it probably won’t happen but I have never stopped hoping.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 02/15/08 at 11:42 AM ET
But if his attitude is still stuck in 2001 while his body is in 2008, every part of him should stay in Columbus.--AndrewfromA2
The potential for Fedorov to fill in on the blueline is definitely the most intriguing part of the whole idea of bringing him back. --Matt Saler
Yes.
Posted by Osrt on 02/15/08 at 01:13 PM ET
I’d like to agree with what everyone else agrees on. He is versatile, can be the secondary scoring, and the defensive depth man.
Do it Kenny, I’ve been wanting to wear my Fedorov sweater (see I can pretend to be Canadien too) for years now.
Is Kenny willing to give up Kopecky?
Posted by Aaron from Phoenix on 02/15/08 at 01:19 PM ET
I’ve said this before. I think if Sergei came back, signed for another year or two and played until he was 40 in the Winged Wheel, he’d have a nice little career renaissance. Not 40/40, but at his age, I think a renaissance could be considered 20/20 with a plus rating, solid face-off percentage, and 15 minutes per game playing in all roles.
Sergei was born and bred for the Wings’ style of play. He’s been away from it since he left for Anaheim, and for that reason—not injuries—I think he’s fallen the most. Coming back to an organization and style of play that fits him like a glove can only be good.
Posted by Nathan on 02/15/08 at 02:48 PM ET
I dunno…
Fedorov and Babcock together again?
When Fedorov left, it was assumed that with the absence of Kariya to the Slides, Fedorov would be the go-to guy in Anaheim. They got to within one game of the Cup.
The year after, I think, there was a falling out between the two because Babcock demanded a two-way game from his superstar players. Fedorov often played like he was setting up for the big one-timer and defensively? Just make the passes go the other way and he wouldn’t give up the body to block the shots from the points anymore.
Not in Babcock’s world will that ever happen.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 02/15/08 at 04:41 PM ET
Fedorov has played under Hitchcock and Bowman. I don’t think defensive responsibility is an issue with him. Nevermind that Selke trophy…
Posted by Nathan on 02/15/08 at 05:06 PM ET
Was it Babcock and Fedorov or Burke and Fedorov?
The latter seems more likely to me. Their personalities seem to be as compatible as oil and water.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/15/08 at 06:26 PM ET
‘Roque, I think it was Bryan Murray and then he moved up to the GM post and hired Mike Babcock from the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks farm team. I think Kariya was there for a year under Babcock and then left the following summer for the Slides. Murray brought in Fedorov as a replacement for Kariya because
1) Murray knew him; and
2) Fedorov had the Cup credentials.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 02/16/08 at 01:51 AM ET
As soon as Burkey got in, Fedorov was Blue Jacket toast. Not a Carlyle player…
I was amused as all hell get out at the fact that Fedorov happened to blow by Dennis Fithian after the game, and Fithian just happened to be doing the post-game show on WXYT with Riger for an hour and a half, so the snub was mentioned repeatedly.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 02/16/08 at 06:38 AM ET
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As you’ve said he would be a great plug be it 4th line defensive center, 2nd line offensive center, 2nd line winger, defensemen. The concussion worries me, so does the hip flexor, but if we can bring in Bertuzzi after missing a whole season, why not bring in Fedorov. Watching him in Columbus when he was healthy, he’s a little bit slower, but he still has a rocket, and his hockey sense is still top notch.
Somebody needs to teach Filppula to take it to the net, it might as well be Fedorov.
Posted by Jdunc from Flint, MI on 02/15/08 at 07:38 AM ET