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.
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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.
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 at 07:38 AM