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Daddy Feds:  My Soul Aches For My Eldest Son

by IwoCPO on 07/15/07 at 06:48 AM ET
Comments (8)

Within minutes of the story hitting the wires, George Malik posted an article from the Russian daily Sport Express that claimed a Sergei Fedorov return to Hockeytown is an idea brewing in both camps.  Frigging George.  The guy’s a bloodhound.  That was back on July 12th.  If you haven’t seen it, head over there and read it.  When you’re done, get back here because there’s another article from that same edition I want you to see.

Nifty. You’re back.  No idea what the headline on that story says but all those weird symbols and Baltic words and stuff are fun to look at.

Mike, a Wing fan in Wisconsin, forwarded me the translation of an interview with our favorite father, Victor Fedorov.  Say what you want about the old man but the guy’s tenacious when it comes to speaking on behalf (or maybe in spite of) his son. 

---------
My Soul Aches For My Son
(The interview with Victor Fedorov, Sergei’s father residing in Detroit; with Igor Larin; published by Sport-Express on June 12, 2007)

Victor Fedorov: From the hockey standpoint the “Detroit Version” seems to me the strongest one and the most promising, emphasized Fedorov Sr.  Believe me, Sergei in his 37 hasn’t abandoned his ambitions.  As a professional player his sole aim is the Stanley Cup, his 4th.  Understandably, if the Columbus keeps it up, they won’t see one in next several decades.

Igor Larin: Does current Detroit suit your son’s game style?

VF: Generally, yes.  Of course, the team of Sergei’s tenure that dominated the league doesn’t exist anymore.  However, some traditions are still there: the team still maintains the puck control, and plays the smart, team hockey.  Lately, my soul is hurting for my older son.  I see his potential, but under current conditions realizing it is very difficult, if not impossible.

IL: What does Sergei think about the Detroit possibility?  Is he concerned that he’d be getting the same hostile reception in Motown as during his visits as a Duck or a Blue Jacket?

VF: We didn’t talk about it.  As far as fans’ reaction is concerned, it varied.  I assure you that the people who came to watch the game of hockey, and not just to chug the beer, haven’t criticized Fedorov.

IL: Does Sergei know about the news of his possible return to the Red Wings?

VF: No.  Just late last night he returned to Detroit from Miami where he, by the way, was able to get some ice time in preparation for the next season.  Although, we did notice 2 weeks ago that there were some “winds of change” in Detroit.  The largest newspaper in town published the big article about Fedorov.  He was named as one of the best athletes over the last 15 years, and the thought was expressed that the club only lost from Sergei’s departure by forgetting what Stanley Cup was.

IL: Was it an accidental article?  Or did somebody request it in the club’s management?

VF: That’s what Sergei and I were wondering.  We still don’t know the answer.

---------

A few impressions.  It’s always tough to determine the senior Fedorov’s motivation.  Does he say what Sergei wishes he could say himself? Or is he just a frustrated dad, babbling to the first microphone that appears in front of his face? During Feds’ tenure in Detroit, the Russian media consistently went to Victor at the first sign of controversy.  In those days, papers like Sport Express may as well have been Detroit dailies, due mainly to the presence of the Russian 5.  In this case, Victor’s fairly subdued and he makes a couple points I agree with.

1.  Fedorov is wasting away in Columbus, as any of us would.  Against the Wings, and on a line with Nash, he’s occasionally flourished. But his career is going nowhere with no prospects for team success.  If he truly wants to experience the playoffs again, it won’t be in Columbus and he has to be considering options to get back to a contender.

2.  Love this part.  “I assure you that the people who came to watch the game of hockey, and not just to chug the beer, haven’t criticized Fedorov.” Whoa.  You wait one damn minute Victor.  There are some beer chuggers in the crowd who find the actions of other beer chuggers to be pathetic, but that doesn’t mean chugging beer is the reason for the behavior.  As I, and a few others here, have said; if Fedorov returns to Detroit, he’ll be cheered consistently.

3.  Dad says he and Sergei haven’t discussed a return to Detroit.  That, my friends, is a lie.  Victor’s a lying liar.  Of course they’ve discussed it.  They’ve probably discussed it every time Columbus plays the Wings, much more than that actually.  Haven’t discussed a return?  Try this one Victor:  “Yes, we’ve discussed it.  In fact, we obsess about it.”

4.  Victor mentions an article about listing the top athletes in Detroit over the last fifteen years?  I haven’t seen it but that doesn’t mean it’s not out there.  If any of you have it, please forward and I’ll take full credit for finding it.  Yes, Sergei would be in that list (maybe as high as 4th after The Captain, Lidstrom and Barry Sanders).  If the paper that ran it (Freep, News?) had any nut whatsoever, about ten of those athletes would be Wings. 

5.  Was “it” an accidental article?  I’ve never got the impression that the organ-I-zation does much secret squirrel stuff through the media.  I don’t think they’re in the habit of planting stories to gauge fan reaction.  In fact, the idea that the Wings care at all about what you or I think is pretty silly.

Dollars and motivation.  Can Fedorov be bought out?  If so, will the Wings slide some dough under the table to the BJ’s to help in that endeavor?  If so, would they want him back?  If they would, under what economic conditions?  37 and apparently hungry for another Cup...sounds like a recipe for the Wing standard 2 mil plus bonuses for TEAM success.

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Comments

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070701/COL08/707010591/1053/SPORTS

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070709/SPORTS18/707090361/0/BLOG05

Posted by anon1 on 07/15/07 at 07:49 AM ET

Hmm, Feds or Foppa?

Foppa on a terrible Flyers team last season:
40 games, 11 goals, 29 assists, +2

Fedorov on a bad Columbus team last season:
73 games, 18 goals, 24 assists, -7

Nearly half the games played, similar offensive production and decent two-way play?  Check out where Forsberg ranks in 5on5 play - #8

http://www.behindthenet.ca/player_stats.html

Feds is way down at #382.  So bring on Foppa.  Detroit doesn’t need him to play until the calender reads 2008 anyways so health shouldn’t be a concern by then.

Posted by Dave on 07/15/07 at 01:43 PM ET

How could anyone want Foreskin over Fedorov? Last years point totals mean nothing. Especially considering Fedorov played some time on defense for Columbus, while Forsberg only played as a forward on a team with few other players who could even put up any points. Like I said, last years point totals mean nothing, and one Canadian websites ranking means even less. Fedorov could bring far more to Detroit than Forsburg....starting with a healthy body that hasn’t been plagued by injuries!.

Posted by Rick from Motown on 07/15/07 at 02:08 PM ET

Okay, Feds’ totals when he played solely as a forward for Anaheim and Columbus in 2005-06.

67 Games, 12 Goals, 32 Assists, -2

Yes, I get that Forsberg is a former Av, but he’s a better player than Fedorov right now.  I don’t get Wings fans booing Feds, but the fact is that acquiring Forsberg would be very similar to acquiring Hasek last summer.

How’d that work out?

Posted by Dave on 07/15/07 at 02:54 PM ET

Viktor Fedorov is like Eric Lindros’s dad on steriods, with a drinking problem.  The guy has a bad rep for verbally berating and even bopping other people’s kids at hockey camps, and is generally regarded as an asshat of the first order. 

Viktor’s disdain for American hockey, the concept that a Fedorov would ever have to play in the minor leagues, and those darn drunked fans are the reasons why Fedor Fedorov is tooling around in the Superleague with NHL talent and a petulant attitude that makes Sergei look like the consummate team player.  Fedor could easily play in the NHL if Daddy Fedorov hadn’t convinced his younger son that those stupid American coaches just didn’t understand how talented he was, and were misusing him because they were discriminating against Russians.

Viktor’s one of the reasons that Sergei left Detroit--mind you, money, his desire to be “the man” in Anaheim, his battles with alcoholism (which the Red Wings [i.e. Jimmy Devellano] were tired of covering up, as Sergei’s single official DUI was one of many), and Pat “Bagdhad” Brisson’s influence were big reasons as well--but getting away from Daddy while simultaneously believing Daddy’s bologna about Sergei being misunderstood, underutilized, discriminated against by coaches and fans that never saw Sergei as an equal of Yzerman, and deserving of “more” than the Wings could happened to weigh heavily on Sergei’s decision.

We’ve all seen the results thereof...And, somewhere along the way, Sergei realized that dating Anna, living like a rock star, and going “Hollywood” didn’t mean that he’d have hockey success have aged him, and I also think that he’s gotten over Daddy’s influence to some extent.

Daddy happens to be buddy-buddy with Igor Larin, and they share the same “Russian hockey is better than NHL hockey,” “NHL’ers are mercenaries, a.k.a. ‘legionnaires,’” “NHL coaches don’t understand/respect Russians enough,” etc. xenophobic and discriminatory beliefs, so they get along like two peas in a pod.  Daddy provides Larin (see: The Russian Bruce Garrioch/Damien Cox/Al Strachan) all sorts of gossip, and Larin gets to post his conversations with his pal Viktor as articles without much effort--he just calls Viktor to shoot the poop, and gets more than enough ammunition to make broad and baseless claims. 

As to the rest of the theory about Sergei returning…

If it was anybody other than Drew Sharp, I’d suggest that the Wings may have planted a storyline--especially if Jimmy D went and spouted off to the Windsor Star again (see: “Oh, yeah, Nick is definitely going to be the Captain” before three weeks of denials from the organization)--but Drew inevitably decides to write an article about somebody that the Red Wings MUST trade for, lest they stink mightily, right before free agency begins.  Last year, it was Luongo, and this year, it’s Sergei. 

I don’t think it was planted--I think Evil Drew just capitalized on a lot of hearsay and suggestions from all the Deep Diggers that a Fedorov return might make some sense.  Now where they’re getting their ideas from is another story, as we all know that the DD’s toe the company line, but Evil Drew is Evil Drew.

The Jax were initially claiming that they wouldn’t buy out Foote or Fedorov, but Foote happened to admit that leaving Denver was something he regretted recently, and that may have changed the Jax’ perception of their captain. 

Right now, however, I’m with Khan in suggesting that the Jax will probably have Sergei “play out the string” of at least the first half of the season with the Jax, and after that, they’ll entertain trade offers, and when they do so, the Red Wings will be interested as they could use another centre. 

Until then, Viktor and Larin will fill us in…

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/15/07 at 03:48 PM ET

“Evil Drew...”

That explains his article on why the Tigers absolutely MUST acquire A-Rod (for a tidy little sum of $30 million or so each year) and move him back to shortstop, putting Guillen at first base.  Because of course the Tigers can’t hit worth a bucket of warm spit with the pathetic lineup they have right now. 

What a bloody tool.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/15/07 at 07:47 PM ET

That’s what they call him when he appears on WXYT’s “Sports Inferno.” Appropriate, eh?

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/15/07 at 08:59 PM ET

Certain player just dont thrive under certain circumstances.  CBJ simply doesnt have the players to compliment fedorov.  They dont play the right system either. Rich nash is a great player, but he likes to carry the puck.  Hes most dangerous 1v1 and taking the puck hard to the net.  It would be like putting bertuzzi on datsyuks line.  So sergeis numbers tanked in cbj.  Put aside the statistics and actually watch him play.  Hes still got it.  Hes incredibly smart with the puck, rarely turns it over, and excellent defensively.  He can break the trap single handedly,, and makes high end breakout passes while moving very well off the puck.  The thing that makes him even more attractive, is that it gives us a #4 defensemen, if injuries take their toll.

If columbus had their choice, theyd probably have already traded him away, but chances are, nobody wants to absorb his salary, and i believe the new cba prevents them from taking on part of it without buying him out.  Its possible holland has already talked with columbus and let them know if they are looking to get out of half of his salary, to give him a call in january.

There have been a few articles in which sergei expressed regret over leaving detroit.  He seams like he has matured quite a bit since his departure.  Our players and system fit him to a T.  The only question is his relationship with babcock.

Posted by aTTicA on 07/16/07 at 05:42 AM ET

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