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A Long Road For Fedorov
by Paul on 05/09/09 at 04:58 PM ET
Comments (18)
from Bruce Arthur of the National Post,
It has been a long road to this place. Fedorov was the first Russian player to defect to the National Hockey League, in Seattle on a national team trip in 1990; 19 years, one Hart Trophy, three Stanley Cups and one disputed marriage to Anna Kournikova later, he has now lived in the United States for almost as long as he lived in the former Soviet Union. To other Russians, Fedorov is a significant figure.
“I think he is a legend, you know?” Penguins defenceman Sergei Gonchar says.
“People forget,” says Pittsburgh’s Ruslan Fedotenko, “how tough it was to leave.”...
“[Russian players] come to this country and obviously, we took some—I want to put it so people understand it nicely—we took some, let’s say, top positions in every team because of our talent, and coaches want us to perform, and it’s never been easy,” Fedorov says.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Sergei+Fedorov,
Comments
“We sacrificed a lot, and we certainly bent over backwards to make it work. Especially early generation, we know we cannot come back to our home country, which is saddest and most lonely thing you can ever imagine.”
That is why I will never boo Fedorov. That and the three Cups he helped to bring to Hockeytown.
I am happy to see him mentoring the younger Rusian players on the Caps, and finishing out his career with a promising young team.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 05/09/09 at 07:20 PM ET
I bet he would be a hell of a coach.
I think he would be good if he wanted to. He’s smart enough.
A lot of younger hockey fans probably don’t remember what it was like at the time. By defecting, those players were turning their backs on their country, any family left behind, their friends and teammates - and that was assuming the defection was successful, since it might not be. And then they would likely never get another chance.
The Evgeni Malkin strong-arming was just a pale shadow of what things were like for the players leaving the Soviet Union.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/09/09 at 07:34 PM ET
Green “Mr. Norris” this year…is playing like crap.
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 05/09/09 at 08:07 PM ET
That and Feds was in a perfect spot alone about 5 feet from the crease to one-time it…and Semin was too busy trying to do it himself instead of pass. Brilliant.
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 05/09/09 at 08:10 PM ET
I am pulling for the caps just so Sergi can keep playing . In small burst tonight , yo can see he still has the wheels and is still very shifty. The shot???...hasn’t lost anything on that.
I remember when he defected, during the “Goodwill Games”. The really amazing thing is that during the World Junior Championships in 1989, Sergi centered a line with both Pavel Bure & Alex Mogiliny. Think that line may have been a little fast & lethal???
Posted by dbcooper from parts unknown on 05/09/09 at 08:23 PM ET
Hell…Feds just had to play D and goalie all in one shift. To tell you the truth, he’s the only reason the Pens haven’t won this game.
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 05/09/09 at 08:30 PM ET
And now overtime. I told my husband earlier how much I’d like to see #91 score the game winner.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 05/09/09 at 08:42 PM ET
No call on the interference on the Caps player during the PK. Bull crap.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 05/09/09 at 08:56 PM ET
I’m sensing a growing uneasiness from Red Wings fans as the Pens methodically progress through the playoffs. Could it be they feel a bit of a threat from the youngsters from Pittsburgh? Maybe the huge come from behind win earlier this year is in the back of their minds, or maybe the fact the kids didn’t quit when they had every excuse to do so last year in the Finals? Just a thought. Now I await the onslaught from the arrogant Red Wings fans (and Pens haters). I love to see arrogance get nervous. LET’S GO PENS!
Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 05/10/09 at 12:25 AM ET
He is the second former Iron Curtain player to defect to the NHL and play for the Red Wings. All credit goes to Mike Ilitch for having the brass balls to pull off the feat twice.
Thanks for memories, Feds. Good luck…except, of course, against the Wings, which in that case, you screw up everytime you touch the puck.
Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 05/10/09 at 12:29 AM ET
No, we’re not nervous about the Pens because we’re concerned about the Ducks right now. If and when we meet the Pens in the Finals, we’ll be more than happy to remind you who the better team is.
Posted by Osrt on 05/10/09 at 12:31 AM ET
Just curiously, did anybody notice Federov was the one who Malkin went around tonight on the way to the net and ultimately the victory in OT? Granted I’m not usre why Budreau was using him on the blueline in the first place, especially on the penalty kill. Maybe the Capitulators don’t have many good defensemen? LET’S GO PENS!
Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 05/10/09 at 12:44 AM ET
Could it be they feel a bit of a threat from the youngsters from Pittsburgh?
No , because the Hurricanes will beat you guys in 4 games. No really, the Caps defense is a joke, and Erik Cole and Stall (you know the “good” one) will have cindy and geno wondering what hit em.
Just curious, did anybody notice Fedorov was the one who Malkin went around tonight on the way to the net and ultimately the victory in OT
Not sure what you were whatcing, but Fedorov kept the invisible one #71 to the outside, and Poti deflected the puck in.
Seriously if you think the pens are gonna beat both the Canes and the Wings 4 out of 7 , then I got 5 words for you : Put Down The Crack Pipe
BTW, I corrected your spelling of #91’s last name.
Posted by dbcooper from parts unknown on 05/10/09 at 01:42 AM ET
I’m sensing a growing uneasiness from Red Wings fans as the Pens methodically progress through the playoffs. Could it be they feel a bit of a threat from the youngsters from Pittsburgh? Maybe the huge come from behind win earlier this year is in the back of their minds, or maybe the fact the kids didn’t quit when they had every excuse to do so last year in the Finals? Just a thought. Now I await the onslaught from the arrogant Red Wings fans (and Pens haters). I love to see arrogance get nervous. LET’S GO PENS!
Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 05/10/09 at 01:25 AM ET
/insert confused blinky emoticon
What the heck? The Penguins moved to the Western conference? And they are coming in from the bullpen to finish the series for Anaheim? When did this happen!
If you’re Spidey-sense is tingling, then you’d better have it recalibrated. Interest in the Eastern conference is extremely detached and largely disinterested right now, as that won’t even be an issue unless the Wings can win two more game against Anaheim and then four against the Blackhawks or the Canucks.
And Pens fans had better not take the Hurricanes lightly. There are still a lot of players on that team from their team that won the Cup a few years ago. They have more playoff experience than some people might think when they think of hockey in Carolina.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/10/09 at 03:55 AM ET
The Pens will have their hands full with the Hurricanes, but the Red Wings are no lock to make it out of this round let alone beat a fiesty Black Hawks club. The Black Hawks will have the advantage in the most important area GOALTENDING.
Malkin, as you call him “the invisible one”, went around the dinosaur (Fedorov) like he was a pilon twice, first when drawing the penalty and on the winning goal, in OT. Malkin also single handedly won game #3, so he’s not that invisible. If Poti doesn’t knock it in his own net, Crosby is waiting to put the puck into a wide open net. I knew the arrogance of Red Wings fans would emerge. LET’S GO PENS!
Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 05/10/09 at 09:08 AM ET
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Sergei Federov is not only a legend in Russia, but throughout the hockey world.
...In his day, the best player in the world.
In reading how important an asset he is in D.C., I wonder:
Would Federov be a good coach?
I bet he would be a hell of a coach.
Posted by w2j2 on 05/09/09 at 07:19 PM ET