Absolutely he is. One of the best playoff performers in history. He would have better offensive regular season numbers if he had escaped the defenseman experiments of Bowman and Hitchcock.

The worst career move he made was leaving Detroit. I think he’d be staring 500 goals in the face if he had stayed.

Posted by Nathan on 04/01/07 at 03:31 PM ET

I say yes...but I may be biased, because he has always been one of my favorite hockey players.

Posted by Baroque on 04/01/07 at 03:32 PM ET

Though I am not a fan of his “fancy Nike skates”, and his game has slipped lately, he is definitely a lock for the HOF.  He deserves it.

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 04/01/07 at 03:41 PM ET

For sure. He belongs in the HOF.

Posted by arice89 from Detroit, MI on 04/01/07 at 03:51 PM ET

I dunnot about this “Segei Fedorov” character, but if you’re referring to Sergei Fedorov, why even ask? Who’d be foolish to argue against it?

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 04/01/07 at 03:52 PM ET

Oops, that was a typo on my part.
The reason I ask, is there has been some talk within the Detroit media circles about Feds.  Is he a first ballot, a few folks beliieve he isn’t and may have to wait a few years before getting in.
They point to the players with over 500 goals who are not in, I point to their overall game and say compare it to Sergei’s.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/01/07 at 03:56 PM ET

The reason I ask, is there has been some talk within the Detroit media circles about Feds.

Good one Paul.  I see you managed to hook a number of people with a well-placed April Fools gambit.

The Detroit media doesn’t even talk about current Wings, much less Wings from teams 3 seasons hence.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 04/01/07 at 04:58 PM ET

Fedorov has gotten a raw deal from Red Wing fans after his departure.  There’s no doubt he’s a first-ballot HOF’er, and probably the most accomplished Russian player in NHL history.

Posted by The Forechecker from Tennessee on 04/01/07 at 05:17 PM ET

yes, he is a hall of famer but there are similar players with those and ever got into the hall of fame. look how long it takes a player to get into the hall of fame. why isnt berine parent in the hall of fame?

Posted by FlyersFan on 04/01/07 at 06:03 PM ET

Bernie Parent IS in the HHOF. Inducted 1984.

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 04/01/07 at 08:22 PM ET

Anyone who suggests Fedorov isn’t a first ballot Hall of Famer either has an irrational hate-on for him, or simply doesn’t follow hockey and isn’t a knowledgeable hockey fan.

And if this was an April Fool’s jape, Paul, then well played by you!

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 04/01/07 at 08:24 PM ET

It wasn’t an April Fools per say, but I wanted to prove a point to some people who did not believe me when I told them they were nuts with their opinion of Feds not being a first ballot HOFamer.
I am dead serious when they told without Sergie hitting 500 goals, he is an “if” not when.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 04/01/07 at 08:28 PM ET

Being a Wings fan I’m a bit embarrassed at the treatment Fedorov gets in Detroit.  I can see giving him the business the first year after he left, but it is ridiculous to continue to boo him.

Dude is a stone cold lock to be in the HOF.  Point a game playoff performer over 162 games?  Uh, yeah.  Done deal.

Posted by Dave on 04/01/07 at 08:45 PM ET

As I said before, Paul, those chuckleheads cannot call themselves knowledgeable hockey people. Indeed, for a sports reporter to even make that suggestion indicates they don’t follow hockey at all, or at least not that well. Either that, or they’ve got grudges against Feds, in which case, their personal biases are clouding their judgement, which certainly doesn’t speak well for their journalistic integrity.

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 04/01/07 at 08:50 PM ET

Yes, and I’m one of those people that was furious to see him go.  He’s been a dominant player who’s got the hardware to back his point totals up.  The Wings wouldn’t have won those three Cups without him, and there’s a decent chance that we could see #91 up in the rafters one day.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 04/01/07 at 09:56 PM ET

Not until he hits 500 goals.

If he were to retire today, no, he hasn’t done anything worthy of enshrinement. He was a good player, but never amongst the best in the game. A guy like that needs to have some sort of major accomplishment to put him in. 500 goals is his only shot at enshrinement.

Posted by Thomas on 04/02/07 at 12:44 AM ET

How can a Hart winner have been “never amongst the best in the game”? That’s absurd.

I don’t see the Wings retiring his number but otherwise I’m with Georgeums--his importance to those Cup wins can’t be overstated, and that’s something that’s not even reflected in the resume above.

Posted by Laura from Chicago on 04/02/07 at 01:14 AM ET

Does anyone think some of the reluctance is because he is seen (at least by some people) as an inscrutable Russian, and if he were Canadian they would view him differently?  It seems pretty silly to me, but some fans still talk about “soft Euros” as though foreign players just started joining the league a couple years ago and haven’t yet established themselves.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/02/07 at 06:11 AM ET

I say yes for sure to Feds being in!  Not only for the fact that he is one of the most offensively talented players to lace em up, but because he has played on the blueline for long stretches several times in his career (as he has this year).  You don’t see too many players with his kind of numbers be able to transition to a defensive game the way he can.  And when it is all said and done, he’ll have the same point totals that that are the usual benchmarks to get in today.

Posted by Mac from Canada on 04/02/07 at 06:39 AM ET

Again, anyone who suggests that Fedorov isn’t a first ballot HOF’er until he’s hit 500 goals isn’t a knowledgeable hockey fan.

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 04/02/07 at 06:57 AM ET

Yes, Feds should be in the HHOF.  I’ll never forget him playing in the playoffs with broken ribs.  He had so many clutch goals, the Wings don’t have those three Cups without him. 

Of course, I’m still wishing the Wings had him.  Sigh.

Posted by hockeychic on 04/02/07 at 12:01 PM ET

HHOF - No question - IN

Just to play the devil’s advocate.... where would the wings be today if they shelled out the money (29 mil I think) to retain Federov? Would we have acquired Zetterberg and Datsyuk? I would take either of these players individually over Feds if the choice was to RETAIN Feds or get one of these NEW players. Thoughts?

Posted by Tim on 04/02/07 at 01:07 PM ET