Where does Sergei Federov rank in your top players of all time...
NHL totals
1,248 games---483 goals---696 assists---1,179 points...
261+ ---
NHL PLAYOFFS
183 games, 52 goals, 124 assists... 176 points.
International (Soviet and Russia)
64 games- 25 goals- 32 assists and 57 points
3x NHL Stanley Cup Champion (3x President Winner)
1x Hart
2x Selke
1 Lester B Pearson
6x NHL All star
Most OT points in career record
Fastest Skater winner
3 Golds in the World Championships
Silver and a Bronze in Olympic games
What others had to say about him...
"when he was on, his game was as close to perfection as you could get on the ice. On separate occasions, Yzerman and Wayne Gretzky told me that Fedorov is the most talented player they’ve ever seen."
—Art Regner on Fedorov playing in the 2013 Winter Classic Alumni Game.
Nicklas Lidstrom: "I think he's the best player in the league. He's real tough to defend against. He's got quickness to best you if you step up to him. It's tough to stop him."[24] Former Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque once said: "Sergei is a dominating player...When he makes a move on you, he has the ability to maintain his speed or even go faster. There aren't many defensemen who can keep up with him."[24]
The Red Wings senior vice-president Jim Devellano said, "I’m convinced if we left him there, he’d have won a Norris Trophy"
Hockey Hall of Fame Legends biography article describing him as
"Equally superb at center or on the wing, and a high scorer with outstanding defensive ability, Fedorov is a pure player who has mastered all facets of the game from A to Z. A gifted stickhandler, he can take on two or three opponents at a time. But if he spots a teammate in a better position, he will pass the puck, whether it's a few feet or halfway down the ice."
Fedorov got me liking the wings in the early 90s because we share the same bday.
He always centers Doug Mohns and Bob Gainey for me in those "make a team out of your birthday" threads.
And he was my favourite player for many many years until Leaving Detroit.
A tremendous player, I'd have him in my top 100-150 players of all-time. During his prime he was equally good on offense and defense.
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Exhibit A as to how hockey doesn't matter on ESPN:
Last night an ESPN program was discussing how the Detroit Pistons needed a hero citing the heroes on the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and no mention of the Detroit Red Wings. All this despite the Red Wings probably being the most succesful team in Detroit right now.
Fedorov is roughly a top 100 player for me. His Hart season was insanely good, and if he kept playing at around that level for a few years he would be way higher. He still usually brought it for the playoffs though, and should have gotten the 1997 Conn Smythe.
.94 PPG
#48 in goals all time
#47 in points all time
#8 in short handers all time
#9 game winners
#2 in OT goals
#14 in playoff points all time
The list continues with top 10 top 20 records in playoff plusminus, assists, short handers, game winners and others...
And the guy played defense for a ton of games. Many of his coaches preferred his role as a defencemen in their top 4, but Sergei preferred forward.
I would love to see how many actual minutes he played forward compared to the other recorded players and im sure his average would go up.
Those stats I mentioned, plus other achievements both in the NHL and IHFF, make me believe hes a top 50 player immediately.
And as his plus and minus, his 2 selke awards and many others have stated... his defense is as good as his offensive if not better. Right there im thinking you can squeeze him in the top 20.
Fedorov is roughly a top 100 player for me. His Hart season was insanely good, and if he kept playing at around that level for a few years he would be way higher. He still usually brought it for the playoffs though, and should have gotten the 1997 Conn Smythe.
Im assuming your looking at his stats go from 120 and then drop... I dont think you can look at the drop in his stats and infer he never played at that same level.
There were several situations (especially after his first Stanley Cup) where he played defense many for many games and many minutes. Many of Detroit Red Wings players were asked to sacrifice offensive focus and be more defensive minded.
Steve Yzerman is a prime example of this... he proved he was an elite offensive player but his stats took a hit too when he took on more of a complete role asked by his coaches for the better of the team. Fact (stated by Bowman and others)
Sergei def was one of these players who played more of a complete role and though his stats might show differ... I think he became a better player over the years. He won 3 Championships and when his team needed him he won games.
Im assuming your looking at his stats go from 120 and then drop... I dont think you can look at the drop in his stats and infer he never played at that same level.
There were several situations (especially after his first Stanley Cup) where he played defense many for many games and many minutes. Many of Detroit Red Wings players were asked to sacrifice offensive focus and be more defensive minded.
Steve Yzerman is a prime example of this... he proved he was an elite offensive player but his stats took a hit too when he took on more of a complete role asked by his coaches for the better of the team. Fact (stated by Bowman and others)
Sergei def was one of these players who played more of a complete role and though his stats might show differ... I think he became a better player over the years. He won 3 Championships and when his team needed him he won games.
No, I actually watched Fedorov regularly at the time. He didn't sacrifice his defence in 1994, he was just that good. Fedorov always played a complete, defensively responsible game for Detroit and never had to change his style of play. He never really approached that level again, in the regular season anyway.
Insane peak, playoff prowess outstrips his "regular season prime," loses points among conventional wisdom for doing the stereotypical Russian thing and taking regular seasons off when he could.
One of my favorite players growing up. Such a well-rounded game and amazing skating.
There's a fantastic article on Yahoo Sports about him right now: The evolution of Sergei Fedorov: From Soviet defector to NHL superstar to Russian rebuilder
Last edited by AD1066: 11-01-2012 at 01:25 PM.
Reason: Removed link - Not sure what is allowed.
I miss this guy. He was one of the best guys of all time to watch. He could put on an absolute show with his hands and his speed, and he's such a likeable guy on top of that. Easily one of my favorites of all time.
Great player. He seemed to drop off rather quickly tough. If he could have maintained the -94 form of his self for few years he would be considered one of the best of all-time. But after Red Wings he was pretty much useless and from year -97 he was a shell of his Hart year caliber.
My biased opinion has him in the top 25 forwards, and arguably one of the most complete of all time.. Certainly one of the most versitile... But I'm biased, he was always my favorite player. I always tried to model my game after his, and he's the reason I wore 91 in junior.
Still the only player to win the Hart and Selke in the same season, and I doubt anyone will ever match that.
He's a lock for the HHOF, and by far the greatest Russain born NHL'er of all time. Probably the best all around European forward as well. Many will argue Forsberg, Selanne or Jagr, but none of them had the complete toolbox Feds had. They may have had a few better tools, but the package goes to Fedorov IMO.
My biased opinion has him in the top 25 forwards, and arguably one of the most complete of all time.. Certainly one of the most versitile... But I'm biased, he was always my favorite player. I always tried to model my game after his, and he's the reason I wore 91 in junior.
Still the only player to win the Hart and Selke in the same season, and I doubt anyone will ever match that.
He's a lock for the HHOF, and by far the greatest Russain born NHL'er of all time. Probably the best all around European forward as well. Many will argue Forsberg, Selanne or Jagr, but none of them had the complete toolbox Feds had. They may have had a few better tools, but the package goes to Fedorov IMO.
True. Fedorov was one of the most complete players of all-time. But he certainly had a short peak and prime. He regressed faster than Ovechkin.
I still would put Jagr ahead of him in both, peak and career. Fedorov comes next with Ovechkin on the same level in the peak year. OV may be a bit behind.
It is the career what makes Feds fall behind. He never really got in to the same level as his Hart year. At this point i would argue Kurri, Jagr, Selanne and sometimes Forsberg over him. (Forsberg is a bit unfair, cause he never really played his career due to injuries. But he was always great something Feds can't say).
