'Detroit is home' for Sergei Fedorov as 91 raised to rafters

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Jan 12, 2026

Published in Hockey

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

DETROIT — Many years later, Sergei Feodorv admitted an error.

Leaving the DetroitRed Wings in free agency the summer of 2003 for the Anaheim Ducks was an error.

"Leaving Detroit when I did was a huge mistake," said Fedorov, whose No. 91 was raised to the rafters Monday night before the Wings played the Carolina Hurricanes. "That is on me."

Fedorov, in his typical light-hearted fashion, did quip one good thing came out of it. He met Karina, the mother of his two children.

Thunderous applause and chants of his name complemented Fedorov's address to the Little Caesars Arena crowd. Marian and her son Chris Ilitch, representing the Ilitch family, former teammate and current general manager Steve Yzerman, former teammates and representatives of families of former Wings' retired numbers all were in attendance in what was a festive atmosphere as expected.

A highlight was Fedorov calling out his Russian Five teammates by name, to loud cheers, before rushing over to hug Vladimir Konstantinov, who sat near Fedorov.

Fedorov paid special mention to the Ilitch family, as it was owner Mike Ilitch who was aggressive in getting Fedorov out of Russia at the time.

"To the Ilitch family, you are the greatest," Fedorov said. "It is truly because of you this happened. Drafting a Russian player of no chance of coming to the team, (but) sometimes the biggest risks in life have the biggest rewards."

Fedorov praised Yzerman for his leadership and ability on and off the ice leading the Red Wings.

"I learned more from him than anyone," Fedorov said. "He was truly our leader, incredible."

Fedorov said he was "humbled" by the entire evening.

"I'm feeling this moment that I didn't quite expect," said Fedorov, who added he wasn't sure an evening like Monday's was possible as a young player. "I just knew one thing. I had work to do. I wanted to prove myself. I never imagined a night like this, my number up there next to those legends."

There wasn't another number in Fedorov's mind he was going to wear, or would have worn.

The jersey number 91 was in Fedorov's mind the number he was going to wear, no matter what, after defecting from Russia and arriving in Detroit.

"I was only going forward," said Fedorov, who spoke to the media briefly before Monday's ceremonies. "Alex Mogilny, my fellow countryman, left in '89 and took 89 in Buffalo. I left in 1990 but I didn't like 0 on my back.

"I asked the equipment manger kindly if I can get 91 and at the time, I knew those big numbers were only for the stature of players like Wayne Gretzky (99).

"But I can only look and try and feel like going forward."

Fedorov was reflective of his time in Detroit, what the Wings' organization meant to him, and the memories playing with three Stanley Cup-championship teams.

Fedorov was adamant that Detroit is always going to be home in a sense.

"Detroit means home," said Fedorov, who spent considerable time in Detroit even after he left the Wings. "My parents were still residing here and I always, in my mind, was here. I tried to get back and spend as much time with them. Detroit is home. Always has been, no matter where I was.

"I swear, every time I landed in Detroit, I feel at ease and breathe differently and I enjoy that feeling.

"Detroit is home."

Fedorov deflected a question about what he, at age 12, would have thought about Monday's jersey retirement.

"All I know is great winters and we had a lot of ice time and a lot of snow and I was able to go to school five minutes away and the ice rink five minutes away and come back home," Fedorov said. "I enjoyed the weather and playing a fast sport on skates."

Fedorov touched on other subjects:

— Fedorov was surprised by owner Chris Ilitch telling him last summer that 91 was going to be retired: "I was going to the ice in 10 minutes (his Russian team's practice) and I was thinking more about practice. But I knew Chris was going to say something, but that, that was unexpected."

— On playing for coach Scotty Bowman: "He knew before the game if we were going to win or not. No doubt in my mind. He was just so cool, and he gave us so much belief and confidence."

— On the support of fans: "They were the sixth player on the ice. When we were playing and trying to win our first Stanley Cup, they were loud and always there. They came to every game to support us. At times, I thought the Joe was going to fall apart it was so loud, especially playoff time."

____