Detroit Red Wings
No, Sergei Fedorov is Not Going to be The Next Red Wings Coach
Red Wings legend left Detroit on bad terms
An off the cuff remark on a popular hockey podcast and suddenly all the AI clickbait sites are anointing Sergei Fedorov as the next coach of the Detroit Red Wings.
The rumblings began when Matt Murley wondered aloud about Fedorov as a possible Detroit coaching choice during a recent Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.
Derek Lalonde next on the coaches chopping board?@mattmurley19 believes Sergei Fedorov would be a perfect fit for the Detroit Red Wings’ next head coach and the Yzerplan 👀https://t.co/H2asmmniJU pic.twitter.com/MtykNyDD8I
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) November 19, 2024
We’re here to tell you that has about as much chance of happening as Kamala Harris landing a cabinet position in the Trump Administration.
Yes, Fedorov is a a Red Wings legend. His status among the fan base is iconic.
His exit strategy, though, left something to be desired.
Fedorov Costly To Red Wings
Not one, but twice, Fedorov went out of his way to cause havoc within the Red Wings organization. His contract holdout in 1997-98 wound up costing the Ilitch family, owners of the Red Wings, $38 million when they were left to match an offer sheet from the Carolina Hurricanes and Ilitch arch rival Peter Karmanos, owner of the Hurricanes. It included a $14 million signing bonus and an additional $12 million bonus if Fedorov’s team were to reach the conference final in the spring of 1998.
On this date in 1998, Sergei Fedorov showed both #LetsGoCanes and #LGRW this clip of him at the All-Star Game and got an offer sheet and a match because they were mesmerized by his his good looks and incredible hair. @gilliankemmerer #NHL https://t.co/GmZqkkizzp pic.twitter.com/uFnLZp1reN
— John (@92In82) February 18, 2021
Of course, the Wings won the Stanley Cup again in 1998. That was meaning the Ilitch family wound up forking over $26 million in bonuses to Fedorov in one season.
You can say it was just business, but you weren’t the person signing those $26 million in cheques. That person was Marian Ilitch and she’s still officially listed as owner of the Red Wings.
There’s a reason why Fedorov is still waiting to see his number 91 hoisted into the rafters at Little Caesars Arena.
Then in 2004, Fedorov would turn down a five-year, $50 million offer from the Red Wings that would’ve made him the NHL’s highest-paid player. He wound up signing with the Anaheim Ducks as a UFA for less money.
No Indication Red Wings Are Making Coaching Change
Of course, the rub in all this is that there’s no rumbling in terms of a Red Wings coaching change being imminent. Yes, a portion of the fan base is calling for the dismissal of head coach Derek Lalonde. Still, the fact of the matter is that isn’t the style of the Ilitch family. Nor is it in the DNA of GM Steve Yzerman for that matter.
Owners of the team since 1982, the Ilitches were making one in-season coaching change in their tenure. That was in 1985-86, when Brad Park was replacing Harry Neale.
As for Yzerman, he’s taken part in one in-season coaching change as an NHL GM. He sent Guy Boucher packing in Tampa Bay in 2013, replacing him with Jon Cooper.
It’s also interesting to note that while Yzerman was bringing back virtually every available Red Wings legend from his era to work for him, he’s never been extending an olive branch to Fedorov. In terms of the relationship between the two, let’s just say they aren’t exchanging Christmas cards.
And let’s face it, Yzerman can’t miss on his next coaching choice. So the chance he’ll be hiring someone with zero NHL coaching experience is, well, zero.
So, as much as you might be dreaming of Fedorov as Red Wings coach, that’s all it is. As long as the Ilitches own the team and Yzerman is its GM, this will never be a reality.
