Detroit Red Wings
War of Words Between Red Wings Hall of Famers
Fetisov claps back at Nedomansky

Both of them are Detroit Red Wings Hall of Famers and international hockey legends to boot. But today, they are on opposite ends of a debate centering around international politics.
Vaclav Nedomansky, a Red Wings star during the late 1970s and early 1980s, was the first to fire. The Czech hockey icon was describing Russia and the Russian people as being “primitive.”
“In my opinion, Russians, with the exception of some outstanding writers and composers, are a primitive nation,” Nedomansky is reported as saying by Russian website Gazeta.ru. “It has always been like that, and it became especially noticeable after 1918. There was no respect for human life.”
Václav Nedomanský of Czechoslovakia scored 9 goals in 10 games at the 1969 World Championships helping CSSR to a silver medal but more importantly by helping CSSR stick to the USSR in both their head-to-head match-ups. pic.twitter.com/xRu9PJ85ar
— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) November 4, 2024
Former Detroit defenseman Slava Fetisov, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Red Wings and a member of the legendary Russian Five, wasn’t waiting long to defend his country and his people.
“This is a well-known passenger who once fled to Canada,” Fetisov told odds.ru, citing Big Ned’s 1974 defection to play for the WHA’s Toronto Toros. “What can we expect from him?
“Yes, he is an open anti-Soviet, the first to flee to Canada. It is unclear why he kept silent for so long.”
Fetisov Offers Former Red Wings Star Free Hospital Care
Then Fetisov was extending an olive branch, so to speak. inviting Nedomansky to visit Russia and see for himself. He’ll even throw in free medical care.
“I think he should be sent to a doctor to have his brains checked,” Fetisov said.
Fetisov has also had his battles in the past on the same same subject with another Hall of Fame Red Wings icon from Czechia, former goalie Dominik Hasek. The Dominator has not been pulling punches in his criticism of Russia over the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
1988 – Soviet "Green Unit" displaying their skills in an exhibition game against Japan. Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov, Sergei Makarov, Slava Fetisov, Alexei Kasatonov (YT: Old Stager) pic.twitter.com/096sPU9tYR
— Hogamadog (@hogamadog) November 1, 2024
“These Czechs have been having some kind of aggravation lately,” Fetisov said. “They are eating something wrong.”
Papa Bear then suggested that were Nedomansky to travel to Russia, he could get psychiatric care – free of charge.
“We need to open a clinic for them for free treatment here, because it is probably expensive abroad,” Fetisov said. “Let him come, we will cure him here.”