Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Legend Slams NHL Decision
Wants Russian players to get their day with Stanley Cup
As US President Donald Trump prepares to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine, former Detroit Red Wings icon Viacheslav Fetisov appears to be lobbying for a summit with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Fetisov is furious that Bettman isn’t allowing Russian NHL players with the Florida Panthers to have their day with the Stanley Cup in their homeland.
Winning the #StanleyCup is the hardest championship to win in professional sports. See the true story of how the @DetroitRedWings pulled it off after 42 years of disappointment. #therussianfive pic.twitter.com/wWcQFtnDnZ
— The Russian Five (@RussianFiveFilm) April 17, 2019
“There are written rules that say that a hockey player who wins has the right to spend two days with the trophy in his home country and show it off at charity events,” Fetisov told Russian state media site RIA Novosti.
“I don’t understand what’s happening now. The NHL is showing tolerance and following sporting principles, not allowing discrimination against Russians. But at the same time, it introduces some restrictions on the use of a trophy that is won with blood and sweat.
“This is outrageous.”
Red Wings Brought Stanley Cup To Russia in 1997
The NHL isn’t giving Panthers players Sergei Bobrovsky and Dmitri Kulikov the opportunity to bring the Cup home this summer. A year ago, former Red Wings player Vladimir Tarasenko was a Cup winner with the Panthers. He would wind up spending his day with the Cup in Florida.
When the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997, the Russian Five played a significant role in that victory. Three of the players who were part of that unit – Fetisov, Igor Larionov, and Vyacheslav Kozlov – banded together to bring Lord Stanley’s mug to Russia for the first time in history.
The undertaking of that journey came following a showdown between Bettman and Fetisov.
The Stanley Cup made history 21 years ago today in its first-ever trip to Russia. I was there in Red Square with Igor Larionov, Slava Fetisov and Slava Kozlov — 3/5 of a very special #RedWings unit. Vladdie was still fighting for his life; Sergei was a bit preoccupied. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/S0RsrBItUX
— Keith Gave (@KeithGave) August 18, 2018
“I won my first Stanley Cup,” Fetisov recalled. “After which I went to Gary Bettman and told him, ‘I want to bring the trophy to Moscow.’
“He replied, ‘No, you have bandits everywhere there. You won’t get the Stanley Cup.’
“But I wanted to bring the Stanley Cup to Moscow, and I eventually brought it. I got permission from the NHL.”
