23 Apr 2001: Sergei Fedorov #91 of the Detroit Red Wings and Glen Murray #27 of the Los Angeles Kings (Photo by Donald Miralle/ALLSPORT)
Sergei Fedorov is one of the most respected names in hockey. A Hall of Famer, three-time Stanley Cup champion, and the first Russian player to win the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, he was known for his speed, skill, and ability to play both offense and defense at the highest level. During his time with the Detroit Red Wings, Fedorov became a key part of one of the most dominant teams of the 1990s. Today, he continues to be involved in the game as a general manager in the KHL, where he helps develop the next generation of Russian hockey talent.
Fedorov shares his thoughts in an exclusive interview with RG on the current state of the NHL and the KHL, and reflects on how young stars like Ivan Demidov should approach the decision to move to North America.
Q: Who do you consider the greatest hockey players of all time? Can you name your top five?
Fedorov: In my opinion, Wayne Gretzky is number one. After him, I’d say Alex Ovechkin. Then Sidney Crosby. Number four is Jaromir Jagr. Number five… Well, that one’s open. There are many greats, but I’ll go with Pavel Datsyuk.
Q: What do you think about Demidov moving to Montreal? Is he ready for the NHL?
Fedorov: It’s a complicated question. I think it’s good for young players to become stars, take leadership roles here, and then head overseas more prepared—just like Kirill Kaprizov did. Of course, every situation is different. I feel bad when kids go to North America too early and get stuck in the AHL. Nobody teaches you how to play there, even in the NHL—they just expect results. You get thrown into games and that’s it. They come back less confident, maybe even worse off. Demidov is special, though. He sees the ice, controls the puck, skates with confidence. At his age, that’s very rare. I really like the way he plays.
Q: How do you assess the state of the Detroit Red Wings? They haven’t made the playoffs since 2016.
Fedorov: They seem stuck. They have a good coach, but no strong goalie tandem and not enough key players. It’s a young team without veterans, and that makes the rebuild even harder. I don’t see three or four strong, mobile defensemen there. Steve Yzerman is doing solid work through the draft, but it takes more than that. Their last right-shooting forward left for a bigger contract, and that didn’t help either.
Q: Were you surprised by how badly the Rangers fell this year?
Fedorov: Yes, it’s surprising. There’s no clear team strategy, no chemistry. Coaching is part of it, but so is the player group. It’s hard to say where the problem starts—manager, coach, or roster.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens are clearly moving in the right direction, working well with their young players. Demidov will fit well there.
Q: What’s your current relationship with the Red Wings? When were you last in Detroit?
Fedorov: I don’t really have any formal relationship with them right now. My mom visits my brother there sometimes—they live in northern Michigan. But I haven’t had time to visit them myself. Not because of any hard feelings—just busy. If they invited me, I’d come.
Q: How would 25-year-old Sergei Fedorov fit into today’s NHL?
Fedorov: I think I’d do great. The rules have changed—less physical play, more focus on speed and skill; that suits me. Back then, I skated well and had speed, so I think I could compete easily.
I once joked that if guys like McDavid and Draisaitl make $15 million, maybe I’d get $12 million in today’s market.
Q: Is there any current NHL player who reminds you of yourself?
Fedorov: Excellent question! Hard to say. In each team, there are players with different strengths. I was known for playing both offense and defense well. Maybe Sasha Barkov—he’s smart and solid at both ends, though I think I was faster. Patrice Bergeron is a good comparison too. but I was faster too. There aren’t many true two-way forwards like that today. That kind of player is rare now.
Q: As a KHL GM, what trends do you follow most closely in the NHL?
Fedorov: I pay attention to coaching—how teams are structured tactically, how they use their young players, how many minutes they give them, and on which lines. I’m interested in the overall approach, especially after my own coaching experience.
Q: The NHL will be back at the Olympics. Let’s say Team Russia is going too, with the same staff from four years ago—and Ovechkin is still part of the squad. How would you build around him now?
Fedorov: That’s no problem. Sasha just needs good linemates who can get him the puck. It’s basic, but it works. The other three lines need to have defined roles. That’s it. We’ll find the right guys, either from the KHL or overseas. The key is building chemistry quickly. It’s not about throwing together an all-star lineup—it’s about fit. Like when Ovechkin played with Nikolishin back in the day.
Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.
