Fedorov and Lidstrom first ballot hall of fame inductees
Congrats Nick and Sergei! #Classof2015 pic.twitter.com/Z4hffgjlIR
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 29, 2015
The induction ceremony is on 11/9/15. Former Flames president and Hockey Hall of Fame chairman Bill Hay (who will be joining his father Charles Hay in the HOF), and former Compuware CEO and owner Peter Karmanos will be inducted into the builders category.
Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov will be joined by defenseman Chris Pronger (who was technically traded to Arizona on Saturday), current Nashville assistant Phil Housley, and Harvard alumna/gold medal winner Angela Ruggiero as the players inducted into the 2015 class.
Lidstrom will probably be remembered more because he was playing more recently for the Wings but damn, Fedorov was fucking amazing as well.
... was some of the most beautiful, free flowing hockey I have ever witnessed.
Yes, and also because Lidstrom was a captain and one of the best players ever at his position. So he deserves to be remembered more. But yes, Federov was truly amazing to watch and had a spectacular career.
Thats awesome . Its easy to forget, since it was so long ago. Sergei was unstoppable when he put 100% effort into it .
LGRW
has the most points ever by a russian born player...
Congrats to both. Well earned by both. I hope they can find a spot for Ozzy, maybe next year.
My favorite players as a kid (Fedorov) and as an adult (Lidstrom)! Two phenomenal talents who brought great glory to the city of Detroit, glad to see them enshrined as they deserve.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
The same way he is somehow also working for DoPS while an active player...apparently the league and the PA don't care. I do think it is kinda screwy they just turn a blind eye.
Also, anyone see Mike Richards' contract today was terminated by the Kings? Going to be some strange shit with that.
Flyers just traded Prongers contract.
Thanks, hadn't seen that. Ah, Arizona...useful as a salary dump and that's about it.
combined with Yzerman were three of the most talented players you'll ever have on one hockey team.
Totally deserved - two players whose resumes speak for themselves - and great selections indeed.
What is that now, about 10 members from the 2002 Red Wings in the Hall?
Good question. I've got 9. Fetisov was gone by then - inducted in 2001.
Larionov, Yzerman, Robitaille, Hull, Shanahan, Chelios, Hasek, Fedorov, Lidstrom
But if you wanna get weird and pad some stats, Mike Ilitch & Jimmy Devellano are in there, too.
And Scotty Bowman.
My mom gave me the SI issue that commemorated that team and he was the tenth guy they mentioned, back then along with the players LSA listed.
Think back to that series vs. the Avs...
Holy crap I forgot Bowman.
I'll show myself out.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
I don't know if I agree 91 should be retired, but I do agree he has the strongest case of anyone not up there (unless they ever want to hang a 16 banner).
Actually, I'd say Larry Aurie's #6 has the strongest case. Read up on it if you aren't familiar. But I know where you're coming from and I generally agree.
Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I was trying to get across that I think he has a better case than anyone he played with (except Yzerman and Lidstrom) and anyone currently playing. Someone who would be retiring soon or did recently.
I did forget about Aurie, though, I won't pretend I didn't. Weird situation all around, but then again people might say that about Fedorov after enough time.
#91's resume also included Kournikova at the top of her game - tennis and otherwise.
Guy wasn't as universally loved as Yzerman, but offensively gifted...geeze. His number belongs up there.
I realize there was drama, but come on, he was one of the best players in hockey during the Red Wings heyday. Without the drama, he would already be up there.
He deserves it. Retire #91.
It might have been Bowman that said that Fedorov could've been a HOF defenseman if he wanted, he was that good. I think his number should be up there - top 50 in all time points for NHL.
Hes was actively playing in the KHL not that long ago. It is the HOCKEY HoF not the NHL HoF.
Lidstrom may be the most complete hockey player I actually got to see. Well deserved.
had to be the most loaded team of HOF'ers in the last 40 years aside from some of the 80's Edmonton teams. Look who's already in the HOF from that team:
Hasek
Robitaille
Hull
Shannahan
Yzerman
Larionov
Chelios
Lidstrom
Fedorov
Bowman
So 9 players plus the head coach, and we still haven't gotten to Datsyuk who will almost certainly make it when all is said and done. That's incredible to think about - there are 19 players who take a regular shift each game (12 forwards, 6 defensemen, 1 goalie) and on this single team, over half of them will end up in the HOF once Datsyuk gets elected.
Even crazier, every one of these guys was a first ballot HOF'er except for Shanny, who made it in on his second year on the ballot. Oh yeah, and they were led by the greatest coach in NHL history who's also in the Hall. It just goes to show what a grind the NHL playoffs are that you could put a team with this much talent and experience together and they still came dangerously close to losing in the first round against Vancouver.
The first 6 games of the Conference Finals series against Colorado was the best playoff series I ever saw; so much skill and championship drive on both sides of the ice. Game 7 was fun, but in hindsight I do wish that the Avs had had a little more in the tank for one more classic matchup. That series was so great, it should have ended with another nailbiter win by the Wings rather than a 7-0 blowout.
I disagree with one thing: the 7-0 rout and Roys infamous fumble was some of the purest joy I have ever felt in relation to a sporting event.
Yes. Twas one of the happiest days of my life
My favorite game of all times was Patrick's last. My Av buddy shows up 1/2 way thru the first and Roy had spotted us three goals. I was so proud of our boys, Roy got pulled in his last game!!!
Everyone remembers Federov as a prodigious scorer, but he was an all-around beast. In '97 during the Stanley Cup Finals (game 4, I think) the Wings faced a 5-3 power play. Federov was on the ice as one of the three Wings during this stretch and broke a stick along the board. The Flyers managed to set the puck back to the point, isolated against the stickless Federov. The next few seconds were amazing - Sergei was athletic enough to get his skate on the puck as the Flyers player tried to brush past him in open ice - and start a break as one of the other WIngs (likely Lindstrom) scooped it up and went the other way with a quickness.
against the caps years ago. talk about being on fire, with the winner coming in OT.
michigan sucks@B===D~~~
OHIO STATE!!!!
Sergei/Stevie were my favorites when I was a kid (still have my youth Fedorov jersey) and as I played and watched more hockey I became more aware of just how incredible Nick Lidstrom was. He was never out of position, never made a bad pass, and was better at getting shots through from the point than anyone I've ever seen. As celebrated as he is, I still think he's underrated because there was no aspect of his game that was overwhelming, but his hockey sense makes him, in my mind, the best overall defenseman of all time. I know that's highly debatable and I'm biased as a Wings fan, but I just don't think you could engineer a defenseman to be much better than he was.
I remember that spot from when it first aired. Crazy that the kid on the left (american pie) and right (it's always sunny) would have success later on. Reminds me of when I pulled out my old U.C.B. dvd's some years back I noticed a not yet famous rob cordry featured very clearly as an audience member.
My favorite one was with the Flyers goalie mopping the floor.
Great for both. Lidstromg was always a slam dunk; Federov is a bit of a surprise as a first-ballot HOF, but he absolutely deserved to get in. He was a terror offensively and, when inclined, was extremely tough defensively.
Lidstrom is the model defensemen in about all aspects. But Sergei? How could you not love that guy? The flow, the 'Rari, the Kornikova! And who was the last guy to win hardest shot, and fastest skater at the skills comp? #91
It is surprising that Federov made it on the first ballot. He was an amazing player for a short period of time, and a very good player for most of the rest of it. He took a lot of shit from Detroit fans who always expected more out of his potential.