Whose jersey number will be retired first: Federov or Megatron
Calvin Johnson: 135 G, 84 TD, 3xAll -Pro(1st), 6xProBowl, Lions 2007-2015, 2x Yds Leader His 86.1 yards per game are No. 1 in NFL history among players who have played at least 100 games.
Sergei Federov: 483 goals, an MVP, 2 Selkes, 3 Cups, and his defection lead to the Russian 5 phenomenon. Red Wings ‘90-‘03
Both left on bad terms and both are all time greats!
January 21st, 2021 at 8:05 PM ^
Federov. Calvin Johnson ain't coming back to the Lions unless he gets his money back
January 21st, 2021 at 8:07 PM ^
Nope. I am winning the lottery on Friday and buying the Lions and retiring #81.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:21 PM ^
You're going to need to win the lottery at least twice if you're fixing on getting anywhere close to buying an NFL franchise, even the Lions!
January 21st, 2021 at 8:30 PM ^
Majority stake in a conglomerate. I've got Derek Jeter involved.
January 21st, 2021 at 11:44 PM ^
But the Lions are cucks and will try to appease Megatron at some point. If Federov’s number hasn’t been retired yet after so many years, it’s never going to happen. I’ll take my chances on something that *might* happen over something that will never happen ??♂️
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:15 PM ^
Correct if I'm wrong Sandy but I believe the Red Wings retired #91 a few years back.
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
From what I've heard it's like Konstantinov's #16. Everybody knows you don't touch that number but it hasn't been officially retired yet
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:59 PM ^
Last I heard, Yzerman is still pissed off at Fedorov and wants nothing to do with him. They are still pissed that he sat out most of the sean then signed that offer sheet with Carolina. That contract led to the salary cap that prevented Ilitch from buying more cups.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:10 PM ^
Should be federov and it’s not even close
January 21st, 2021 at 10:14 PM ^
Anna Kournikova gives the edge to Sergei.?
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:54 AM ^
How old was she when they got married?
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:03 PM ^
around 20 and he was about 31-32. She was also allegedly engaged to Pavel Bure when she was 18 and he was 28-ish. She ended up with Enrique Iglesias.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:13 PM ^
One guy won championships. The other didn’t.
You tell me.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:27 PM ^
One guy had the greatest coach in the sports’ history and fellow hall of famers to play with
January 21st, 2021 at 8:56 PM ^
Federov was great before the abundance of Hall of Famers. Look at that 93-94 season where he won the Hart Trophy. He kept it going even when Stevie Y was on the injured list.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:43 PM ^
Yzerman is my all-time favorite athlete, but Federov was way more talented. The guy was a beast. A perfect combination of scoring and playmaking. Played great defense as a forward and he even laced it up and played on the blueline enough to start Norris Trophy discussions. Fedorov should have his number retired and it's a damn shame it isn't.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:04 PM ^
The Red Wings were a first class organization, with great scouting & drafting and deep pockets. Not to mention Toe Blake’s mentee. The Lions are an epic clusterfuck. Megatron did great with that clown show going on.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:13 PM ^
Neither. Isn’t going to happen.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:25 PM ^
I have to agree with this. Unfortunately this is how entitled ownership treats their starts.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:38 PM ^
Beat me to it.
I suspect even if the Lions come around, Johnson would give the Lions the finger and tell them to keep their gesture.
With Fedorov, too much bad blood exists from how he left.
Although... Yzerman said he'd never work for Chris I. and look what happened.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:20 PM ^
Federov
January 21st, 2021 at 8:25 PM ^
I'd be fine with both but Johnson was a transcendent talent that got ruined by the Lions; I like Federov a ton but he had basically an all-star team around him for most of his run. If we're going who meant most to their teams it's Sergei in a walk, but if we're just rewarding great play objectively then it's Megatron by a hair.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:30 PM ^
Federov was a transcendent talent as well. In separate All Star skill competition he won hardest shot and fastest skater. Make no mistake, Federov’s athleticism was off the charts
January 21st, 2021 at 8:43 PM ^
Dude was more than just a hard shot and fast skater, too. He was every bit a talent worthy of working to get him to defect. He was the unquestioned leader of the Russian 5, and the unquestioned talent to behold even when playing next to Yzerman. Also don't forget that he was the star of the Red Army team that was still beating the crap out of the NHL...
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:05 AM ^
I guess my reason for talking up Johnson a bit is not to denigrate Fedorov, who was immensely talented and one of the best athletes in the NHL at his peak, but to point out that Johnson really was an amazing player that people seem to dog a bit too much because he finally gave up wanting to play for the Lions (much like Sanders before him). Johnson ran consecutive 4.3's at the NFL combine despite being 6'5" and 235lbs; that's fast for a RB or a corner from a guy who's 5-6 inches taller and 20-30 pounds heavier than those guys. Plus his vertical leap was equal to Michael Jordan's at his peak (43 inches) AND apparently could easily bench in the 20s at 225.
Both are great athletes and should be recognized for it, but it feels like Sergei gets more love than Johnson seemingly because he won more.
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:45 PM ^
I think you are right on that point. Sergei gets the local love because those teams were amazing. I feel like Calvin gets the love in NFL circles, though. Except that corner from Dallas that said he practiced against better players than Calvin then held him to 329 yards.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:37 PM ^
Federov has a realistic shot at having the Wings honor him (especially if Stevie Y pushes for it). He'd come back for it, too... Calvin isn't going to hear from the Ford's, nor would he come back for it. There is nobody around the Lions that could push for it to happen and actually have a shot at it, either.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:54 PM ^
The Illitch family is extra petty as well. I see Megatron getting his number retired first.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:57 PM ^
Okay, first, it's Fedorov (and technically Fyodorov in correctly Anglicized Russian.)
Second, Megatron will have his number retired first, because ownership will see it as a way to get out of paying him the money back. Fedorov's number will not be retired as long as Marian Ilitch is alive. This is a personal grudge of the old man's who never forgave him for leaving for Anaheim, and Macedonian grudges are notoriously stubborn.
Lastly, I see some interesting comments regarding the two's respective greatness, but they're different animals entirely. Johnson was a unicorn for his time in his combination of size, speed, and hands, but his overall impact in the league was limited, and his career was pretty short. Fedorov on the other hand was the most dominant player in the sport at his peak and for about 5-6 years could control a game offensively AND defensively unlike anyone I've ever seen, before or since. He's a top-10 NHL player all-time. Johnson was merely a top-10 wide receiver all-time.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:07 PM ^
Comrade, methinks you are a homer.?
January 21st, 2021 at 9:26 PM ^
Problem with the Megatron money is, ownership doesn't have any obligation to pay him. Zip. None. Why he thinks he should get paid for a contract he didn't honor is beyond me.
Even Sanders just quietly paid the Lions back.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:39 PM ^
Not to mention the salary cap benefit of getting calvins signing bonus back. Why would they want to negatively impact the team if they didn...... never mind #lions
January 21st, 2021 at 9:47 PM ^
I agree with every bit of this. The guy could dominate and control the puck and out work you like Mario could, but had the hands and vision and touch of Gretzky. He wasn't a selfish player and played remarkably good defense. Like, he could have won Norris Trophies if he played D full-time. He was remarkably healthy and had great longevity. If I am building a team from scratch, peak Fedorov is my first call.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:47 PM ^
I agree with every bit of this. The guy could dominate and control the puck and out work you like Mario could, but had the hands and vision and touch of Gretzky. He wasn't a selfish player and played remarkably good defense. Like, he could have won Norris Trophies if he played D full-time. He was remarkably healthy and had great longevity. If I am building a team from scratch, peak Fedorov is my first call.
January 21st, 2021 at 11:24 PM ^
Yeah, all the “Federov” spellings are giving me brain cancer...
January 21st, 2021 at 11:25 PM ^
First, +1. All time great player? Yes. Should his number be retired by Wings? Absolutely, should've happened already. Top 10 NHLer? Maybe a bit high. Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe, Orr, Jagr, Yzerman, LaFleur, Messier, Ovechkin, Crosby, Richard, Lidstrom, Beliveau, Plante would make the game of musical chairs a little uncomfortable.
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:08 AM ^
I think his two-way talents put him ahead of all the old-time Canadien legends. YMMV, but my personal top ten list would be:
Gretzky
Howe
Mario
Orr
Lidstrom
Ovechkin
Jagr
Yzerman
Messier
Fedorov
But Crosby, Bourque, Sakic, Dionne, and (eventually) McDavid are right there as well.
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:33 AM ^
I lived in the same hall as Anton Fyodorov (Fedorov) and next door to Mike Knuble when I lived at West Quad in 1991-92. There's my name drop for the day.
I just Googled Knuble and found out he played until 2012-13. Wow, that guy had some longevity. Amazing to think that I knew him when he was a freshman at Michigan. Really nice guy.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:50 PM ^
Retire 91!!!
It's utterly ridiculous that Sergei Fedorov's jersey isn't retired. The Wings trajectory completely changed the moment he walked off that bus and into the limo with Jim Lites and Nick Polano. His stats (PPG and season) are on par if not better than Howe and Yzerman. One of the top two players on three Stanley Cup championship teams. Total clutch playoff performer....one of only three players in NHL history to score 20 points in four consecutive playoffs. Best player on the best line in Red Wing history. He played 13 years in Detroit....the same as Isiah Thomas played for the Pistons. His departure was unfortunate but Illitch was at least equally to blame. If both sides had to do it over again, I think Sergei re-signs with the Wings. Sergei Fedorov is a Detroit sports legend and it's a shame he is not recognized as such.
Calvin Johnson should have his jersey retired too.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:07 PM ^
White skates. White fucking skates. Retire the number.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:09 PM ^
Can someone lend some more insight to Fedorov leaving on bad terms? Honestly don't remember that, although I can't say I followed the Wings all that well.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:20 PM ^
Sergei signed a free agent contract with Anaheim and Mike Illitch never forgave him.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:45 PM ^
How he signed that FA contract is what pissed the Illitches off.
Sergei leveraged the Wings (which is his right). Said he was gonna leave so Detroit matched $$$ (but not years). When Detroit matched the $$$, he left anyway.
So it looks personal (thanks to some of dad's meddling) rather than just business.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:42 PM ^
It all really started back in '97-98. The Wings had just won their first Cup in 42 years. Sergei was a restricted free agent after that season. Illich in essence low balled Sergei so he ended up holding out for much of the 97-98 season. Finally in late February, the Hurricanes gave Sergei an offer sheet which he ended up signing. The Wings had 7 days to match or they would lose him. The problem for Illitch was this was a HUGE offer at the time....$38M over 6 years. Even worse, the Hurricanes' offer was severely front loaded with a $16M signing bonus and $12M salary for a total of $28M right up front. To top that off, the Canes' owner, Peter Karmonous and Illitch hated each other. This was a huge poison pill for Illitch to swallow but he did. The Wings went on to win the Cup again in '98 but Illitch felt betrayed that Sergei would sign that offer sheet. Sergei felt he had to do something because he was in a stalemate with the Wings.
Fast forward to 2003, once again Sergei and Illitch can't agree to a contract during the season. The Wings were swept in the first round by the Ducks so lots of questions were being asked about the direction of the team. Finally, right before the free agency deadline the Wings offered Sergei 5 years for $50M. There have been two versions of what happened next. The Illitch version is that Sergei wanted to go lead his own team (get out of Stevie's shadow) and rejected their offer. The Sergei version is he was in the middle of a divorce from Anna Kournakova, was having a hard time and confused with that, in the end wanted to re-sign with Detroit but in the eyes of Illitch took too long to make a decision so Illitch pulled the offer. The next best offer was Anaheim who paid him $10M less. I tend to believe the Sergei version of events....but the Detroit sports media depicted it as if Sergei wanted out of Detroit and betrayed the Wings. I don't think Illitch ever really forgave him for signing that offer sheet in '98.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:49 PM ^
That stat line is amazing. Averaged almost a PPG after sitting out the basically the entire season. What a fucking beast.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:47 PM ^
Supposedly he took $10M less from Anaheim just to get out of Detroit, and Mike Ilitch considered it a betrayal considering everything they had done to bring him over.
I can see the situation from both sides, and while I believe enough time has passed to mend fences, his number won't go in the rafters while Marian is alive.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:50 PM ^
Chris is a shithead too. It'll take an intervention by Stevie.
January 21st, 2021 at 11:02 PM ^
Federov
January 21st, 2021 at 11:05 PM ^
Not even a question it’s Federov
January 21st, 2021 at 11:06 PM ^
I tend to be more conservative about retiring numbers - they're limited after all, especially in football. I think there is more to it than just being an extra talented player. Being team captain, winning championships, being super involved/beloved in the community, or something else should be required. Fedorov and Johnson leaving the teams on bad terms during their careers is a strike against them both. To retire a number, your record has to be pretty spotless - as a player and person and in relation to the team/city.
That being said, Fedorov is right on the border. He was great for a decade with the Wings and won 3 cups - he did his time with the team and leaving in free agency isn't that big of a deal to me. It's not his fault that his teammates were so good he didn't have to do any more than he did.