Sergei Fedorov

Sergei Fedorov is a Russian center on Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

Fedorov broke into the league with Detroit after being drafted in 1989. He played on CSKA Moscow for a number of years, until he defected from the Soviet Union in 1990. Fedorov was an immediate success in Detroit, posting 79 points his rookie year. In 1993-94, Fedorov had the best season of his career, scoring 56 goals and 65 assists for 120 points. For his achievements that season, Fedorov won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league’s most outstanding player, while also winning the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL. In 1996-97, he helped Detroit win the Stanley Cup with 63 points in the regular season and another 20 in the playoffs. His efforts earned him a payday, and after a holdout in 1997-98, he signed a contract in which he was paid $28 million for a single season. He helped lead the team to another Cup victory and then a third in 2002.

In 2003, contract disputes with the Red Wings led to Fedorov signing with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Fedorov became the first Russian to ever record 1000 points while with the Ducks. In 2005, he was traded to Columbus, where he spent most of three seasons, before being dealt to Washington at the 2008 trade deadline. Fedorov re-signed with the Capitals for the 2008-09 season. In an injury-shortened season, Fedorov scored 11 goals and 33 points for the Capitals, despite playing in only 52 games. He also tallied 8 points in 14 playoff games for the Caps. In the 2009 offseason, citing family reasons, Fedorov opted to leave the NHL and return to Russia to play in the Continental Hockey League. According to Fedorov, his father had always dreamed of him and his brother, Fedor, playing on the same team.

Fedorov's unique skill set have made him one of the most effective European players in the NHL. His defensive abilities have led some coaches to experiment with him as a defenseman at times, but his offensive touch has him situated fourth in all-time Red Wings scorers in nearly every statistic. The three players with more points and goals with him are Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio and former teammate Steve Yzerman, all superstars and NHL legends.

Fedorov played for Russia at a number of international tournaments, winning silver and bronze medals at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics. He also won silver and gold medals at the 1988 and 1989 World Junior Championships, to go with back to back golds at the 1989 and 1990 World tournaments.