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Chris Chelios makes his feelings extremely clear on Detroit Red Wings not retiring Sergei Fedorov's No. 91 jersey yet
Former defenseman Chris Chelios shared his thoughts about the Detroit Red Wings not retiring Sergei Fedorov's iconic No. 1 jersey. Chelios expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that Fedorov is one of the greatest players in franchise history.
Although Fedorov's and the Detroit Red Wings' relationship was complicated and ended on a bitter note, Chelios reckons Fedorov's contribution to the team needs recognition.
Despite improvement in their interactions over the years, the Detroit Red Wings are yet to honor him by raising his jersey to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena. Chelios hopes that the organization will eventually acknowledge Sergei Fedorov's contribution by retiring his number.
During an NHL on TNT segment, Chelios said:
"I mean, for me it is hard to believe. He was such a great teammate. I was there for two of the Cups with him, he won three. But just the way he skated, he was stealth. He could carry the team; he played forward; Scottie put him back on defense. Just a natural, and such a great kid.
"In the locker room no one worked harder than him. That's shocking it's not there yet, but I hope they get that jersey retired because he deserves it," he added.
According to reports, a significant factor that contributed to the deterioration of Sergei Fedorov's relations with the Detroit Red Wings was a contract dispute. In 1998, he became a restricted free agent, and the franchise offered him what was a generous offer.
However, Fedorov rejected the proposal, leading to mounting tensions between him and the organization. The disagreement marked the beginning of a rift that eventually affected Fedorov's standing with the team and his legacy with the franchise.
Sergei Fedorov and Chris Chelios won a Stanley Cup together with the Detroit Red Wings
Sergei Fedorov played a key role in helping the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2002. He and Chris Chelios celebrated a championship together in 2002 when the Red Wings beat the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.
This victory also marked the franchise's third Cup in five years. Fedorov was drafted No. 4 overall by the Red Wings in the 1989 NHL Draft. During his 19-year career, the 55-year-old spent 13 seasons and played 908 games with the club.
The club has retired the jerseys of eight players, including legends like Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman and Ted Lindsay. Meanwhile, Chris Chelios and Sergei Fedorov were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
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