The Free Press’s Helene St. James answers a reader question as to whether Sergei Fedorov or Alex Ovechkin was/is a better Russian hockey player this morning, and St. James’ answer in her subscriber-only missive is definitive:
But given a choice between drafting the two, I’d take Fedorov. He was an incredible player at both ends of the ice, a superstar forward who impressed equally when asked by Scotty Bowman to play as a defenseman — so much so there was chatter within the organization that Fedorov would have been in the mix for a Norris Trophy had the experiment become permanent.
In 1993-94, with Steve Yzerman injured for a chunk of the first half, Fedorov’s expanded role led to a career year. He paced the Wings with 56 goals and 64 assists, and his 120 points were second in the NHL only to Gretzky’s 130. Fedorov was awarded the Hart Trophy (NHL’s most valuable player) and the Selke Trophy (best defensive forward), along with the Lester B. Pearson (most outstanding player as voted by NHL players).
No other player in NHL history has won the Hart and Selke in the same year.
Fedorov’s skating was on another level. His explosiveness came from the training he went through as a youngster, when he’d lie on the ice, jump up, race to the blue line, kneel, jump up and race to the other blue line then repeat the drill. His leg strength was legendary.
Fedorov once scored five goals in one game, capping a historic performance in overtime, 5-4 against the Capitals on Dec. 26, 1996. (The news was somewhat overshadowed in Detroit because that was also the day the Detroit Lions fired Wayne Fontes).
Continued (paywall)
As great as Ovi is, its Fedorov all day long imo. Just elite on both ends of the ice and his skating was ahead of many of his peers.
I’m glad I got to see him play and wished he would have stayed a Wing.