Fedorov Hopes Detroit Fans Will Overlook Contract
Sergei Fedorov has played hockey for 100 rubles. And now, he’s playing for $38 million. But Fedorov says the pay doesn’t make any difference when he’s on the ice: The game is the thing.
Fedorov missed most of the NHL season in a contract dispute with the Red Wings that came to a quick end Thursday when Detroit matched the Carolina Hurricanes’ six-year, $38 million contract offer to the holdout forward.
The 28-year-old practiced with the team Friday and drew more boos than cheers when he took the ice against the Florida Panthers that night. He was not a significant factor in Detroit’s 3-1 win.
Fedorov said he realizes the money is a problem for many fans. And he said even he has some difficulty comprehending the big numbers involved.
“How much is enough? That’s the question,” Fedorov said. “Money and dollar signs don’t make sense to me. Believe me, in this world, in North America, money means something after you get off the ice, and you go do your things.
“When you’re on the ice, it’s never really the thing. I’ve played for 100 rubles. But it’s a big sum, no question. I understand that.”
The contract includes a $14 million signing bonus. Fedorov said he has no special plans for the pile of cash.
“I’ll probably just put it away, invest it somewhere. Make it work for me when I am done,” he said. “Plus, I have my parents and my brother. I like to support them as much as I can.”
Fedorov said he is eager to win fans back to his side.
“I want to get all of them back. It’s so important because they are the people who watch. The communication goes both ways. They support the team so much. Fans all over the world are nice, but these are the fans you want, the ones in Detroit.
“They brought us up to the next level. Like I said, they’re entitled to their own opinion because they pay big bucks to see this show.”
He said the fans are not the only ones with whom there are strained relations.
Fellow Russians Igor Larionov, Vyacheslav Fetisov and Vyacheslav Kozlov criticized him publicly during the holdout.
“We’re all grown-ups I guess,” he said. “I just wish for one minute they could not have made those comments public. Then everything now would be normal. I guess it will take some time.”
On the ice
Brett Hull, facing Anaheim for the first time since Tomas Sandstrom broke his left hand in a slashing incident, had two goals and two assists to power the St. Louis Blues to a 6-2 victory Sunday over the Mighty Ducks in Anaheim, Calif.
At Washington, Miroslav Satan broke a scoring drought with three goals and Dominik Hasek made 36 saves for his eighth shutout this season, helping the Buffalo Sabres extend their unbeaten streak to 12 games with a 3-0 triumph over the Washington Capitals.
At Uniondale, N.Y., Steve Heinze and Tim Taylor scored goals 38 seconds apart early in the third period to snap a tie and give the Boston Bruins a 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders.