Video of the Day - Gretzky vs Fedorov

by JeffHancock41 on Aug 9, 2011 3:00 PM CDT in VIdeo of the Day

NHL Network ran a replay of game 4 of the 1998 Stanley Cup Final today and it reminded not only how fun those teams in the late 90s were to watch, but how awesome of a hockey player Sergei Fedorov was. I really wish he never left the Wings or he could have left the team on better terms. I'll be the first to say that I am Pro-Fedorov and think that if his relationship with the club was repaired his no. 91 should hang from the rafters. He was like the Pavel Datsyuk of the 90s in the sense that he had amazing offensive skill, yet was one of the best two way players in the game. He could stop you from scoring and light the lamp on the same shift. So in honor of today being the day Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Oilers to the Kings, our Video of the Day features Fedorov with a great backcheck to stop the Great One in the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs.

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I couldn’t play forward and defence. Mario couldn’t do it. Jagr couldn’t play defence. But Sergei could. He was a hell of a player

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 9, 2011 3:24 PM CDT reply actions

You know what's sad?

I have no doubt that if that were a game from the post-lockout era, Fedorov would have been penalized. Even though it was a perfect defensive play.

by tehGOALIE on Aug 9, 2011 4:36 PM CDT reply actions

That's the first thing I thought of

That first innocent jab with the stick would have earned him two, especially since it was on Gretzky. Damn, if Wayne played post-lockout hockey, he would have been up near 90 goals per year again.

Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.

by Elfuego51 on Aug 9, 2011 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Sergei didn't even really skate very hard after him

Gretz took 2-3 big strides and Sergei took 1 – and didn’t look like he was really pushing. Now, he did hook him a bit and pull himself even, which he wouldn’t be allowed to do today, but still – skating only, Sergei would have caught him with ease.

by Kendal on Aug 9, 2011 4:42 PM CDT reply actions

love Gary Thorne's enthusiasm

appreciating a great defensive play

You wanna tell me that to mah face?!

by uvgt2bkdnme on Aug 9, 2011 5:36 PM CDT reply actions

Gary Thorne

was just awesome. A true hockey guy who really knew and respected greatness and skilled play when he saw it.

by Kendal on Aug 10, 2011 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

McCarty, Yzerman, Fedorov?

I sure hope that was in the middle of a line change.

Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.

by Elfuego51 on Aug 9, 2011 9:54 PM CDT reply actions

Maybe not. Bowman liked to put McCarty, Kocur, Probert, and Brown out with Yzerman to protect him. Yzerman wasn’t a huge hitter or overly tough, so Bowman would throw one of our tough guys out there with him to keep him safe, especially if tensions on the ice were rising.

You’ll see Babcock do the same from time to time, especially against teams like Pittsburgh and Nashville. If they start playing overly physical, you’ll see Lidstrom play a few shifts with Kronwall or Stuart next to him and Abdelkader, Bertuzzi, and/or Helm up front to keep TPH safe. You aren’t going to go after another team when they have a guy who nearly killed a guy and another guy who hit a guy (Havlat) so hard that it derailed their career on the ice.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Aug 10, 2011 6:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Not just his career, I think that he is still seeing stars after that hit.

by Hornecker on Aug 10, 2011 7:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Fedorov VS. Gretzky

Made me think it was a fight, such a let down. Post-Lockout hook, pre-lockout good play.

"You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain Kent Huskins!" - Randy Hahn 2/13/11

by pooponastick on Aug 9, 2011 10:41 PM CDT reply actions

I still think back and wish Fedorov hadn’t chosen such an a-hole for an agent.

Dancing Datsyuk Decidedly Dazzles Dainty Defensemen

by Robocop on Aug 10, 2011 8:56 AM CDT reply actions

Making it look easy..

As ol’ super skates usually did. Remember those awful white Nike skates?? The days when they stuck out like a sore thumb(promo deal) If you ever saw a pair of those up close, then you know how terribly they were made. Which is a bit surprising coming from Nike.. weren’t even double stitched. Wonder how many pairs he went through?

Can still remember exactly where I was when I heard that Fedorov had been traded. In fact, It happens to be the last hour or so I was in Detroit… back in 2003, heard it on the radio in a Detroit Metro Airport transfer bus on way from drop-off to my gate, just before putting on my disc-man headphones, haha. Even though it was about 6 AM.. everyone on the dark shuttle bus looked shocked. We all knew it was most likely going to come, just not like that, under such bad blood.

Another great russian, robbing “the great one”… Also, if you look at the video of Yzerman’s double OT goal. I’m pretty sure it’s either Yzerman or TPH who steals it from Gretzky, to set up the play. Awesome.

When it comes to Osgood, I agree with D-Mac 100%.. (http://youtu.be/_BJCxdkoIxc) I'm sure the same goes for Drapes. R.I.P. Grind Line!

by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Aug 10, 2011 9:45 AM CDT reply actions