The Americans are waiting for the best coach in Russia in the NHL. Will old scores with the club interfere with the transition?

Detroit continues to search for a new head coach. This process, as usual, is shrouded in a veil of secrecy. So, in the absence of official information, the club’s fans remain the main producers of news.

Fans consider the main contender for the post of coach of the Red Wings … CSKA head coach Sergei Fedorov. And there really is a reason for such an appointment: his team recently won the Gagarin Cup, and the specialist himself was recognized as the best coach in the KHL.

Returning to Detroit as a coach would be incredibly prestigious. But do these rumors have any real basis?

Photo: © PHC CSKA

These rumors started by the fans were actively reacted by foreign bookmakers. In one of them, you can even bet with a coefficient of 3.0 that Fedorov will lead Detroit. In the list of potential coaches, he is in the lead, and the odds for the Russian have only fallen in recent days, further consolidating his position.

But after all, the coaching experience of the Russian is only a year. In 2022, Fedorov celebrated a decade in the CSKA system, but until last season he worked in completely different positions. That may not be a problem though: Wings GM Steve Yzerman, who played alongside Fedorov, said he wouldn’t look at the background of a potential new coach. That is, he actually admitted that he would consider a mentor without experience in the NHL. He’s done that before in Tampa Bay, and the case of two-time league champion John Cooper showed that the risk could be worth it.

Detroit really needs a shake-up and rebuilding right now: the team failed to make the playoffs for the sixth time in a row, played boring goalless hockey, and young hockey players who should play on excitement seemed to be absolutely demotivated. The best reason to shake things up is to recall which famous club they play for and refer to the rich history of the Red Wings, in which Fedorov has his place of honor.

Photo: © PHC CSKA

But here the image of the Russian as an ideal candidate for the post in Detroit begins to fade. Despite 13 seasons, three Stanley Cups, the Hart Trophy and an outstanding game, Fedorov’s career also has not the most pleasant episodes associated with the “wings”. For example, in 1998, Detroit was forced to repeat the Carolinas’ unprecedented offer to keep the Russian on the team. It included a $12 million playoff bonus. The Red Wings, who would have made it to the Stanley Cup this season without Fedorov, have effectively thrown that money down the drain.

Another scandalous story happened five years later. Then the Russian refused a four-year deal with Detroit in the amount of 40 million, which would have made him the highest paid hockey player in the NHL, and moved to Anaheim, thereby humiliating the “wings”.

Sergey Fedorov / Photo: © Sporting News Archive / Contributor / Sporting News / Gettyimages.ru

Given the fact that the Red Wings to this day belongs to the same family that was at the helm at the turn of the century, the candidacy of Fedorov, who offended them more than once, may simply not be approved.

Finally, and this is probably the most important thing, just two weeks ago the CSKA coach himself denied rumors about his appointment to Detroit. The specialist said that he had never dreamed of working in North America and did not set himself such a goal.

– I have a contract for another two years, there is something to work on. I would like to continue the winning traditions of such a great club as CSKA, – Sport24 quotes Fedorov.

Given the short coaching career of Fedorov, his reasoning is quite understandable. Before talking about work overseas, even if it is not his goal, you need to consolidate your position in the KHL. And then tempting offers to the Russian legend, including those from overseas, will not keep you waiting.