At long last, the Red Wings are raising No. 91 to the rafters.
The club announced Tuesday that it will retire Hall of Famer Sergei Fedorov's number in a special pre-game ceremony on Jan. 12 this season when the Red Wings host the Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena.
“I’m extremely grateful for this tremendous honor,” Fedorov said in a statement. “Thank you to everyone with the Red Wings organization, especially those who helped bring me to Detroit and gave me the chance to play for such a historic franchise. I was fortunate to be part of some unforgettable teams, and above all, I’m proud of the three Stanley Cup championships we won for our amazing fans in Hockeytown.
"The memories made along the way - with legendary teammates, coaches, and exceptional ownership - will stay with me forever. Lastly, I want to thank Chris Ilitch for the call yesterday to share the news about retiring my number. It’s a moment I’ll always cherish. I can’t wait to see everyone in January.”
Ilitch said in a statement of his own that the Red Wings are "honored to celebrate Sergei Fedorov and raise his #91 to its rightful place hanging in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena, among the all-time greats who have worn the Winged Wheel."
A three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Red Wings, Fedorov spent 13 seasons in Detroit and ranks fourth in franchise history with 400 goals and sixth with 954 points. He's one of only two Red Wings ever to record multiple 100-point seasons, along with Steve Yzerman.
"His exceptional skill, relentless drive, and lasting impact playing a pivotal role bringing three Stanley Cup championships to Detroit make him the perfect embodiment of the qualities deserving of our franchise’s most prestigious honor," said Ilitch. "My parents, Mike and Marian Ilitch had a special reverence for Sergei as one of the most dynamic and charismatic players of his era, and someone who made a tremendous impact on our organization.
"All of us at the Red Wings look forward to hosting Sergei and his family in January to pay tribute to his remarkable career."
Fedorov, who played 18 seasons in the NHL, is third all-time among Russian-born skaters in goals, assists and points, trailing only Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.