Fedorov To Ducks!

[cinch]

Fedorov signs with Ducks

WebPosted Sat Jul 19 16:35:22 2003
CBC SPORTS ONLINE - The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim have reeled in free-agent centre Sergei Fedorov.

The flashy forward signed a five-year, $40 million US contract with the Ducks on Saturday.

The deal has two years guaranteed with the final three being Fedorov's option, according to Mighty Ducks spokesman Alex Gilchrist.


Fedorov has played his entire 13-year NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, winning three Stanley Cups along the way. He became an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Fedorov rejected a four-year, $40 million deal with the Wings earlier this year.

"I was trying to sign with Detroit but every time we came close we couldn't reach an agreement," said Fedorov. "Unfortunately, it did not happen.

"It was hard for me to understand. But it's not only a game now it's big business. A couple of years ago, I probably would have re-signed with Detroit but economic circumstances are different now."

The 33-year-old veteran should be expected to carry the offensive load for an Anaheim squad that lost Paul Kariya to free agency earlier this month. Kariya signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

Fedorov, the 1994 Hart Trophy winner, had 36 goals and 83 points last season in his most productive season since 1995-96. He has 400 goals, 554 assists and 954 points over 908 career games.

Fedorov joins an Anaheim side that also signed former Tampa forward Vinny Prospal to a five-year deal earlier this week.

The Ducks surprised the hockey world with an unexpected march to the Stanley Cup final last season.

Fedorov's departure is a big loss for the Red Wings, according to former Detroit teammate Darren McCarty.

"He's one of the most talented guys in the league," McCarty told Canadian Press. "He has the ability to change a game by himself."

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Wow. Awesome. Of all the teams he could have gone to, this probably makes me happiest.

And Prospal's no slouch, either. He was Tampa's top scorer last year, and that's on a team with Vinny Lecavalier AND Martin St. Louis!

Looks like Anaheim may actually be able to attempt a repeat visit this season.

That is, if they can get by the Oilers...

[st_swithin]

FVCKING DVCKS.

Sorry, it took me too long to even begin liking the Kings in the 1st place.

I'd have to send you a letter bomb if you'd said it was Jagr, though.

[Sava]

Federov is going to have a reality check. He's not playing with a Hall of Fame team anymore. If he stays healthy, I predict a dismal 25-35 goal season with the Ducks finishing out of playoff contention.

[optimus2861]

Stupid move.

Fedorov at 36/37/38 years old is not going to be an $8 million player any more; hell, I'd say he isn't one now. Coming from the team that was so adamant that Paul Kariya was overpaid that they let him loose, this seems like the height of hypocracy.

[cinch]

Fedorov at 36/37/38 years old is not going to be an $8 million player any more; hell, I'd say he isn't one now. Coming from the team that was so adamant that Paul Kariya was overpaid that they let him loose, this seems like the height of hypocracy.

They had two choices: pay Kariya 10mil, or pay Fedorov 8mil.

Considering Sergei's three times the player Paul is, I think they made the right choice. Paul is a great offensive forward, who's adequate on defense, and, as proven last post-season, is not terribly consistent.

Fedorov's an even better offensive forward, who's also a highly skilled checker (Bowman even played him on defense!), and who can make or break a game for the team.

Nothing's for certain, but I think Anaheim has made two very smart moves in aquiring Prospal and Fedorov with the money saved from Kariya.

[Sava]

pay Kariya 10mil,

that's not what Colorado paid... and Federov isn't better than Kariya, offensively. Federov is perhaps a more physical player, but I doubt Federov is much better than Kariya defensively. Put Kariya on some of those Red Wings teams, and I suspect he performs comparably to Sir-gay. If I were creating a fantasy team, I'd take Federov over Kariya... but that's like choosing the Lexus over the Cadillac. And Federov is certainly not "three times the player Paul is".

Colorado got Kariya at 1.2 million or so... Anaheim paid 8 mil. Colorado got the better deal. The Ducks might get screwed if there's a lockout.

[DarthVeda]

If they want an idiot that loses them titles... they are free to take him

[Sava]

If they want an idiot that loses them titles... they are free to take him

Who... Karyia?

If that's the case... I'm sure he's better than a guy who helped his defending champion team get swept in the first round by the #7 seed.

[cinch]

that's not what Colorado paid... and Federov isn't better than Kariya, offensively. Federov is perhaps a more physical player, but I doubt Federov is much better than Kariya defensively. Put Kariya on some of those Red Wings teams, and I suspect he performs comparably to Sir-gay. If I were creating a fantasy team, I'd take Federov over Kariya... but that's like choosing the Lexus over the Cadillac. And Federov is certainly not "three times the player Paul is".

Oh, but he is. Kariya is a fast, weak playmaker. Fedorov is a fast, tough, playmaker-power-forward-hybrid. Much better, says I.

And obviously, Kariya only accepted the 1.2 mil so he could have such a great chance at winning the championship. If he had stayed in Anaheim, he would never have accepted that sum; he'd have commanded at LEAST 9 mil.

Of course, it might just come down to personal preference, but I just think Fedorov's the player that will contribute more to his team.

And Fedorov AND Prospal? That combined package is definitely greater than Kariya.

Not to insult Kariya or anything (I'm sure he'll perform well with Teemu in Denver), but...

Colorado got Kariya at 1.2 million or so... Anaheim paid 8 mil. Colorado got the better deal. The Ducks might get screwed if there's a lockout.

EVERYONE will get screwed if there is a lockout.

[Sava]

Prospal is a pud... mediocre at best. I agree Federov is better, but just not as much as you made it seem. And plus... hockey is a team game, you need more than one player to make a difference. Kariya was the leader of that team... he was synonymous with the name "Ducks". It will be hard to replace that with a Russian primadonna who's best years are behind him.

[cinch]

Prospal is a pud... mediocre at best.

He could flop, yeah, but he's got potential like a madman. I said this before, but: he was the number one scorer on a team with both Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis. That's somethin'!

I agree Federov is better, but just not as much as you made it seem.

Point taken.

And plus... hockey is a team game, you need more than one player to make a difference.

I agree completely. And Anaheim has a great team foundation (Carney, Rucchin, LeClerc, Giguere) to build on.

Kariya was the leader of that team... he was synonymous with the name "Ducks". It will be hard to replace that with a Russian primadonna who's best years are behind him.

It's true that Kariya is well-known for being a Duck, and it'll be an adjustment without him. But it's not like he carried the Ducks to the finals or anything (Giguere and solid team play did that), and I'd even go so far as to say he was too inconsistent at clutch times.

If Fedorov can gel well with his new teammates, his best years are definitely ahead.

If not... then maybe Giguere can still carry them to the finals again, anyway.

[Sava]

He could flop, yeah, but he's got potential like a madman. I said this before, but: he was the number one scorer on a team with both Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis. That's somethin'!

and how many Cups have they won?

I agree completely. And Anaheim has a great team foundation (Carney, Rucchin, LeClerc, Giguere) to build on.

JBG is the key, Carney's and LeClerc's are a dime-a-dozen... Rucchin's a solid playmaker, but probably not even in the top-15 of centers.

If not... then maybe Giguere can still carry them to the finals again, anyway.

nah, flash in the pan... the Ducks will go the way of the Florida Panthers of '96 and the Carolina Hurricanes of 2002.

[gopher]

Yes! With Fedorov, they can finally pull off the flying V!!!! I knew Emilio had an ace up his sleeve!

[Serb]

Originally posted by Sava
...and I suspect he performs comparably to Sir-gay. .

You spell it wrong, Sava.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Serb: He's a Chicago fan, he's allowed to spell it that way .