| Viacheslav Fetisov |
| Viacheslav Alexandrovich Fetisov Defense Left-Handed Shot Height: 6' 1", Weight: 215 pounds Born: 4.20.58 Moscow, Russia |
| How he arrived: Via Entry Draft How he left: Traded to the Detroit Red Wings for their 3rd Round Pick in the 1995 E.D., 4.3.95 |
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| Regular Season Statistics with the Franchise Stats in bold signifies team leader. |
When I first heard of Slava and him being billed as "the Russian Bobby Orr," I was excited. And looking forward to the day he
would get to don the Devils red.
One road block stood in his way, though: while he was playing in his homeland, he was also a member of the Red Army. He
couldn't just pick up and leave from service like that. The establishment wouldn't allow it.
So he decided to force the issue and sign a contract with the Devils in 1988. However, he was denied release from the Red
Army by Soviet authorities. This signing was also just another chapter in the feud between him and coach Viktor Tikhonov that
started at the Olympics that year.
Fast forward to the winter of 1989. The Red Army team would tour the East Coast and play among other teams, the Devils, in
a series of exhibition games. Slava was cheered by the Meadowlands faithful throughout and even scored a goal that night in the
Red Army's 5-0 win. It was evident after that game, and Slava even said so himself: he wanted to play in New Jersey NOW.
So after he returned home, he left the Red Army team, but was still obligated to his military service. He was also denied a spot
on the Soviet National Team for the World Championships, but in a move of solidarity, the rest of the team threatened to walk
if Slava was kept off. Slava was reinstated, and after the Worlds, along with the defection of Alexander Mogilny, it was
announced that Soviet players would be allowed to play in the NHL.
The sacrifices some men go through...
Once in New Jersey, he remained a solid player on the backline, still using what brought him to the dance: his instincts and his
mobility. However, come 1995, he did not figure into the team's plan. Understandable, he was just shy of his 37th birthday
when he got traded to Detroit. He missed out on winning the Cup with the Devils, but was still present to see his former
teammates raise it.
He would raise it twice himself as a player finally. Even arranged the Cup's first trip to Russia in 1997. He would get it one more
time as a Devils' assistant coach in 2000.
His years of stardom back home and being a pioneer in how Soviet hockey was gonna change ultimately got him into the
Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.
would get to don the Devils red.
One road block stood in his way, though: while he was playing in his homeland, he was also a member of the Red Army. He
couldn't just pick up and leave from service like that. The establishment wouldn't allow it.
So he decided to force the issue and sign a contract with the Devils in 1988. However, he was denied release from the Red
Army by Soviet authorities. This signing was also just another chapter in the feud between him and coach Viktor Tikhonov that
started at the Olympics that year.
Fast forward to the winter of 1989. The Red Army team would tour the East Coast and play among other teams, the Devils, in
a series of exhibition games. Slava was cheered by the Meadowlands faithful throughout and even scored a goal that night in the
Red Army's 5-0 win. It was evident after that game, and Slava even said so himself: he wanted to play in New Jersey NOW.
So after he returned home, he left the Red Army team, but was still obligated to his military service. He was also denied a spot
on the Soviet National Team for the World Championships, but in a move of solidarity, the rest of the team threatened to walk
if Slava was kept off. Slava was reinstated, and after the Worlds, along with the defection of Alexander Mogilny, it was
announced that Soviet players would be allowed to play in the NHL.
The sacrifices some men go through...
Once in New Jersey, he remained a solid player on the backline, still using what brought him to the dance: his instincts and his
mobility. However, come 1995, he did not figure into the team's plan. Understandable, he was just shy of his 37th birthday
when he got traded to Detroit. He missed out on winning the Cup with the Devils, but was still present to see his former
teammates raise it.
He would raise it twice himself as a player finally. Even arranged the Cup's first trip to Russia in 1997. He would get it one more
time as a Devils' assistant coach in 2000.
His years of stardom back home and being a pioneer in how Soviet hockey was gonna change ultimately got him into the
Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.
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| Entry Draft: 1983 Eighth Round Pick (145th overall) by the New Jersey Devils |
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| Playoff Statistics with the Franchise |
