Fedorov Is No Longer a Frozen Asset

If the Detroit Red Wings reach the Western Conference finals, center Sergei Fedorov will earn $28 million this season. The Kings’ entire payroll is $24 million.

Fedorov wins the battle of the bottom line, but the battle of the red and blue lines was won Saturday by the Kings, 2-1.

“Nothing is easy in this world,” said Fedorov, mustering a weary smile. “They played pretty hard. They pursue the puck very hard.”

The Kings have the money to pursue Fedorov. But they chose not to go after the 28-year-old Russian, who rejoined the Red Wings on Feb. 27 when they matched a six-year, $38-million offer sheet he had signed with Carolina.

“You don’t build a team that way,” Kings’ President Tim Leiweke said. “When you have one guy making that kind of money, and making so much up front, you’ve got to wonder what happens after that up-front money is paid.

“I understand Detroit’s situation. But I think it’s destructive to the game overall. . . . Everybody runs their business a little bit differently. We’re going to do it our way and see if it works.”

There’s reason to believe the Red Wings’ way will work, and that Fedorov will help them win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

Twice a 100-point scorer, Fedorov is one of the NHL’s best two-way forwards. His speed, intelligence and creativity enable Coach Scotty Bowman to use him at the right point on the power play, on the penalty-killing unit and on regular shifts at center or right wing. He has averaged 19 minutes in five games since he returned from Nagano with a silver medal, and he took many key faceoffs in the third period Saturday.

“I feel pretty good,” said Fedorov, who has one goal and was thwarted by Stephane Fiset on a second-period breakaway Saturday. “I just walk back like I walk back to my backyard. The coaches haven’t changed anything. It’s very, very easy for me to get back as far as how the team plays.”

He was less sure of an easy return to the locker room. The close-knit Red Wings were shaken by the limousine accident that disabled Vladimir Konstantinov last June and were splintered by Fedorov’s contract impasse. Several Russian players questioned why he didn’t accompany them when they took the Stanley Cup to their homeland, and others questioned his attitude when he said he didn’t want to play in Detroit again.

General Manager Ken Holland was concerned enough about potential problems to canvass players’ opinions. He concluded they would accept Fedorov as long as Fedorov accepted his responsibilities to the team.

“We’ve got great chemistry and leadership,” Holland said. “He’s led our team in scoring the last three playoffs and he’s one of the premier talents in the league. There are some things that need to be ironed out, but they know we’re better with Sergei in the lineup.”

Said left wing Brendan Shanahan: “There were some things said back and forth, but it’s all over now. The truth is, everyone was genuinely happy to see him.”

Fedorov smoothed his path with two off-ice moves as clever as any he ever made on skates.

First, he got to Joe Louis Arena at 8 a.m. the day of his first game, Feb. 28, taking the initiative to greet teammates and avert potential snubs. He also took the players and training staff to dinner in Phoenix last week. “It was nice to talk to them. I’m glad I had that chance,” he said. “We talk like a bunch of brothers, like kids. Everybody’s happy.”

They must have been hungry, too: The bill for 28 people was $11,000.

“That was a private story and I cannot tell you about that,” Igor Larionov said, “but I was drinking good wine.”

Fedorov might have to pay for champagne in June, too, but he can afford it.