Why did Sergei Fedorov drop off offensively?

[Voight]

So I didn't realize this until recently, but after scoring 100+ points twice by the age of 26, Fedorov only managed one more season with 80+ and none with 70 points (to be fair tho he did pace for 70 in a. couple of seasons).

Why did his offence drop off so fast? He kept it up in the playoffs but it's odd to me that he reached 80 points once between age 27-39. DPE is a factor yes, but are there any other reasons? It wasn't for lack of talent around him; he would stick with Detroit until he turned 34. He was relatively healthy as well.

 

[MadLuke]

To note scoring went down a lot at the same time that Fedorov scoring went down.

83 pts in 2002-2003 was more than say Kariya-Hossa having solid season, it was almost a top 10 spot and the 22-26/27 years old window for a player peak scoring years is quite common for people that start with a bang, like Fedorov. Decline happen around the same time as Crosby, just a bit before Yzerman, less linked to injuries than some too.


That Fedorov ppg adjusted relative to the average elite canadian players of that season in the league.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Season[/TD]
[TD]Age[/TD]
[TD]adjusted PPG[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1990-91[/TD]

[TD]

21​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.89​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1991-92[/TD]

[TD]

22​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.97​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1992-93[/TD]

[TD]

23​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.98​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1993-94[/TD]

[TD]

24​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.35​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1994-95[/TD]

[TD]

25​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.22​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1995-96[/TD]

[TD]

26​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.26​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1996-97[/TD]

[TD]

27​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.92​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1997-98[/TD]

[TD]

28​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.01​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1998-99[/TD]

[TD]

29​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.02​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1999-00[/TD]

[TD]

30​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.10​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2000-01[/TD]

[TD]

31​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.01​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2001-02[/TD]

[TD]

32​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.00​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2002-03[/TD]

[TD]

33​

[/TD]

[TD]

1.20​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2003-04[/TD]

[TD]

34​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.99​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2005-06[/TD]

[TD]

36​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.66​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2006-07[/TD]

[TD]

37​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.56​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2007-08[/TD]

[TD]

38​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.65​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2008-09[/TD]

[TD]

39​

[/TD]

[TD]

0.68​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Outside the 24-25-26 years old peak, it is quite steady, little renaissance in 02-03 (contract year ?) than post lock-out after turning 35 expected decline.

One factor could be that 94-95-96 are the 3 full Paul Coffey season, not only his presence would directly boost forward production, but also what it says about the team choice and mindset in general could be a factor here, both to acquire him and to trade him, we can imagine a more defensive mindset after that.

There was a sudden decline and 94-96 where the 2 best seasons by a little bit, but the 94-95 lock-out and the massive scoring drop post 96 make it look even worse than it was

 

[overpass]

The final form of Bowman’s Red Wings, the one that won three Cups, was a deep, four line team where all lines shared defensive and offensive responsibilities. The team reached its final form after the North American and European/Russian parts of the team were fully integrated into one, after the Russian Five era. These Detroit teams were among the top scoring teams in the league without any top individual scorers, because they scored with all four lines.

In the late 90s, Fedorov played fewer minutes than he had previously, with weaker line mates (eg Doug Brown) and less of a defined scoring role. Previously he had played more minutes, especially when Yzerman missed games in 1993-94, and had better scoring opportunities when playing with Paul Coffey or with the Russian Five unit.

 

[Nucks2001]

Think a lot of people have answered it. He played the majority of his time in the Dead Puck Era. A shame. Today’s game was made for Fedorov with his shot, speed and size

 

[DRW895]

Think a lot of people have answered it. He played the majority of his time in the Dead Puck Era. A shame. Today’s game was made for Fedorov with his shot, speed and size

Some guys like Rod Brindamour ressucreccted after 2005, but not him. Sad, but who`s to blame?

 

[BraveCanadian]

He only scored a lot when Yzerman missed time and the team leaned on him more for offense.. and his last 80 point season was a contract year, I believe. Feds would have scored a lot more during his prime as the lone wolf on a bad team (imo) but the Wings had the luxury of him taking it a bit easy and playing more two-ways and saving some for the playoffs.

 

[MS]

As others have said :

1) Overall drop in league scoring that made it look the entire generation of young productive players of the early 1990s peaked early.

2) Splitting icetime with Yzerman and being used in a more defensive role much of the time.

3) After that huge 1995-96 season where they lost to Colorado in the playoffs, Detroit always seemed to be on cruise control in the regular seasons after that and would then ramp things up in the playoffs.

 

[Crosby2010]

I can also remember some times when Bowman put him on defense. I never understood that. Yes we all know Fedorov was good defensively, but come on, really, you have a guy with his offensive power you don't waste it. Bowman wasn't always right with everything he did, sometimes people figure Bowman was like a hockey god who never made an error, I think he did different times in his career, but the Wings were good enough to win either way. Fedorov was already an excellent two-way centre, and Yzerman had turned into that as well. You can't blame things like the left-wing lock for not allowing more offense on those Wings teams but I guess it all counts that they won a lot in the playoffs. Fedorov did coast in the regular seasons quite a bit, but never did in the playoffs. You can argue he was on such good teams that he knew he could do this. No way was he a 60-70 point guy in his prime regularly if you watched him. I just think he saved himself for when it counted. You know how you can have a guy like Messier and look at his playoff career and not really point out a bad postseason that stands out. Try finding a bad postseason for Fedorov, you'll have to squint to find it. He was usually very good.

 

[TheBeard]

Think a lot of people have answered it. He played the majority of his time in the Dead Puck Era. A shame. Today’s game was made for Fedorov with his shot, speed and size

That era really deprived us of some real special seasons.

 

[wetcoast]

As others have said :

1) Overall drop in league scoring that made it look the entire generation of young productive players of the early 1990s peaked early.

2) Splitting icetime with Yzerman and being used in a more defensive role much of the time.

3) After that huge 1995-96 season where they lost to Colorado in the playoffs, Detroit always seemed to be on cruise control in the regular seasons after that and would then ramp things up in the playoffs.

I agree with all of this and in a way he is sort of like Denis Potvin in that they both break out on incredibly elite 4 year playoff runs exactly the next year after their peak best season and neither wins a Conn Smythe either.

 

[Troubadour]

He took it easy. He cared about money and winning the cups. Once he showcased what he was capable of (93/94), hence he had the money he wanted secured, he simply played to his full potential only every Xth game and during the playoffs.

Sometimes it was disappointing from a casual fan's perspective, as he was (capable of being) one of the hockey greatest attractions at the time, and really, come the late nineties, the league was not that great to watch, but he really was a different player in the post-season, and frankly, the older I get, the more I understand him.

 

[ozzie]

Much like the Patroit way, many players bought into the Red Wings and commitment to winning. Both Fedorov and Yzerman both sacrificed offensice numbers for team, success. Partially due to injuries for Yzerman and he changed his game later.

Fedorov was a good trooper until his sacrifice and lower numbers diminished what the Wings were offering to pay him. Fedorov was able to play as a defensemen, and played it well. Very under appreciated.

With that hall of famer roster, Fedorov didn't need to score as much. I would also argue, the Wings were built for the Playoffs and winning, anything else was a failure. They held back during the regulae season. They were that good.

He was in the perfect position to succeed with minimal effort. Once he left the Wings, game over. Servicable player, but beaten down by Soviet training of the 80's and no longer insulated by Hall of Fame rosters.

Great player at his peak.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Another thing to keep in mind is that Fedorov by his own admission was only playing his best when he felt 100%. NHL seasons may have been too grindy for him to keep up his higher level production.

 

[hacksaw7]

That era really deprived us of some real special seasons.

The NHL allowed it to happen. Stupid crease rule taking good goals off the board for no reason. Looking the other way while goaltenders started to resemble cartoonish walking sofas that take up 95% of the net, not calling clutching and grabbing, hooking and holding

I've come across some games on youtube between 1997-2004 that were absolute abominations. 0-0 through two periods both teams have maybe 25 shots combined. Not a single odd man rush. No flow.

I remember the other day seeing the scores of some western conference ducks/wild series from the early 2000s and it was like...1-0, 0-1, 2-0, 2-1. The game had declined so much at that point it was almost sad for me. If someone told young me in the 1980s after watching a fun, wild bloodbath Oilers/Flames playoff shootout that this would be hockey in 2003 I would not believe it to be possible. The NHL would not sabotage its own product like that

 

[Sentinel]

I was disappointed at him in the Ducks. I figured, he was finally the big fish in a small pond, right after the Ducks miracle Finals run, and he totally fell off a cliff. I don't blame him for being bad and disinterested in Columbus. He did experience a rejuvenation in Washington with young Ovechkin. Incidentally, he might have been the only HOFer Ovechin ever played with (unless Backstrom and Holtby make it on a very bad year).

 

[Brodeur]

There was a different thread about a hypothetical 2004-05 season and I was looking up which centers might have been available for the Devils. I was surprised to see that Fedorov was among the top 10 scoring centers for 2003-04 (oddly I don't recall Patrik Elias playing center that season).

But from most accounts, Fedorov was a little mentally checked out after he got to Anaheim. Seemed like he was happy to be a D-list celebrity living near Hollywood. A few years back I stumbled on a photo of him and Tara Reid, as I had forgotten they dated around that time. I vaguely recall Fedorov himself admitting that he wasn't in a great place mentally after his relationship/marriage with Anna Kournikova ended.

 

[Hobnobs]

I can also remember some times when Bowman put him on defense. I never understood that. Yes we all know Fedorov was good defensively, but come on, really, you have a guy with his offensive power you don't waste it. Bowman wasn't always right with everything he did, sometimes people figure Bowman was like a hockey god who never made an error, I think he did different times in his career, but the Wings were good enough to win either way. Fedorov was already an excellent two-way centre, and Yzerman had turned into that as well. You can't blame things like the left-wing lock for not allowing more offense on those Wings teams but I guess it all counts that they won a lot in the playoffs. Fedorov did coast in the regular seasons quite a bit, but never did in the playoffs. You can argue he was on such good teams that he knew he could do this. No way was he a 60-70 point guy in his prime regularly if you watched him. I just think he saved himself for when it counted. You know how you can have a guy like Messier and look at his playoff career and not really point out a bad postseason that stands out. Try finding a bad postseason for Fedorov, you'll have to squint to find it. He was usually very good.

I think you are misremembering that move because it was pretty successful. The Wings lacked defensemen especially puckmoving one as Olausson was injured and despite the loading up the Wings did in 01 off-season they were pretty thin on defense.

Lidström
Chelios
Olausson
Fischer
Duschesne

and F/D Dandenault. The rest of the corp was LTIR Uwe Krupp, Kuznetsov who wasnt good enough, Wallin who also was injured for most of the season. Which is why the brought in Slegr at deadline.

Fedorov played absolutely stellar hockey as a defenseman with Chelios as his partner. Got the offense going from the backend and freed up some valuable development time at center for Datsyuk.

Feds also played defense in similar situations in other seasons but not for as long.

 

[Crosby2010]

I think you are misremembering that move because it was pretty successful. The Wings lacked defensemen especially puckmoving one as Olausson was injured and despite the loading up the Wings did in 01 off-season they were pretty thin on defense.

Lidström
Chelios
Olausson
Fischer
Duschesne

and F/D Dandenault. The rest of the corp was LTIR Uwe Krupp, Kuznetsov who wasnt good enough, Wallin who also was injured for most of the season. Which is why the brought in Slegr at deadline.

Fedorov played absolutely stellar hockey as a defenseman with Chelios as his partner. Got the offense going from the backend and freed up some valuable development time at center for Datsyuk.

Feds also played defense in similar situations in other seasons but not for as long.

I definitely remember him doing it in the 1990s too. And you have Lidstrom, Murphy, on there. I really didn't get it to be honest. Maybe it worked, but they didn't do it for long. I can remember Fedorov didn't seem to like it

 

[Hobnobs]

I definitely remember him doing it in the 1990s too. And you have Lidstrom, Murphy, on there. I really didn't get it to be honest. Maybe it worked, but they didn't do it for long. I can remember Fedorov didn't seem to like it

They did it in 97 in some games in march and april (including g1 vs Blues) when they benched Ward and Pushor. Fedorov enjoyed it and said "He had fun and liked the extra ice time he was getting".

In 02 it wasnt because he was moved to defense that Fedorov was upset (his father was though). It was because him and Bowman wasnt getting along. When Bowman moved him to defense Fedorov was in a 12 game scoring slump. First game on defense, scores a goal. He also proclaimed thouroughly enjoying playing with Chelios on defense.

 

[Crosby2010]

They did it in 97 in some games in march and april (including g1 vs Blues) when they benched Ward and Pushor. Fedorov enjoyed it and said "He had fun and liked the extra ice time he was getting".

In 02 it wasnt because he was moved to defense that Fedorov was upset (his father was though). It was because him and Bowman wasnt getting along. When Bowman moved him to defense Fedorov was in a 12 game scoring slump. First game on defense, scores a goal. He also proclaimed thouroughly enjoying playing with Chelios on defense.

Maybe I am misremembering it about him not liking the move

 

[Sentinel]

I think you are misremembering that move because it was pretty successful. The Wings lacked defensemen especially puckmoving one as Olausson was injured and despite the loading up the Wings did in 01 off-season they were pretty thin on defense.

Lidström
Chelios
Olausson
Fischer
Duschesne

and F/D Dandenault. The rest of the corp was LTIR Uwe Krupp, Kuznetsov who wasnt good enough, Wallin who also was injured for most of the season. Which is why the brought in Slegr at deadline.

Fedorov played absolutely stellar hockey as a defenseman with Chelios as his partner. Got the offense going from the backend and freed up some valuable development time at center for Datsyuk.

Feds also played defense in similar situations in other seasons but not for as long.

Fedorov played on defense in the 1996-97 season. He was usually paired with Murphy. This is a good two years before Chelios even came to Detroit. That experiment raised a lot of eyebrows and was scrapped after Game 1 of the playoffs. He centered Kozlov and Brown from that point on.

 

[Michael Farkas]

He played some defense in 1996-97. He didn't spend the entire season on defense.

 

[BraveCanadian]

He played some defense in 1996-97. He didn't spend the entire season on defense.

The legend continues to grow.

 

[Reality Check]

As a Wings fan it really felt like he fell off the face of the earth after leaving Detroit.

 

[Michael Farkas]

The legend continues to grow.

Yeah, not pictured, he was also demoted to the third line for a time I think.