Recent Updates
News:
11/11 Rest of Semin Interview...More…
11/9 Boudreau on OV's Slump...More…
11/9 OV Interview after Rangers Game...More…
11/5 Entire Semin Interview!...More…
11/3 The Dzagoev Dialectic...More…
10/31 Fedorov Interview...More…
10/30 Semin and Kozlov...More…
10/20 Yet Another OV Q&A...More…
10/20 Yet Another Semin Q&A...More…
10/17 Short OV Interview...More…
10/17 Feds Interview...More…
10/14 Another Semin Interview...More…
9/18 Semin Interview...More…
9/16 Simeon Varlamov in America...More…
9/5 Morozov and the KHL...More…
9/3 OV behind bars?...More…
8/17 OV on Russian Game show...More…
8/12 OV in Beijing...More…
8/4 OV is in even better shape than last year...More…
7/28 Jagr and OV talk...More…
7/27 Kapitanov--OV doesn't even take vitamins...More…
7/25 OV can't get to his seat...More…
7/22 OV parties in Moscow...More…
7/23 OV Going to Beijing...More…
6-3 OV the Superman...More…
5-27 Don Cherry loves OV...More…
5-30 OV interview in Pittsburgh..More…
5-13 Feds Interview...More…
5-12 OV Interview...More…
Odious Don Koharski killed us More…
Blog:
10 April 2008-The Playoffs are just around the corner More…
31 October 2008
Slava Malamud
Washington
Sergei Fedorov: “MOGILNY’S RECORD WILL STAND FOR A LONG TIME”
Washington Capitals forward Sergei Fedorov, who recently passed Alexander Mogilny to become the NHL's all-time leading Russian-born scorer with 475 goals, answered a few questions for Sport-Express.
You would be wrong to think that Americans don’t care about purely Russian achievements by NHL players. Do you really think Sergei Fedorov’s achievement would remain unnoticed in this sports-statistics obsessed country, where they keep track of such wacky things as the stats for rookie left-handed baseball pitchers in covered stadiums in evening games in April? Never!
A sign hanging from the stands of the Verizon Center during the game against Nashville proclaimed “Number 1 Russian Scorer” (лучшим русским бомбардиром), and the hero of the day himself answered a few questions from reporters on the man he surpassed, Alexander Mogilny.
Truth be told, however, it should be noted that the Capitals and their fans had other concerns, the main one being the departure of Alexander Ovechkin to Moscow to be with his ailing grandfather, Nikolai Kabaev. I asked Sergei about this and he gave a very polite and unassailable reply—“I would prefer not to talk about this. Thank you for your understanding”. The all time best Russian sniper (and goal scorer) in the NHL is, as always, the very picture of professionalism.
Now that it has had time to sink in, what does the new record holder think about his accomplishment?
“I was asked about this during the game intermission in Dallas. At that time I said that I didn’t think anything about it, because all my thoughts were on the third period. Now I can honestly say that I have filed these feelings away. You see, I have had a very long career, and unfortunately Alexander did not. With his shot and his speed he could have had 500-550 goals if he had played a few more seasons. If he hadn’t been injured, I would have had a hard time overtaking him.”
How well did you know Mogilny?
“We were friends. We played together on the USSR Junior National Team, at CSKA. In North America we played when and where possible. Life, of course, scattered us quite a bit. We each played for our team, and each of us had our own life and our own responsibilities. Of course we tried to keep up with each other. I remember how happy he was that everything went well for me in Detroit.”
There is a lot that connects you. For example, you went overseas not knowing whether or not you would ever be able to return home.
“That’s being a little overdramatic. We left in order to play hockey. Of course we had some childish fears, but what can you do about it? That is the way it was.”
You both had to overcome some difficulties which the young ones like Ovechkin and Semin can only imagine. According to the stories of his former teammates, depression and loneliness sometimes drove Mogilny almost to tears.
“Because that is what the situation was—what can you do about it? I didn’t have it quite so bad, but I did have my problems. My biggest problem was that I didn’t know if I would ever see my family and close friends again. It became really hard, a darkness on my soul. I didn’t want to do anything.”
Mogilny also had another "Russian" NHL record—76 goals in one season. Do you think that record will stand for a long time yet?
“I think so. Now guys are making 40-50 goals and it is considered a lot. Even for that era this was an unbelievable record.”
It is difficult to overestimate your accomplishment. Especially if you consider that you are a center forward, a player in a defensive plan, and you played in the same era with such snipers as Bure and Mogilny.
“In our life it is difficult to plan for records and strive for them. After all, they are accomplished over the course of a long period of time—in my case almost 20 years. I just try to play hockey and not think about them. Of course now it is nice to see it on paper. But all the same let’s give credit to Alexander. He was a one-of-a-kind sniper with an extremely precise shot. There are no players even close to him in the league right now.”
You often are on the ice with Alexander Semin, who has unexpectedly taken first place in the race for scoring in the NHL. What do you think—can he keep up this pace under all the pressure?
“Sasha, of course, is playing magnificently and I think he could basically score in every game this season. And why not? Of course it is difficult to predict the future, but if you are aiming for big figures, you have to have chances in every game. I hope that he is successful in staying among the leaders. This would be great for the team.”
It seems you are returning to offense after playing several games in a defensive position.
“Yes, and I hope that continues. But you know, sometimes you have different situations and you have to make some changes..”
Maybe it’s not so bad to play defense? Semin said that he really likes having a defenseman like you.
“I understand that guys might be happy with me on defense. But my natural position is in the center of the attack. However, if it is really necessary for me to play in defense again, then I will gladly do it. I get a lot of ice time that way.”
Click on icon above for original story in Russian at www.sport-express.ru