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| 1978 NHL DRAFT PICK |
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Viacheslav Fetisov
Selected in 12th round
No.
201 overall by
Montreal Canadiens
Born April 20, 1958
 | Position:
Defense
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Moscow CSKA (USSR)
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia (USSR)
Hometown:
Moscow, Russia |
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| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1974-75 |
Moscow CSKA | USSR Jr. |
1 |
0 | 0 |
0 | 0 |
| 1975-76 |
Moscow CSKA | USSR Jr. |
-- | -- |
-- | -- |
-- | | |
Moscow CSKA | USSR |
1 | 0 |
0 | 0 |
0 | | 1976-77 |
Moscow CSKA | USSR |
28 | 3 |
4 | 7 |
14 | | 1977-78 |
Moscow CSKA | USSR |
35 | 9 |
18 | 27 |
46 |
|
PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
USSR Championship: 1977, 1978 (Moscow CSKA)
World Championships: 1977 (bronze medal), 1978 (gold medal)
World Junior Championships: 1976 (gold)
(unofficial tournament), 1977 (gold medal), 1978 (gold medal)
European Junior Championships: 1975 (gold), 1976 (gold)
World Championships
Best Defenseman: 1978
World Championships
All-Star First Team: 1978
World Junior
Championships Best Defenseman: 1977, 1978
World Junior Championships
All-Star First Team: 1978
European
Junior Championships Best Defenseman: 1976
USSR Merited Sports Master: 1977-78 (Moscow CSKA)
Miscellaneous: Played in third World Junior Championships in Finland, an
unofficial tournament that helped set stage for first official World Juniors
in 1977. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: October 5, 1989 (New Jersey at
Philadelphia)
Numbers: 2 (New Jersey); 44, 2 (Detroit)
Stanley Cup:
1997, 1998, 2000 (as assistant coach)
Playing Status: Retired July 28, 1998 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS | | Years |
Teams | GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1989-1998 |
New Jersey, Detroit | 546 |
36 | 192 | 228 |
656 |
|
| CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1990-1998 |
New Jersey, Detroit | 116 |
2 | 26 |
28 | 147 |
|
NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
HOCKEY HALL OF FAME:
Inducted 2001
DRAFT RE-ENTRY: 1983 (New Jersey,
No. 145 overall in
Round 8)
All-Star Game: 1997, 1998 (Detroit)
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1995 (Detroit), 2001 (N.J.) (asst. coach)
New Jersey Records: Most points in one game by a defenseman (5 vs. N.Y.
Rangers on March 29, 1990, shares record), most points in one game by a rookie
(5 vs. N.Y. Rangers on March 29, 1990), most assists in one game by a
rookie (4 vs. N.Y. Rangers on March 29, 1990, shares record)
Coaching
Career: Named New Jersey assistant coach on July 28, 1998, and remained in
that position until Jan. 28, 2002.
Miscellaneous: Had assist in first NHL game. The assist came on a
power-play goal by Sylvain Turgeon at 1:09 of the first period. It
was the first goal of New Jersey's 1989-90 season. ... Missed part of 1989-90
season with torn cartilage in left knee, an injury suffered when he was
checked by John Cullen during New Jersey's
Nov. 22, 1989, game at Pittsburgh. ... Paired on defense with Bruce Driver and
Alexei Kasatonov for New Jersey in 1989-90. ... Named NHL Player of Week for
week ending April 1, 1990. ... Missed part of 1990-91 season with bronchial
pneumonia suffered in late November and early December 1990. ... Paired on
defense with Alexei Kasatonov for New Jersey in 1991-92 and 1992-93. ...
Suspended five games by NHL during 1991-92 season for high-sticking incident
against Mario Lemieux during New Jersey's Jan. 2, 1992, game vs. Pittsburgh.
Fetisov received a game misconduct on the play, a hearing was held Jan. 13,
1992, and Fetisov was suspended from Jan. 24 through Feb. 1, 1992. ... Missed
part of 1991-92 season with left foot injury suffered in late February 1992.
... Missed one game during 1992-93 season (Oct. 14, 1992, at N.Y. Rangers)
with flu. ... Missed part of 1993-94 season with sprained knee suffered during New Jersey's Nov. 30, 1993, game vs. N.Y. Rangers. ... Missed start of 1995 lockout-shortened season while holding out
due to contract dispute with New Jersey management. ... Missed part of 1995
season with bruised leg, an injury suffered during New Jersey's Feb. 25, 1995,
game vs. Washington ... Missed part of 1995-96 season with groin injury
suffered during Detroit's Nov. 2, 1995, game at Boston. ... Suspended two
games by NHL during 1995-96 season for a high-sticking incident during
Detroit's Jan. 10, 1996, game at Dallas. ... Missed start of 1996-97 season
after undergoing off-season arthroscopic surgery on knee. ... Missed one game
during 1996-97 season with the flu in January 1997. ... Never missed playoffs
during his playing career.
Coming to America: Fetisov, already
considered one of the greatest defensemen in international hockey history at
age 31, was
one of the first eight players the former Soviet hockey program allowed
to enter the NHL when he joined the Devils on June 26, 1989. The group of veterans, led by Fetisov, had for years
been lobbying Soviet authorities in the hope of being allowed to play in the
NHL. Finally, following the defection of Alexander Mogilny in May 1989 and in
accordance with the Soviet glasnost policy of opening its doors to the West,
the Soviets decided it was in their interest to allow a handful of older
players to join the NHL in exchange for cash and the promise that NHL teams
would make those players available to play for the Soviet Union in future
World Championships. Fetisov had hoped to enter the NHL after the 1988 Winter
Olympics in Calgary, but Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonov refused to let him go,
setting off a feud between the two men that led to Fetisov's quitting the team
for two months and even threatening to boycott the 1989 World Championships in
Stockholm. As part of a resolution of his dispute, he was allowed to sign a
three-year $1.05 million contract with the New Jersey Devils, and a portion of
his money was designated for the purchase of youth hockey equipment in the
Soviet Union. Fetisov, who had refused to defect out of his fear of negatively
impacting the players he left behind, achieved his goal of keeping his money
out of Soviet sports authorities' hands. He took that stand on principle,
unwilling to see wrong-doers rewarded for his success. Nearly 15 years later,
Fetisov would turn the tables entirely, taking over his country's national
team as head coach of Russia's entry in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
The Tragic Limo
Accident: As one of the greatest players in hockey history, Fetisov had
many memorable days during his career. No day, however, was more frightening
or tragic than Friday, June 13, 1997, when Fetisov was involved in a limousine accident
that ended the career of his longtime Soviet and Detroit teammate Vladimir Konstantinov.
The accident happened just six days after Detroit won its first Stanley Cup in
42 years. Fetisov, Konstantinov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov were
enjoying a golf outing at the Orchard Golf Club when they decided to leave
early and return home. The only limousine driver ready to take them back to
Birmingham, Mich., was a man named Richard Gnida, whose earlier driving had
left the Russian threesome wondering if riding with him would be safe. Unable
to find another driver, they allowed Gnida to drive them, and as they
approached Birmingham, Gnida crashed the limousine into a pole. Gnida, who was
later found to be driving under the influence and sentenced to nine months in
jail, was barely injured, and Fetisov, who was sitting in the back seat,
suffered minor damage in a bruised lung, chest lacerations and injured right
knee. Konstantinov and Mnatsakanov were not so lucky. Both suffered severe
brain damage and spent weeks in comas. Fetisov was out of the hospital five
days after the accident, and he dedicated his final season to his friend
Konstantinov. When the Red Wings defended their Stanley Cup title in 1998,
Fetisov brought Konstantinov out onto the ice in his wheelchair so that the
latter could celebrate with his teammates. |
| NHL SALARY HISTORY |
Contract signed with New Jersey on June 26, 1989
(Three years, $800,000) | |
1989-90: $250,000 |
1990-91: $275,000 |
1991-92: $275,000 |
|
Contract signed with New Jersey on Oct. 5, 1992
(Two years, $1.2 million, including club option for second year) | |
1992-93: $600,000 |
Option picked up by New Jersey on 7/1/93 |
1993-94: $600,000 |
|
Contract signed with New Jersey on Jan. 19, 1995
(One year, $550,000) | |
1995: $550,000 | Actual payout of $300,000 agreed to on Jan. 31 |
|
Contract signed with Detroit on Sept. 7, 1995
(One year, $750,000) | |
1995-96: $750,000 |
|
|
Contract signed with Detroit on Aug. 23, 1996
(One year, $825,000) | |
1996-97: $825,000 |
|
|
Contract signed with Detroit on Sept. 8, 1997
(One year, $1 million) | |
1997-98: $1,000,000 |
|
|
Total NHL Earnings: $4,875,000
(Reflects only base salary payout) |
|
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| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams: Moscow CSKA (USSR/Russia); Utica (AHL)
Olympics: 1980
(silver medal), 1984 (gold medal), 1988 (gold medal), 2002 (bronze medal) (as
GM/head coach)
Canada Cup: 1981
(first place), 1987 (second place)
World Cup of Hockey: 1996 (fourth
place)
NHL-USSR Rendez-vous Series: 1987
World Championships: 1981
(gold medal), 1982 (gold medal), 1983 (gold medal), 1985 (bronze medal), 1986
(gold medal), 1987 (silver medal), 1989 (gold medal), 1990 (gold medal), 1991
(bronze medal)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
IOC Olympic Order (Highest IOC Honor):
Awarded Aug. 25, 2000
IIHF Hall of Fame:
Inducted 2005
USSR Championship:
1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984,
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 (Moscow CSKA)
Gold Stick Award
(Europe's Top International Player): 1983-84, 1985-86, 1989-90
Canada Cup All-Star First Team: 1987
World Championships MVP:
1989
World Championships Best Defenseman:
1982, 1985, 1986, 1989
World Championships All-Star First
Team: 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991
USSR Player of
Year: 1981-82, 1985-86 (Moscow CSKA)
USSR Pravda Trophy (Most
Points, Defenseman): 1983-84, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88 (Moscow CSKA)
USSR All-Star First Team: 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83,
1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88 (CSKA)
Soviet Union Olympic
Captain: 1988
Soviet Union Canada Cup
Captain: 1987
Soviet Union World Championships Captain: 1987, 1989
Moscow CSKA Captain: mid-1980s through 1988-89
Olympics Assists Leader: 1988 (9 assists)
World Championships Penalty-Minutes Leader: 1989 (17)
Coaching Career: Named head coach of 2002 Russian Olympic team in
August 2001.
Management Career: Named general manager of 2002
Russian Olympic team in August 2001. ... Named chairman of Russia's state
federation for physical culture and sports in April 2002, and remained in that
position through 2002-03 season.
Miscellaneous: Was commissioned as
a military officer with the rank of Major in the Soviet Red Army during his
playing days. ... Earned Soviet Honored Master of Sport Award during his playing days with Moscow CSKA (also known as Central Red
Army). ... Played on Soviet
national teams that toured North America to face NHL teams during 1979-80,
1982-83, 1985-86 and 1988-89 seasons. ... Paired on defense with Alexei
Kasatonov for Moscow CSKA throughout much of 1980s and played on "Big
Five" Soviet unit, also known as the Green Unit, with Kasatonov, Igor Larionov, Sergei Makarov and Vladimir
Krutov. ... Missed 1984 Canada Cup tournament after breaking leg in practice.
... Scored goal and had assist in lone
minor-league game for Utica (AHL) when he was sent down for a conditioning
stint on Dec. 15, 1990. ... Returned to Russia and played for Moscow CSKA
during NHL lockout of 1994-95. ... Organized first Stanley Cup tour of Russia
when he brought the trophy home to Moscow after winning it with Detroit in
1997. ... Awarded Russia's highest medal for "service to the fatherland" by
Russian president Vladimir Putin in August 2000. ... Played his final game on
Aug. 27, 2000, when he brought several NHL players to Moscow for an
All-Star exhibition.
Personal: Also known as Slava
Fetisov during his playing days. |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| FREE AGENCY: Montreal was never able to
negotiate with Fetisov, let alone sign him, during the era when he was part
of the Soviet national team, and his NHL rights lapsed after five years. He
became eligible for the draft again in 1983 and was selected by New Jersey. |
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|
SNAPSHOT '78 | | Total Selected: |
234 | | Forwards: |
143 | | Defense: |
67 | | Goaltenders: |
24 | | Major Junior: |
127 | | College Players: |
80 |
| Canadian: |
170 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
0 | | USA Citizens: |
47 | | U.S.-Born: |
47 |
| European: |
17 |
| Reached NHL: |
95 |
| Won Stanley Cup: |
16 | | Hall of Fame: |
1 |
| All-Star Game: |
18 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
1 |
| Olympians: |
16 |
| Picks Traded: |
46 |
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