Check this page for updates on Slava Fetisov.

December 23, 2001, Slava takes on the IIHF. Viacheslav Fetisov, is challenging an International Ice Hockey Federation ruling that goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is ineligible to play for Russia in Salt Lake City.

The IIHF says Nabokov, a San Jose Sharks goalie, can't play for Russia because he played briefly for Kazakhstan at the world championships as a 19-year-old in 1994. But Fetisov included Nabakov on Russia's 23-man roster this week and will take Nabokov's case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.

November 12, 2001, Slava to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame! Congratulations Slava, it is well deserved!!!

August 20, 2001, the Russian Olympic Committee and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation jointly announce that Slava will be the GM and Coach for the 2002 Russian Team. Congratulations Slava! I'm looking forward to the games in February!

June 2001, it is announced that Slava will be one of the Hockey Hall of Fame inductees in Fall 2001, congratulations Slava!

May 2001, Slava is again coaching in the Stanley Cup Finals.

March 4, 2001, reported by Ted Kuflan, Detroit News

Fetisov the GM?

Former Red Wings defenseman Slava Fetisov said last week he has been offered the job as general manager of the Russian team for the 2002 Olympics.

Fetisov, an assistant coach with the Devils, said he won't accept the GM post unless he gets full power to select the team.

"You can't do the job unless you have power," Fetisov said. "If I get the job, I want to decide who the coach will be. And I know what players I want because I have been watching them."

Politics also could be a factor.

The president of the Russian hockey federation, Aleksandr Steblin, is running for re-election. Steblin has been criticized for Russia's poor results in recent international tournaments, and many NHL players, including Sergei Fedorov, said they wouldn't play in the Olympics if Steblin is in charge. Fedorov and many others would reconsider if Fetisov was in charge.

"Nobody has accepted responsibility for what has happened," Fetisov said. "I don't want to be involved if it has anything to do with politics. If they want to use my name to get support in the election that's coming up, it won't happen."

June 2000, Slava will have his name engraved for a third time on the Stanley Cup, this time as an assistant Coach for the New Jersey Devils. Congratulations Slava!

Slava Kozlov on Papa's Return to Hockeytown 021999: "Slava Fetisov is back in town."

Slava, a beloved member of the Wing's past two years Stanley Cup teams, made his return to the Joe on Friday morning as an assistant coach with the Devils. New Jersey didn't skate in the morning, but Fetisov met Kozlov at the arena anyway and left with his buddy. Fetisov retired over the summer somewhat grudgingly.

"It's a lot of emotions being back here," Fetisov said. "It's a great memory playing here. It's tough in some ways."

020199 from Mlive: In his first season as an assistant coach to Robbie Ftorek in New Jersey, Fetisov aspires to be the first Russian head coach in the NHL. And he's still disappointed with the way the Detroit Red Wings handled contract negotiations with him last summer when he sought to play one more season.

Fetisov is exploring the intricacies of coaching, although he still says he could be playing with the Red Wings.

General manager Ken Holland asked him to take a reduced role last summer when discussing a new contract. Fetisov was offered a one-year deal at $500,000, half of what he made last season, with additional assurances of joining the organization after his playing career ended. Instead, the legendary defenseman signed a three-year contract with the Devils as an assistant coach.

"They knew what they offered was unacceptable," Fetisov said. "I knew the coaches wanted me back and a lot of the players wanted me to play another year. I did not see me playing for another team. It was probably a mistake on my part (not to consider playing for another team)."

Fetisov hints that part of the Red Wings struggles might have to do with personnel decisions.

"We had a special team, and had a lot of ups and downs," said Fetisov, a survivor of the limousine crash that severely injured Vladimir Konstantinov and Sergei Mnatsakanov. "The chemistry of the team is most important. You change the chemistry, you (can) expect anything."

July 1998, Slava announced his retirement from the Detroit Red Wings and is currently an Assistant Coach for the New Jersey Devils (Detroit's loss is New Jersey's gain).