It is difficult to pass up on signing a Hobey Baker winner for nothing. With the Blue Jackets’ depth with left handed defensemen and the track record of players who don’t sign with the team who drafted them make it an unnecessary risk and distraction.
Fedorov had speed, vision and an unmatched hockey sense. If he wasn’t a Russian, he could easily be considered a top ten player of all-time. He was the first European trained skater to win the Hart trophy and owns too many Detroit Red Wings records to list.
As fans flocked to games at the end of last season, the team had plenty of momentum behind it.