Deen’s Daily: Hockeytown Finally Celebrates Fedorov; USA Hockey Camp; Lucic Attempts Return

The Red Wings are finally mending fences with one of their all-time greats. Also, USA Hockey is holding an orientation camp and one of the Avs’ centermen will be there. And there was another noteworthy PTO handed out in the Central Division.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — August 19.

Colorado Hockey Now

The Avalanche could have a boat load of representation at the 2026 Winter Olympics. In fact, they lead the NHL with four total players already named to the Olympics rosters after each nation selected their first six. It’s Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Gabe Landeskog, and Martin Necas.

You can probably also pencil in Devon Toews for Team Canada and Artturi Lehkonen as a lock for Finland. I’d suspect Joel Kiviranta is a long shot for that roster. I still feel like Mackenzie Blackwood has a slight shot at Canada’s roster, too.

And then there’s Brock Nelson. The Avalanche’s 33-year-old centerman will attend USA’s orientation camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan later this month. He was on the 4 Nations Face-Off roster.

READ MORE: Brock Nelson Among 44 Invited to USA Hockey Olympics Orientation Camp

In case you missed it, the Avs signed a college free agent on Monday.

READ MORE: Avalanche Sign Defenseman Alex Gagne to Entry-Level Deal

Around The NHL

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings are finally celebrating the career of one of their all-time greats. Sergei Fedorov, who left the team in 2003 as a free agent, is getting his No. 91 retired on Jan. 12 against the Carolina Hurricanes — the team that tried to pry him away and signed him to an offer sheet in the 90s.

Fedorov’s legacy in Detroit became complicating following his departure. That offseason was an all-timer and one I remember well. Paul Kariya left the Ducks after losing Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final to reunited with Teemu Selanne in Colorado. The Ducks then signed Fedorov, who couldn’t come to terms on a deal with the Wings. Detroit added Derian Hatcher from the Dallas Stars, which was also a significant addition at the time.

Anyway, Red Wings fans have shouted for years that Fedorov’s jersey should be up in the rafters. He’s the last Red Wing to win the Hart Trophy and was, along with Steve Yzerman and Nick Lidstrom, part of their superstar core in Detroit’s pre-lockout golden era. No other player has worn No. 91 in Detroit.

Boston Hockey Now: Milan Lucic returned to Boston in 2023-24 and played four games before he was arrested in his home. After getting assistance for the rest of that year from the NHL Player Assistance Program, Lucic took all of last season off. Now, he’s joining the St. Louis Blues on a PTO.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Here’s Dan Kingerski’s story on the emerging interested buyer for the franchise.

NYI Hockey Now: The latest Islanders Mailbag answers questions about Calum Ritchie, who the Avs sent the other way in the Nelson deal in March.

Chicago Hockey Now: The 5 most underappreciated Blackhawks players during their Stanley Cup-winning years.