Sergei Fedorov: Career, Regret, and Life After Hockey (2025)

Every so often, a hockey player leaves a franchise and spends the rest of his career wondering what if. For Sergei Fedorov, that moment came in 2003, when he walked away from the Detroit Red Wings — the team that drafted him, the team where he won three Stanley Cups and the Hart Trophy — a decision that triggered years of public regret and speculation about his personal life.

NHL career points: 1,179 · Stanley Cup wins: 3 (all with Detroit Red Wings) · NHL All-Star Games: 6 · Position: Center · Born: December 13, 1969 (Pskov, Russia) · Coaching role: Head coach of CSKA Moscow (KHL), 2021–2024

Seven key details in Fedorov’s profile, one pattern: his game defined a generation.

Was Sergei Fedorov married to Anna Kournikova?

Who is Anna Kournikova?

Anna Kournikova is a former professional tennis player and model, born in Moscow in 1981. She became one of the most photographed athletes of the early 2000s, reaching world No. 8 in singles and No. 1 in doubles, though she never won a WTA singles title. Her public profile exploded alongside her relationship with Fedorov, which began when she was a teenager.

What was the nature of their relationship?

The short answer: they never legally married. In a 2003 piece, ESPN reported that Fedorov and Kournikova had been briefly married — a revelation that sent reporters scrambling. Fedorov himself later claimed they married in 2001 and divorced in 2003, as noted on Wikipedia. However, no legal marriage certificate has ever been produced, and both parties have since declined to clarify. Kournikova later entered a relationship with singer Enrique Iglesias, with whom she has three children.

The pattern: Fedorov’s silence on his personal life has turned a private matter into a persistent public legend, one that endures because he never fully addresses it.

Why did Sergei Fedorov leave Detroit?

Contract disputes in 2003

After 13 seasons in Detroit, Fedorov became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2003. The Red Wings, facing salary cap constraints after years of spending, offered him significantly less than his market value. Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks presented a front-loaded, high-dollar offer — including a reported $10 million signing bonus — that Detroit could not match. On July 19, 2003, Fedorov signed with Anaheim, per NHL.com.

Role in the team

By 2003, Fedorov had been pushed to the second line behind Steve Yzerman in Detroit, and his minutes had declined. In Anaheim, he would be the undisputed top center — a chance to return to the spotlight. The Ducks had also reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2003, so the move was framed as a win-win.

Salary cap issues

The Red Wings had committed long-term to Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Brendan Shanahan, leaving limited cap space for Fedorov. In Detroit, he earned approximately $2.8 million in his final season; Anaheim’s offer exceeded that substantially. The financial gap, plus the promise of a premier role, sealed the decision.

For a team looking to defend its 2002 title, losing Fedorov was a strategic blow. For Fedorov, the trade-off was clear: more money and ice time, but leaving a dynasty.

Did Fedorov regret leaving Detroit?

His quote: “It is a mistake. Huge mistake.”

In later interviews, Fedorov called his departure from Detroit “a mistake. Huge mistake.” The quote, widely circulated in sports media, came during a reflective moment when he acknowledged the team culture and winning atmosphere he left behind. He specifically cited the Red Wings’ consistent playoff runs and the camaraderie of the locker room.

The remorse surfaced years after the move, likely during the late 2000s or early 2010s, once his tenure with Anaheim and later Columbus and Washington had ended. By then, Detroit had continued its success (winning the Cup again in 2008), while Fedorov’s post-Detroit teams never reached the same heights.

Fedorov has said he misses the Red Wings’ organizational stability, the leadership of Yzerman and coach Scotty Bowman, and the sense of family. He put it bluntly: leaving that environment was something he could not replicate elsewhere.

“It is a mistake. Huge mistake.”

— Sergei Fedorov, in an interview reflecting on leaving Detroit

The catch: Fedorov’s regret is real, but it’s a luxury — he walked away from a championship environment for money and spotlight, and few players get to leave cleanly. His honesty about the decision is rare in professional sports.

What is Sergei Fedorov doing now?

Coaching career with CSKA Moscow

On July 14, 2021, The Athletic reported that Fedorov was named head coach of CSKA Moscow in the KHL, the top Russian hockey league. He held the position from 2021 to May 2024. In December 2024, CSKA raised his number 18 to the rafters, as noted by Russian Machine Never Breaks, a fan site covering Russian hockey in English. His primary role is now part-owner of the club, though his day-to-day involvement in coaching has ended.

As of 2025, Fedorov is not coaching in the NHL or any other league. He remains active within CSKA’s organization and occasionally appears at hockey events, but he has shifted toward a more private life. There is no confirmed information about his residence, though sources suggest he splits time between Russia and the United States.

Yes, but indirectly. Through his ownership stake in CSKA, Fedorov influences the team’s direction. He also serves as a mentor to young Russian players, drawing on his experience as one of the most accomplished Russian-born players in NHL history.

Who is Sergei Fedorov’s wife now?

Does he have a spouse?

There is no public information indicating that Fedorov is currently married. He has kept his personal life intensely private since his relationship with Kournikova ended. Reporters have not identified a wife or fiancée, and Fedorov himself does not discuss his romantic life in interviews.

What is his marital status in 2025?

Based on available sources, Fedorov appears to be unmarried. Whether he was ever legally married to Kournikova remains unconfirmed, but no other marriage has been reported. His low-profile lifestyle suggests he values discretion over public disclosure.

Was he ever married?

The only marriage claim involves Kournikova, and that is unsupported by documentation. Everything else is speculation. Fedorov’s private life is a blank space in his otherwise public biography.

What’s unclear

• Current marital status of Fedorov in 2025
• Where he resides permanently
• Reasons behind Anna Kournikova’s wheelchair use

For any player weighing a franchise move, the lesson from Fedorov is stark: you can have money and role, but you cannot replace a championship culture. For the Red Wings, the choice is clear: hold onto their core, or risk losing a legend who will never forgive himself for leaving.