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Viacheslav Fetisov
Biography
Viacheslav Fetisov (HHOF ’01) was part of one of the all-time great defensive pairings. Skating alongside Alexei Kasatonov, Fetisov was captain of both the Soviet National team and the Central Red Army team in the 1980’s. In his international career, he played on nine Olympic and World Championship teams. Originally, Montreal had selected him in 1978 but he re-entered the draft and went to New Jersey in 1983. Although he signed with the Devils, his army superiors refused to release him. By 1989, the Soviet Union was falling and Fetisov was finally free to join the NHL at age 31. He played six years in New Jersey and another three in Detroit, earning two Stanley Cups. After his retirement, he became an assistant coach with the Devils and won a third Stanley Cup ring in 2000.