Surprise retirement of Detroit Red Wings legend strikes the organization today in history

As we keep celebrating the rich legacy from the Detroit Red Wings' past 100 years, we couldn't help but write about former Wings defenseman Slava Fetisov as a special event can be commemorated today.

Indeed, Viacheslav "Slava" Fetisov, one of the most influencial defensemen in hockey history, retired from the sport on July 28, 1998.

Per Hockey Vintage:

The Hockey Hall of Famer was a central figure on the Red Wings' iconic "Russian Five" with fellow countrymen Igor Larionov, Sergei Fedorov, Slava Kozlov, and Vladimir Konstantinov.

They changed the way the sport was played in the NHL, breaking political and cultural barriers to come to North America.

During his NHL career, he took part in 546 regular season games, with 206 points, including 36 goals, and another 116 playoff games. He notably played a big role when the Wings ended their 42-year Stanley Cup drought, back in 1997.

Before arriving in North America, he dominated for over a decade in the KHL with the CSKA Moscow and the Soviet national team, earning two Olympic golds, one silver, and seven World Championship golds.

The NHL recognized his brilliance in 2017 by naming him one of the 100 Greatest Players in league history.

Few players in the history of the game have done more on both sides of the ocean. While his retirement was the end of an era, his influence is still felt today in the NHL and the KHL.