Growing up in Yaroslavl, Russia, they were the childhood heroes of Detroit Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko.

The Russian Five were iconic in his view.

“I think this is Detroit as a team,” Tarasenko explained. “It’s one of the most famous, if not the most famous team in the world.

“Like, when you talk about how to give it a history and no offense to other teams, but we grew up in Russia. A lot of people follow Detroit because of the Russian Five.

Vlad Tarasenko said when he got his first play station, he played as the Red Wings. The Russian Five being very popular where he grew up. #LGRW

— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) July 8, 2024

“When I had my first PlayStation. I was playing for Detroit too, with my friend. So, yeah, this was the team all the kids in my neighborhood where I grow up, when we talk about hockey.”

In Scandinavia, a similar scenario was playing out inside the childhood home of Detroit defenseman Erik Gustafsson in Nynashamn, Sweden. He also worshipped at the altar of the Red Wings, but his iconic hero was a different winged wheel legend.

“The history of this club, my favorite defenseman growing up was Nicklas Lidstrom,” Gustafsson said. “It’s obviously a great organization.”

Tarasenko Wore Fedorov’s 91

When he broke into the NHL with the St. Louis Blues in 2012, Tarasenko donned the No. 91 jersey made famous by Red Wings superstar Sergei Fedorov. Many hockey people drew parallels between the young Tarasenko and Fedorov, but he insists he wasn’t a massive Fedorov fan.

“I mean, I wouldn’t say, like, I don’t want to lie to you. I wouldn’t say I was, like, super fan,” Tarsenko said. “I like how he played a lot, but in that time, when I was young, we don’t have many options to follow the league.

“So it’s not like nowadays where you can YouTube the highlights and see whatever you want. Like the place where I grew up, back home in Russia, we don’t really have NHL on the TV at that time, so it was hard to follow.”

As he made the grade in the NHL. Gustfasson befriended another Swedish defenseman playing for the Red Wings, Niklas Kronwall.

“When Kronwall was playing, I was working out with him in Sweden, so I know him,” Gustafsson said.

Erik Gustafsson, signed 2x$2M by DET, is a two-way puck-moving defenceman who’s especially useful in the offensive zone. Has come into his own in the past two seasons as a very strong option to win minutes with a third pairing. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/h6UxNOTRP1

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2024

Now the director of European player development for the Red Wings, Kronwall reached out to welcome Gustafsson into the fold.

“I signed and then we talked a little bit, it wasn’t too much,” Gustafsson said. “We texted each other.

“He was very happy I was part of the organization.”

Ready To Help Red Wings Return To Glory

Both players were UFA additions this month. Each is excited to be part of this legendary NHL club. They’re also anxious to help the Red Wings return to the glory days they witnessed as fans during their youth.

“I was very happy they called my agent and could get a deal done,” Gustafsson said. “I’m happy to be a part of this team.”

They want to be part of the solution in seeking to return playoff hockey to Hockeytown.

“It’s pretty exciting to join a team, wear the jersey and try to help the team win,” Tarasenko said.