Special Sub-Topic: Russian NHL Hockey Players Click Here To Play: Russian NHL Hockey Players

The first Russian hockey player in the NHL played for the Calgary Flames in 1989. What was his name?

Sergei Priakin. Priakin had a very short career of 3 years, in which he played 46 games for the Flames. He was the first player cleared by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation to play in the NHL. Many more defected without the Federation's approval.

Hartford swapped first round draft picks with San Jose in the 1993 NHL draft. Hartford traded the sixth overall pick and which Russian legend for the second overall pick?

Sergei Makarov. Hartford gave up the goal-scoring, but aging winger in order to get the coveted #2 overall pick, which turned out to be Chris Pronger. Makarov was teamed with buddy Igor Larionov by San Jose, and was priceless to the Sharks in a 1994 playoff run which saw them topple heavily favoured Detroit in the first round.

What Russian did the San Jose Sharks select #6 overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft?

Viktor Kozlov. Kozlov was later traded to Florida for Dave Lowry and Florida's first pick in the 1998 NHL Draft.

In which U.S. city did Detroit draft pick Sergei Fedorov choose to defect from the USSR in 1990?

Seattle, WA. He defected during the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle. He was selected by Detroit in the fourth round, 74th overall, in the 1989 NHL entry draft.

The New Jersey Devils had Russian players in 1989-90. One was Viacheslav Fetisov. Which of the following was another?

Sergei Starikov. Starikov was a veteran Russian defenceman. Semak and Zelepukin debuted in 1989-90. Nemchinov debuted in 1991-92 with the Rangers.

In 1993, who set the record for most NHL goals in one season by a Russian player?

Alexander Mogilny. Mogilny scored 76 goals in 1993 with the Buffalo Sabres.

The Russians won many World Championships and Olympic medals in the 1980s. They were led by the KLM line. Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov made up two-thirds of the line. What other player was the 'K' in KLM?

Vladimir Krutov. Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov & Sergei Makarov made up the famous KLM line. While Larionov and Makarov had successful NHL careers, Krutov was a bust with the Vancouver Canucks.

What NHL team drafted famed Russian goaltender Vladislav Tretiak?

Montreal Canadiens. Montreal selected Tretiak in the 1983 draft, 138th overall. He of course never had the opportunity to play in the NHL, as he was too old by the time communism fell in Eastern Europe. Tretiak is the goaltending coach for the Chicago Blackhawks, and the first Soviet player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Ilya Kovalchuk was the first Russian player selected 1st overall in the NHL draft in 2001. Prior to Kovalchuk, who were the three highest drafted Russian players, all picked at #2 overall?

Alexei Yashin, Oleg Tverdovsky & Andrei Zyuzin. Yashin was picked #2 overall by Ottawa in 1992; Tverdovsky was picked #2 overall by Anaheim in 1994. Zyuzin was picked #2 overall by San Jose in 1996.

Who was the first Russian to win the NHL's Most Valuable Player Award?

Sergei Fedorov. Fedorov won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1994. Makarov won the first NHL award given to a Russian in 1990, when he won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, at the age of 30.