Top Russian NHL Players

# 10 Sergei Bobrovsky

Bobrovsky sports impressive credentials. He has been a consistent performer throughout his NHL career. He won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender in 2012-13 and again in 2016-17. Only once did he post a goal against average over three (2019-20) 3.23 G.A.A, every other year of his NHL career, he recorded a G.A.A of 2.69 with a low of 2.00 in 2012-13. His save percentage across twelve seasons is a remarkable 9.25 SV%.

He has played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Florida Panthers. While in Columbus, Bobrovsky set several goaltending team records, including the most wins in a season: 41 (2016–17). Best goals against average in a season: 2.00 (2012–13) and best save percentage: .932 (2012–13). Internationally he captured gold for Team Russia at the Ice Hockey World Championships (IIHF) in 2014.

# 9 Ilya Kovalchuk

Kovalchuk was drafted first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. He played eight seasons with the team before being traded to the New Jersey Devils in 2010, where he signed a 15-year, 100 million contract. During his time in Atlanta, Kovalchuk was an elite player registering thirty goals or more in seven of eight seasons. He scored 29 goals in 65 games in his rookie season and attained a league-leading 41 goals in 2003-04, and surpassed the fifty goals plateau with 52 goals in 2005-06 and again in 2007-08.

Kovalchuk is the seventh highest-scoring Russian in NHL history, scoring 443 goals and 876 points in 926 games. He was twice named to the end-of-season NHL All-Star Team and finished in a three-way tie for the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer in 2004, sharing it with Rick Nash and Jerome Iginla.

# 8 Sergei Zubov

Zubov was drafted 85th overall in 1990 by the New York Rangers. He was known as an offensive defenseman and was a key contributor to ending the Rangers’ 54-year Stanley Cup drought taking the cup to broadway in 1994. He won a second cup as a member of the Dallas Stars in 1999. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019.

Zubov is the NHL’s second All-Time leading scoring defenseman behind Sergei Gonchar. Zubov was ranked 72 all-time in the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats who played during the team’s first 82 seasons. On the international stage, he won a bronze in 1988 and a gold medal for the Soviet Union in 1989, a Silver in 1990, and a gold for the Unified Team in 1992. On January 28, 2022. The Dallas Stars retired Zubov’s number 56. Sergei Zubov accumulated 152 goals, 619 assists and 771 points in 1,068 NHL contests.

# 7 Igor Larionov

Larionov was one of the Russian Five who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the mid-1990s. He was also a member of the “KLM Line.” featuring Viacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov on defense while centering the top line between Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov. Larionov played in the NHL from 1989-90 to 2003-04 with the Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, and New Jersey Devils.

Larionov was known as “the Professor” because of his calm demeanor and intellectual approach to the game. Larionov won three Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings (1997, 1998, 2002). On November 10, 2008, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Larionov was known for having a drink of wine before games. Nowadays, he has become a professional winemaker. With wine labels that harken back to his NHL playing days, such as “Hattrick,” “triple Overtime.” and “Slapshot.”

# 6 Evgeni Malkin

Malkin was drafted 2nd overall in 2004 by the Pittsburgh Penguins. At 6 foot 3 inches and 200 pounds and highly talented, he is a formidable opponent. He is strong on his skates and is faster than most big men. In addition, he doesn’t shy away from rough play. Malkin thrives on puck possession. He is not a selfish player; he will often lead the attack up ice only to sift the puck through to an open teammate for a goal. He is adept in every facet of the game and knows when to employ any of his multi-faceted talents. Blessed with uncanny stick handling abilities and a lethal shot, Malkin is always an offensive threat on the ice.

Malkin’s list of achievements is numerous. He has played his entire NHL career in Pittsburgh, where he won the Stanley Cup in (2009, 2016, and 2017). He has won the Calder Memorial Trophy (2007), Art Ross Trophy (2009 and 2012), the Conn Smythe Trophy (2009), the Hart Memorial Trophy (2012), and the Ted Lindsay Award in 2012.

# 5 Pavel Datsyuk

“Magic Man” weighs in at number five on my list of top Russian NHL players. Known for his adept stickhandling and stupefying puck skills, Datsyuk could do it all. Drafted 171st overall in 1998 by the Detroit Red Wings, he filled the bill for the Wings. Playing his entire NHL career in Detroit and winning Stanley Cups (2002 and 2008).

Winning Four Lady Byng Memorial Trophies (2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009) and three Selke Trophies (2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10). In 2017, Datsyuk was named one of the “100 Greatest NHL Players” in history.

# 4 Pavel Bure

Pavel Bure was drafted 113th overall in 1989 by the Vancouver Canucks. Gifted with speed and superior skill, Bure was an electrifying player; he could pull fans out of their seats with his explosive skating and agility. Bure hit the fifty-goal plateau five times and the 60-goal plateau twice during his stellar NHL career. He was a pure goal scorer who made everybody else better when he was on the ice. Bure’s .623 goals per game average are third among the top 100 goal scorers in NHL history, behind Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy.

Bure won the Calder Memorial Trophy (1992) and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (2000, 2001). He played in the NHL All-Star Game in (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2001) was NHL First All-Star Team in 1994, and was Named NHL All-Star MVP in 2000. Pavel Bure was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in June 2012. In June 2017, he was named as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history. Bure scored 437 goals, and 342 assists for 779 points in 702 NHL contests.

# 3 Alexander Mogilny

Mogilny was selected 89th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. He is one of the top Russian NHL players of All-Time. He was the first Russian NHL draftee to defect from the Soviet Union. Upon joining the Buffalo Sabres, the team gave him number 89 to commemorate the year of his defection and his selection place in the NHL Draft. Mogilny made his NHL debut on October 5, 1989, in a game against the Quebec Nordiques, scoring his first NHL goal twenty seconds into his first shift; coincidentally, it was also the Sabre’s twentieth NHL season. On December 21, 1991, in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mogilny tied the record for the fastest goal to start a game by scoring just five seconds into the game. The 1992-93 season was by far Mogilnys best season in the NHL. He tied Temmu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets for the league leader in goals with 76 and did it in seven games less than Selanne.

Mogilny consistently put up great numbers throughout his NHL career. He won his only Stanley Cup in 2000 as a member of the New Jersey Devils. He was an NHL All-Star (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 203), NHL Second All-Star (1993,1996). Won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (2003), Most game-winning goals in a season in 1993 (11), was Inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, and on October 14, 2016, he was named the 83rd greatest Maple Leaf of all-time. Mogilny was the second highest scoring Russian NHLer of all time, attaining 1,000 points just days after fellow Russian Sergei Fedorov achieved the milestone. He is also the first Russian to captain an NHL team and the first Russian named to an NHL All-Star Team. He is the fourth highest-scoring Russian NHL player of all time behind Alexander Ovechkin, Sergei Fedorov, and Evgeni Malkin. Mogilny holds the highest single-season goal total and the second-highest single-season point total of any Russian NHL player of all time.

# 2 Sergei Fedorov

Sergei Fedorov was drafted 74th overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. He is one of the first Russian players to have defected to the NHL. Fedorov was primarily a center, but he was also utilized as a winger or defenseman on occasion. He was so versatile that Red Wings Senior Vice-President Jimmy Devellano once said of Fedorov, “I’m so convinced if we left him there, he’d have won a Norris Trophy.” Fedorov was an elite player with blinding speed, the strength of his game was to overwhelm opponents with his combination of speed, agility, and stickhandling prowess.

Fedorov spent most of his NHL career playing for the Detroit Red Wings. While in Detroit, he won three Stanley Cups (1997, 1998, and 2002). He won the Hart Memorial Trophy (1994), Lester B.Pearson Trophy (1994), Frank J. Selke Trophy (1994, 1996), 1994 NHL Player of the Year by the Sporting News, as well as numerous All-Star game selections and achievements. He is the first Russian player to obtain 1,000 NHL points and the only player in the history of the NHL to win the Frank J. Selke Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy in the same year (1994). On December 26, 1996, in a game against the Washington Capitals, Fedorov became the first NHL player to score all of his teams five goals and the winner in overtime to beat the Caps 5-4; the feat has only recently been equaled when New York Rangers Mika Zibanejad scored five of his teams six goals including the overtime winner in a 6-5 victory against the Washington Capitals on March 5, 2020.

# 1 Alexander Ovechkin

Alexander Ovechkin was drafted 1st overall in 2004 by the Washington Capitals. He has played his entire NHL career in Washington, winning his only Stanley Cup in 2018. In my opinion, he is the best player in the game today. His talent, drive/determination, and passion for the game fuels him on the ice in his pursuit to be the best in the game. The Great Eight has scored 50 goals in a season nine times, tying Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky for most 50-goal seasons in NHL history. He is currently averaging .61 goals per game and trails Wayne Gretzky by 114 goals for the all-time goal-scoring record. He has led the league in goal scoring nine times and has scored 32 goals or more in each of his 17 seasons, with the exception of the Covid-19 shortened season of 2020-21.

He is the winner of a myriad of NHL and Team Awards to numerous to mention. Alexander Ovechkin is simply the elite of the elite. Having just turned 37 on September 17, 2022, he hasn’t slowed a bit; if he can keep scoring at .61 goals per game average, he should pass Gretzky in just over two years for the all-time goals leader in NHL history. Currently, Ovechkin sits third in all-time NHL goals scored with 780, Gordie Howe is in second with 801, and Wayne Gretzky sits atop the leaderboard with 894.

There you have it, Ted Talks Hockey’s list of Top Russian NHL Players of all time.

Top Ten Highest Scoring NHL Russian Players of All-Time.

Keep Your Stick on the Ice.

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