Ilya Bryzgalov

Full name: Ilya Nikolaevich Bryzgalov
Team: Edmonton Oilers
Number: 80
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6’3”/191 cm
Weight: 213 lbs/96 kg
Catches: Left
Born: June 6, 1980 in Togliatti, RUS
Drafted: Selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 2nd round (44th overall) of the 2000 Entry Draft

Strengths: Ilya has developed into an elite NHL goaltender. He uses his size well, performs best when constantly faced with a high volume of shots, and has an unpredictable style of play that fools shooters.

Weaknesses: Ilya can be prone to letting his guard down when not under pressure and can go through long stretches of average play. His playoff game has been inconsistent in recent years.

Biography: Ilya Bryzgalov was born in Togliatti – a car-manufacturing town on the Volga that also raised Alexei Kovalev and Viktor Kozlov, among other hockey stars. As a youth, Bryzgalov worked his way up the farm system of the Lada hockey club. Once he made the main team, he put up excellent numbers, earning the attention of NHL scouts. After being drafted by the Mighty Ducks, Ilya played one more year in the Russian Superleague and afterwards made the jump to North America. Bryzgalov was not high on the Mighty Ducks’ depth chart though, and he had to toil for four years in the American Hockey League for the Ducks’ farm club before becoming a permanent NHLer. When given the chance to start games, Bryzgalov took the opportunity and often played better than Anaheim’s #1 goalie, J.S. Giguere. In 2006 Bryzgalov was crucial to the Ducks’ Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Early in the playoffs, he overtook Giguere as the starting goalie and helped the Ducks win the first three playoff rounds. In the process, Ilya recorded the second-longest shutout streak in NHL playoff history (249 minutes without letting in a goal). Due to a crowded goaltender situation in 2007, Ducks General Manager Brian Burke put Bryzgalov on waivers to give him the opportunity to be a full-time starter. The bottom-dwelling Phoenix Coyotes picked up Bryzgalov, beginning the team’s climb back to respectability. The 2009-10 season was monumental for both Ilya and the Coyotes, as the team set a franchise record for wins (50) and points (107), while Ilya set career highs in all statistical categories and was consequently nominated for the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender, as well as being named on the NHL’s Second All-Star Team. Despite another impressive season with the Coyotes, Bryz was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and signed a contract through 2020. Ilya’s first season in such a passionate hockey city was timultuous. Not only did his colourful personality become nationally famous thanks to the HBO’s NHL 24/7 television series, but Ilya’s on-ice performances ranged from abysmal to heroic. After a rough first half of the season, Bryzgalov had an excellent February and March which saw him set the franchise record for longest consecutive shutout streak of 3 games. Then in the playoffs, Ilya’s average play was not enough to help the Flyers make it past the second round. For the duration of the 2012 NHL lockout, Bryzgalov signed with CSKA Moscow in Russia. In 2013, he signed with the Edmonton Oilers. Bryzgalov has extensive experience playing for Russia in international tournaments. He backstopped Russia to a silver medal at the 2000 World Junior Championship. That same year, he was on the disastrous team that finished 11th at the World Championship held in Russia. Ilya won the Olympic bronze medal as Russia’s third goalie in 2002. He was Russia’s starter at the 2004 World Cup and also played at the 2006 Olympics (where one poor game by Ilya was enough to be benched for the rest of the tournament by coach Vladimir Krikunov), the 2009 World Championship (where Bryz won all his games including the gold-medal final against Canada), and the 2010 Olympics (which Bryz began as a back-up to Evgeni Nabokov, but ended up outplaying him in the quarterfinal loss to Canada). Ilya is also one of the most candid personalities in the NHL, especially in interviews with the media, such as this infamous one.

Club Stats:

Season	Team	GP	W	L	T	OL	GAA	Save %	SO
1996-97	Lada-2 Togliatti (RHL-3)	5
1997-98	Lada-2 Togliatti (RHL-3)	8					3.50
1998-99	Lada-2 Togliatti (RHL-4)	20					2.15
1999-00	Spartak Moscow (RHL-2)	9					2.52
1999-00	Lada-2 Togliatti (RHL-3)	2
1999-00	Lada Togliatti	14					1.36		3
2000-01	Lada Togliatti	34					1.84		8
2001-02	Anaheim	1	0	0	0		1.87	91.7	0
2001-02	Cincinnati (AHL)	45	20	16	4		2.48	91.6	4
2002-03	Cincinnati (AHL)	54	12	26	9		2.82	91.0	1
2003-04	Anaheim	1	1	0	0		2.00	92.9	0
2003-04	Cincinnati (AHL)	64	27	25	10		2.32	91.9	6
2004-05	Cincinnati (AHL)	36	17	13	1		2.60	90.2	4
2005-06	Anaheim	31	13	12		1	2.51	91.0	1
2006-07	Anaheim	27	10	8		6	2.47	90.7	1
2007-08	Anaheim/Phoenix	64	28	25		6	2.44	92.0	3
2008-09	Phoenix	65	26	31		6	2.98	90.6	3
2009-10	Phoenix	69	42	20		6	2.29	92.0	8
2010-11	Phoenix	68	36	20		10	2.48	92.1	7
2011-12	Philadelphia	59	33	16		7	2.48	90.9	6
2012-13	CSKA Moscow	12	6	5		0	2.13	91.3	0
2012-13	Philadelphia	40	19	17		3	2.79	90.0	1
Totals	RHL/KHL Reg. Season	60					1.79		11
Totals	RHL Playoffs	12					1.65		1
Totals	NHL Reg. Season	425	208	149	0	45	2.55	91.3	30
Totals	NHL Playoffs	38	17	19			2.81	90.8	3

National Team Stats:

Year	Tournament	GP	W	L	T	GAA	SO
2000	World U20	4				0.77	1
2000	World Championship	5	1	3	0	2.75	0
2002	Olympic Games	0
2004	World Cup	3	2	1	0	2.34	0
2006	Olympic Games	1	0	1	0	5.00	0
2009	World Championship	7	7	0		2.08	1
2010	Olympic Games	2	0	1	0	1.78	0
2013	World Championship	4	3	1		2.20	1
Totals	U20 Level	4				0.77	1
Totals	Senior Level	22	13	8	0	2.39	2

Photo Gallery:

Bryz-the-Duck catches the puck

2006 Stanley Cup winner

Making a save for Russia at the 2009 World Championship

Ilya at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver

Bryzgalov is the Phoenix Coyotes’ most valuable player

Bryzgalov makes a save against the Penguins in the 2012 playoffs

Bryz looks for the puck in Philadelphia

Ilya playing for CSKA Moscow in 2012

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Sergei Zubov

Full name: Sergei Aleksandrovich Zubov
Last team: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
Number: 56
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6’1″/185 cm
Weight: 198 lbs/90 kg
Shoots: Right
Born: July 22, 1970 in Moscow, RUS
Drafted: Selected by the New York Rangers in the 5th round (85th overall) of the 1990 Entry Draft

Strengths: Zubov was a talented blueliner and one of the best powerplay specialists in the sport. He had outstanding vision and was a prototypical Russian defenseman – controlled, precise, and patient.

Weaknesses: He occasionally made mistakes in the defensive zone and did not play a very physical game. His speed declined in his last few seasons.

Biography: Born in Moscow, Sergei Zubov began his career in his hometown with the legendary Red Army team under the control of coach Viktor Tikhonov. Although Zubov was often in disagreement with his coach, his list of accomplishments was sizeable before he even joined the NHL. Besides winning the gold and silver medals at the world junior championships (1989 and 1990), Zubov became an Olympic champion in 1992. Zubov continued his career with a short stint in the American Hockey League before joining the rising New York Rangers. In his second NHL season he led his team in scoring with 89 points, making him the second most productive defenseman in the league that year. In 1994, Sergei became one of the first Russians to win the Stanley Cup. Zubov had another point-per-game season with the Pittsburgh Penguins two years later, but it was not enough to be kept on the team, and he was “stolen” by the Dallas Stars. Luck seemed to follow Sergei, and upon his arrival to Dallas, the then-average Stars became a contender. In the Stanley Cup-clinching game of the 1999 playoffs, Zubov played almost an hour of hockey and won the NHL championship for the second time in his career. Zubov has been a remarkably stable player in the NHL: he was the only active defenseman to post eleven consecutive 30-assist and 40-point seasons. In 1994, 1999, and 2000 he played in the NHL All-Star Game. At the age of 35, Zubov had his second-best season ever, justifying his place on that year’s NHL Second All-Star Team. Off the ice, Sergei’s passion is technology – he tries to learn all the latest high-tech gadgets. Zubov is a U.S. citizen and last played for Russia in a major international tournament the 1996 World Cup. A hip injury at the end of 2008 cut short his NHL career and in the next summer Zubov decided to continue his career in Russia, signing with SKA St. Petersburg. On his new team, Zubov excelled and was the KHL’s highest-scoring defenseman in 2009-10. Sergei also joined Team Russia for a couple of EuroTour games. A hip injury then forced Zubov to miss the entire 2010-11 season and in April 2011 he announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Club Stats:

Season	Team	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
1988-89	CSKA Moscow	29	1	4	5		2
1989-90	CSKA Moscow	48	6	2	8		16
1990-91	CSKA Moscow	41	6	5	11		12
1991-92	CSKA Moscow	44	4	7	11		8
1992-93	CSKA Moscow	1	0	1	1		0
1992-93	Binghampton (AHL)	30	7	29	36		14
1992-93	NY Rangers	49	8	23	31	-1	4
1993-94	Binghampton (AHL)	2	1	2	3		0
1993-94	NY Rangers	78	12	77	89	+20	39
1994-95	NY Rangers	38	10	26	36	-2	18
1995-96	Pittsburgh	64	11	55	66	+28	22
1996-97	Dallas	78	13	30	43	+19	24
1997-98	Dallas	73	10	47	57	+16	16
1998-99	Dallas	81	10	41	51	+9	20
1999-00	Dallas	77	9	33	42	-2	18
2000-01	Dallas	79	10	41	51	+22	24
2001-02	Dallas	80	12	32	44	-4	22
2002-03	Dallas	82	11	44	55	+21	26
2003-04	Dallas	77	7	35	42	0	20
2005-06	Dallas	78	13	58	71	+20	46
2006-07	Dallas	78	12	42	54	0	26
2007-08	Dallas	46	4	31	35	+6	12
2008-09	Dallas	10	0	4	4	-4	0
2009-10	SKA St. Petersburg	53	10	32	42	+8	32
Totals	USSR/KHL League	216	27	51	78	+8	78
Totals	KHL Playoffs	4	0	2	2	0	0
Totals	NHL Reg. Season	1068	152	619	771	+148	337
Totals	NHL Playoffs	164	24	93	117	+28	62

National Team Stats:

Year	Tournament	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1988	European U18	6	0	2	2	2
1989	World U20	7	0	5	5	4
1990	World U20	7	1	3	4	14
1992	Olympic Games	8	0	1	1	0
1996	World Cup	4	1	1	2	0
Totals	U18 Level	6	0	2	2	2
Totals	U20 Level	14	1	8	9	18
Totals	Senior Level	12	1	2	3	0

Photo Gallery:

Zubov began his NHL career in New York

Sergei’s presence on the Stars made the team a perennial contender

Zubov’s second Stanley Cup win

The 1996 World Cup was the last time Sergei played for Russia

Zubov now plays on the star-studded SKA team

Alexei Yashin

Full name: Alexei Valerievich Yashin
Last Team: CSKA Moscow (KHL)
Number: 19
Position: Center
Height: 6’3″/190 cm
Weight: 217 lbs/99 kg
Shoots: Right
Born: November 5, 1973 in Ekaterinburg, RUS
Drafted: Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 1st round (2nd overall) of the 1992 Entry Draft

Strengths: Yashin was a leader on the ice, patiently orchestrating attacks on the opponent’s net. He had great puck handling skills and in his prime had one of the most dangerous shots in the NHL. At his peak, he was an elite, game-breaking talent.

Weaknesses: Throughout his NHL career, Yashin gained a reputation as an under-achiever, largely because of his hefty contract with the Islanders. Yashin drew criticism for his lack of commitment to the defensive game.

Biography: While growing up in the Urals, Alexei Yashin played hockey for fun with his friend Nikolai Khabibulin. Obviously, Alexei was the shooter and Nikolai was the goalie. Alexei had such a wicked shot that he nearly tore down Khabibulin’s apartment! Yashin’s career began with Avtomobilist Sverdlovsk. In 1991, he was promoted to Dynamo Moscow and impressed many hockey scouts. He was the unexpected second overall pick in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. When he joined the Ottawa Senators, he quickly became a star. Having had an excellent rookie season, Alexei was compared to Mario Lemieux. After a couple of average seasons, Alexei broke through in the 1998-99 with 94 points. He was the runner for the NHL’s Hart Trophy (most valuable player). This was followed by a major contract dispute with the Senators. Yashin had to sit out the 1999-00 season and lost his status as a fan favourite player in Ottawa. The next year Alexei returned with another great season despite being paid much less. Still, fans booed him. Yashin was traded in 2001 to the last-place New York Islanders. He signed a record conract worth $90 million. Alexei was a key reason for the Islanders’ improvement, which included playoff appearances in three consecutive years. When invited, Alexei always plays for Russia at international tournaments, where he has won two Olympic medals (silver in 1998 and bronze in 2002). Yashin also played in the World Cups of 1996 and 2004 and in numerous  World Championships (including in 1993, when Russia won gold). He has also appeared in four NHL All-Star Games. During the NHL lockout, almost no European team could handle the insurance required for Yashin’s NHL contract. Eventually, he joined Lokomotiv in Yaroslavl and had 10 points in 9 playoff games. Alexei played for two more seasons on Long Island before the Islanders bought out the remainder of his contract. As a free agent, Yashin returned to Lokomotiv in 2007 and helped lead the team to the playoff final for two straight years. With the creation of the Kontinental Hockey League, Yashin became one of the league’s top attractions and captained the Russian team in the KHL All-Star Game. In 2009, Alexei signed with SKA St. Petersburg, where he had one excellent point-per-game season followed by a mediocre season. In 2011, Yashin came close to returning to the New York Islanders, but ultimately signed with CSKA Moscow. After one season with the Red Army club, Yashin has currently yet to find a team to continue playing hockey for.

Club Stats:

Season	Team	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
1990-91	Avtomobilist Sverdlovsk	26	2	1	3		10
1991-92	Dynamo Moscow	35	7	5	12		19
1992-93	Dynamo Moscow	27	10	12	22		18
1993-94	Ottawa	83	30	49	79	-49	22
1994-95	Las Vegas (IHL)	24	15	20	35		32
1994-95	Ottawa	47	21	23	44	-20	20
1995-96	CSKA Moscow	4	2	2	4		4
1995-96	Ottawa	46	15	24	39	-15	28
1996-97	Ottawa	82	35	40	75	-7	44
1997-98	Ottawa	82	33	39	72	+6	24
1998-99	Ottawa	82	44	50	94	+16	54
2000-01	Ottawa	82	40	48	88	+10	30
2001-02	NY Islanders	78	32	43	75	-3	25
2002-03	NY Islanders	81	26	39	65	-12	32
2003-04	NY Islanders	47	15	19	34	-1	10
2004-05	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	10	3	3	6	+4	14
2005-06	NY Islanders	82	28	38	66	-14	68
2006-07	NY Islanders	58	18	32	50	+6	44
2007-08	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	56	16	27	43		63
2008-09	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	56	21	26	47	+10	30
2009-10	SKA St. Petersburg	56	18	46	64	+21	38
2010-11	SKA St. Petersburg	52	15	18	33	+4	50
2011-12	CSKA Moscow	43	9	11	20	0	18
Totals	USSR/RHL/KHL Reg. Season	365	103	151	254		264
Totals	RHL/KHL Playoffs	65	29	32	61		54
Totals	NHL Reg. Season	850	337	444	781	-83	401
Totals	NHL Playoffs	48	11	16	27	-16	24

National Team Stats:

Year	Tournament	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1991	European U18	5	1	3	4	2
1992	World U20	7	4	2	6	2
1993	World U20	3	1	0	1	4
1993	World Championship	8	2	1	3	5
1994	World Championship	5	1	2	3	8
1996	World Championship	8	4	5	9	4
1996	World Cup	5	0	2	2	6
1997	World Championship	5	3	0	3	12
1998	Olympic Games	6	3	3	6	0
1999	World Championship	6	8	1	9	6
2000	World Championship	5	1	1	2	8
2001	World Championship	7	2	3	5	6
2002	Olympic Games	6	1	1	2	0
2004	World Championship	6	1	2	3	2
2004	World Cup	4	1	2	3	4
2005	World Championship	9	2	1	3	8
2006	Olympic Games	8	1	3	4	4
Totals	U18 Level	5	1	3	4	2
Totals	U20 Level	10	5	2	7	6
Totals	Senior Level	88	30	27	57	73

Photo Gallery:

Yashin at the 1998 Olympics

Yashin had his most productive seasons in Ottawa

Yashin vs. the New Jersey Devils

A rare Yashin fight

Yashin is always dangerous in front of the net

With Yashin, Lokomotiv reached the final two times

Alexei played two seasons in St. Petersburg

Yashin most recently played for CSKA Moscow