Full name: Igor Nikolayevich Larionov
Original name: Игорь Николаевич Ларионов
Date of Birth
3 December 1960, Voskresensk, Moscow province, Soviet Union
Nickname
The Russian Wayne Gretzky
Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)
Affiliations: CSKA Moskva, Moskva (RUS) / Detroit Red Wings, Detroit (USA)
Country: Soviet Union, Russia
Sport: Ice Hockey
Today NHL fans get to see the greatest players in the world, including the Russians. We are in awe of the Sergei Federovs and Pavel Bures, and the fans and current players all it all to players like Igor Larionov.
Igor Larionov is only of the most highly skilled players we have ever seen. His best days were left behind in the old Soviet Union, but he still has excelled at the NHL level more so than any other of the veteran former Red Army teammates.
He battled and communist regime of the Soviet Union for the right to play pro hockey in North America. A member of the Central Red Army Team in Russia for eight seasons, Larionov centered the famous KLM line with Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov during the 1980s. He earned Soviet Player of the Year honours in 1987-88 and was named to five all-star teams with Central Red Army. He also starred in many international competitions with the Soviet National Team, including capturing gold medals at both the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 1983 World Championships.
But Larionov never wanted to play for the Red Army. He wanted to serve his mandatory 2 year term in the Army and return home and play with the local team in Voskresensk. Russian Hockey dictator Viktor Tikhonov wouldn't allow the skilled center to leave, and pulled his communist strings to force Larionov to stay against his will.
Larionov, along with Slava Fetisov, were particularly outspoken and wanted to be able to leave Russia as a reward for their years of service and persue a career in the National Hockey League. Eventually won Larionov won his battle and was allowed to play in the NHL.
He made his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks in 1989-90 and played three seasons. It was a period of adjustment both on the ice and off it, Larionov's obvious skill and puck sense captivated the league. Only Wayne Gretzky is in the same class when it comes to hockey sense, and puck creativity.
Although he never wanted to leave Vancouver, he refused to sign in 1991 because of the Russian interferance in negotiations. He wouldn't allow any transfer payments to be sent to the powers-that-be in his old country. He played that year in Switzerland before being acquired by the San Jose Sharks in the 1992 Waiver Draft.
Larionov soon found himself trade to Detroit where he was reunited with Slava Fetisov. Along with Sergei Federov, Slava Kozlov and Vladimir Konstantinov, the 36-year-old Larionov played a large role in helping the Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years in 1997. He had 12 goals and 42 assists in 64 games, and four goals and eight assists in 20 postseason contests.
"Igor was a very important part of our hockey club, a very important part of our winning the Stanley Cup last year. He's a very creative, playmaking center-ice man. Not only is he important on the ice, but as well (for) what he brings off the ice, in the dressing room."
In 440 career NHL games from 1989-97 with Vancouver, San Jose and Detroit, he has compiled 107 goals and 243 assists for 350 points.
There is little doubt that little Igor Larionov will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. And as good as he has been since joining Vancouver in 1989, its a shame we didn't get to see Igor Larionov in his prime.
Larionov is married to former figure skater Elena Batanova and has three children, Alyonka, Diana and Igor II. Currently, he is a professional wine merchant making wines under the labels "Hattrick" and "Triple Overtime" with wines from Australia and California.The family purchased a new home in the South Bay and spent most of the summer traveling in Northern California. Igor is from small Russian town of Voskresensk that has produced current NHLers Valeri Kamensky (Colorado), Valeri Zelepukin (New Jersey), Andrei Lomakin (Florida) and current Sharks prospect Alexander Cherbayev. Igor has worked hard to help better his native Russia by organizing the Russian Good Will Tour during the 1994-95 labor stoppage and raising funds for Russian youth hockey players who could not afford to play otherwise. Igor works at Stan Smyl's hockey school in the summer. Brother Eyvgeni is a scout with Dallas. Enjoys playing tennis and soccer and listening to the music of Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins and Rod Stewart.
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