Igor Larionov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Igor Larionov |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2008 | |||
Larionov in 2008
|
|||
| Born | 3 December 1960 Voskresensk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Khimik Voskresensk CSKA Moscow Vancouver Canucks Lugano San Jose Sharks Detroit Red Wings Florida Panthers New Jersey Devils |
||
| Current KHL coach | SKA Saint Petersburg | ||
| National team |  Soviet Union and Russia |
||
| NHL Draft | 214th overall, 1985 Vancouver Canucks |
||
| Playing career | 1977–2006 | ||
Igor Nikolayevich Larionov (born December 3, 1960) is a famous Russian ice hockey coach, sports agent, and former professional player. He was known as "the Professor" because of his smart play on the ice. Many people think he is one of the best hockey players ever.
Igor Larionov, along with another player named Viacheslav Fetisov, helped change the rules so that Soviet players could join the National Hockey League (NHL). He played as a centre from 1977 to 2006.
Larionov won the Stanley Cup three times with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, 1998, and 2002. He was part of Detroit's famous "Russian Five" team. In 2008, he was added to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame for his amazing career.
Contents
Playing Hockey: A Look Back
Starting in the Soviet League (1977–1989)
Igor Larionov began his hockey journey in the Soviet League with Khimik Voskresensk in 1977. He played a few games that first season. The next year, he joined the team full-time.
By the 1980–81 season, he was playing so well that he caught the eye of Viktor Tikhonov, the coach for CSKA Moscow and the Soviet national team. Larionov joined CSKA Moscow the next season.
The Famous KLM Line
At CSKA, Larionov became the top centre. He played with Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov. This trio was known as the "KLM Line" and was incredibly strong in both the Soviet League and international games.
Later, two defensemen, Viacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov, joined them. Together, these five players were called the "Green Unit" because they wore green jerseys during practice.
Larionov had a great first season with CSKA, scoring 53 points. He was even named the best player in the Soviet League in 1988.
Standing Up for Players' Freedom
Even with all his success, Larionov didn't like how strict the Soviet hockey system was. Players were often kept away from their families for many months. Larionov spoke out against this system.
He also wanted to play in the NHL. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 1985. When he talked about playing in North America, his coach tried to stop him from joining the national team. But other players, like Fetisov, helped him get back on the team. Larionov was a key player in helping Soviet hockey players gain the freedom to play in the NHL.
Playing in the NHL (1989–2004)
After years of wanting to play in North America, Larionov finally joined the Vancouver Canucks in 1989. Many other Soviet players, including his "Green Unit" teammates, also moved to the NHL around this time.
Larionov played three seasons for the Canucks. He got better each year as he learned the North American style of play. In the 1991–92 season, he helped a young Russian star, Pavel Bure, on the team.
Joining the Sharks and Red Wings
After his contract with the Canucks ended, Larionov played one year in Switzerland. Then, in 1993, he joined the San Jose Sharks. There, he played again with Sergei Makarov. They helped the Sharks improve a lot and even upset the strong Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs.
In 1995, Larionov was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. He became a key part of the "Russian Five" for the Red Wings. He and Fetisov were like older brothers to the other Russian players on the team, including Sergei Fedorov, Vyacheslav Kozlov, and Vladimir Konstantinov.
Larionov was a huge part of the Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup two years in a row, in 1997 and 1998. That summer, he and his Russian teammates made history by bringing the Stanley Cup to Russia for the very first time!
Later NHL Years and Retirement
In 2000, Larionov briefly played for the Florida Panthers, but he was soon traded back to the Detroit Red Wings. He helped the Red Wings win another Stanley Cup in 2002. In the final series, he scored the winning goal in a thrilling triple overtime game!
He played his last NHL season with the New Jersey Devils in 2003–04. He finished his playing career in 2006, playing two games for a Swedish team.
International Hockey Success
Igor Larionov had an amazing international career playing for the Soviet Union. He was the centre for the famous "KLM Line" with Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov. Along with defensemen Viacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov, they formed the "Green Unit."
Larionov won two gold medals at the Olympics for the Soviet Union (in 1984 and 1988). He also won a bronze medal for Russia at the 2002 Olympics.
At the World Championships, Larionov won four gold medals (1982, 1983, 1986, 1989), one silver, and one bronze. He was also a key player when the Soviet team won the 1981 Canada Cup.
Larionov is one of only six players in the world to have won an Olympic Gold, World Championship Gold, a Stanley Cup, a Canada/World Cup, and a World Junior Championship Gold. This is a very rare achievement!
In 2008, his international career was honored when he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.
Life After Playing Hockey
In 2008, Igor Larionov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was the sixth Russian-born player to receive this honor.
After retiring from playing, Larionov became the director of hockey operations for the Russian hockey club SKA Saint Petersburg in 2008. He also works as a player agent, helping other hockey players.
In 2011, he was chosen to be part of the Hall of Fame's selection committee. In 2020, Larionov became the head coach of the Russian junior team. He coached them at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. In 2022, he became the head coach for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL.
Personal Life
Igor Larionov is married to Elena Batanova, who was a figure skater. They have three children: Alyonka, Diana, and Igor Larionov II.
Besides hockey, Larionov is also a professional wine merchant. He makes wines under names like "Hattrick" and "Triple Overtime." The "Triple Overtime" wine name comes from his winning goal in the third overtime period of Game 3 in the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals.
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1977–78 | Khimik Voskresensk | USSR | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Khimik Voskresensk | USSR | 32 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Khimik Voskresensk | USSR | 42 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Khimik Voskresensk | USSR | 43 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 46 | 31 | 22 | 53 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 44 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 43 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 40 | 18 | 28 | 46 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 40 | 21 | 31 | 52 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 39 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 51 | 25 | 32 | 57 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 31 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 74 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 64 | 13 | 21 | 34 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1991–92 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 72 | 21 | 44 | 65 | 54 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 1992–93 | HC Lugano | NDA | 24 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 44 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 1993–94 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 60 | 18 | 38 | 56 | 40 | 14 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 10 | ||
| 1994–95 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 33 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 1995–96 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 69 | 21 | 50 | 71 | 34 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 6 | ||
| 1996–97 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 64 | 12 | 42 | 54 | 26 | 20 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 8 | ||
| 1997–98 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 69 | 8 | 39 | 47 | 40 | 22 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 12 | ||
| 1998–99 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 75 | 14 | 49 | 63 | 48 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1999–00 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 79 | 9 | 38 | 47 | 28 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2000–01 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 26 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 39 | 4 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 70 | 11 | 32 | 43 | 50 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | ||
| 2002–03 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 74 | 10 | 33 | 43 | 48 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 49 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | Brunflo IK | SWE-3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| USSR totals | 457 | 204 | 230 | 434 | 295 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 921 | 169 | 475 | 644 | 474 | 150 | 30 | 67 | 97 | 60 | ||||
International Play
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Soviet Union | WJC | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | |
| 1980 | Soviet Union | WJC | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | |
| 1981 | Soviet Union | CC | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 8 | |
| 1982 | Soviet Union | WC | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2 | |
| 1983 | Soviet Union | WC | 9 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 4 | |
| 1984 | Soviet Union | OLY | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1984 | Soviet Union | CC | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| 1985 | Soviet Union | WC | 10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | |
| 1986 | Soviet Union | WC | 10 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 4 | |
| 1987 | Soviet Union | WC | 10 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 2 | |
| 1987 | Soviet Union | CC | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| 1988 | Soviet Union | OLY | 8 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 4 | |
| 1989 | Soviet Union | WC | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | |
| 1996 | Russia | WCH | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2002 | Russia | OLY | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 10 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 | |||
| Senior totals | 103 | 36 | 51 | 87 | 67 | |||
Awards and Honors
- Soviet League champion – 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
- Stanley Cup champion – 1997, 1998, 2002
