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Sergei Gonchar
Sergei Gonchar 2018-03-02 19266.jpg
Gonchar in March 2018
Born (1974-04-13) 13 April 1974 (age 51)
Chelyabinsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Traktor Chelyabinsk
Dynamo Moscow
Washington Capitals
Lada Togliatti
Boston Bruins
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Pittsburgh Penguins
Ottawa Senators
Dallas Stars
Montreal Canadiens
National team Flag of Russia.svg Russia
NHL Draft 14th overall, 1992
Washington Capitals
Playing career 1991–2015

Sergei Viktorovich Gonchar (Russian: Серге́й Ви́кторович Гонча́р; born 13 April 1974) is a former professional ice hockey player from Russia. He played as a defenceman for many teams in the NHL from 1995 to 2015. Sergei is famous for winning the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. After his playing career, he became a coach. Currently, he works as a Defensive Development Coach for the Vancouver Canucks.

Sergei Gonchar's Hockey Journey

Starting in Russia

Sergei Gonchar began his professional hockey career in 1991. He played for Traktor Chelyabinsk in Russia. Later, he also played two seasons for Dynamo Moscow.

Joining the NHL: Washington Capitals

In 1992, the Washington Capitals picked Sergei in the first round of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 14th player chosen overall. He started playing in North America in 1994 with the Portland Pirates, a team connected to the Capitals.

Sergei made his first NHL appearance with the Capitals on February 7, 1995. In his first full season, he scored 41 points. This showed everyone he was a strong offensive defenceman.

Making History as a Defenceman

Sergei Gonchar set some cool records. In the 1998–99 season, he became the first Russian defenceman to score more than 20 goals in a single season. The next year, he scored over 50 points for the first time. He was even considered one of the best defencemen in the NHL, finishing fifth in the voting for the James Norris Memorial Trophy.

He continued to have strong seasons, scoring 57 and 67 points in different years. Because of his great play, he was named to the second All-Star team twice.

SGonchar
Gonchar playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins

In 2004, after playing ten seasons with the Capitals, Sergei was traded to the Boston Bruins. He finished that season leading all NHL defencemen in points. Between 2000 and 2004, Sergei scored more points than any other defenceman in the league.

Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Sergei went back to Russia. He played for Metallurg Magnitogorsk with future Penguins teammates Petr Sýkora and Evgeni Malkin. After the lockout, Sergei signed a five-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005.

In his second season with Pittsburgh, he tied his career high with 67 points. Sergei also helped rookie Evgeni Malkin when he first came to the U.S. from Russia.

In the 2007–08 season, Sergei helped lead the Penguins to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. This was the team's first trip to the finals since 1992. He had 65 points in the regular season and 14 points in the playoffs. Even though they lost to the Detroit Red Wings, Sergei was still recognized as one of the best defencemen.

Sergei Gonchar 2013-05-24
Gonchar with the Ottawa Senators in May 2013

Sergei faced some tough injuries. In 2008, he dislocated his shoulder and missed many months. He came back in February 2009 and helped the Penguins make the playoffs. Later, he had a serious knee injury during the playoffs. Even with a partially torn knee ligament, he kept playing! Sergei and the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. They beat the Detroit Red Wings in an exciting seven-game series.

He continued to be a top player, even with injuries. In the 2009–10 season, he scored his 200th NHL goal. This made him the first Russian defenceman to ever reach that milestone.

Sergei Gonchar (15115613128) (cropped)
Gonchar signing autographs in Dallas in 2014

From 2000 to 2010, Sergei Gonchar scored 500 points. This was the second-highest among all NHL defencemen during that time. He also led the league in goals scored by a defenceman in that period.

Later NHL Teams

On July 1, 2010, Sergei signed a contract with the Ottawa Senators. During another NHL lockout in 2012–13, he played in Russia again for Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He was later traded to the Dallas Stars in 2013 and then to the Montreal Canadiens in 2014.

In 2015, the Canadiens announced that Sergei would not return. He tried out for the Pittsburgh Penguins again but was not signed. This marked the end of his amazing playing career.

Sergei Gonchar and Jacques Martin 2017-06-11 1
Gonchar and fellow Penguins assistant coach Jacques Martin celebrating a Stanley Cup win in 2017

Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, Sergei Gonchar became a coach. In October 2015, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as a development coach. He helped the Penguins win two more Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017! Because of his success, he was promoted to a full-time assistant coach in 2017.

In August 2020, his contract with the Penguins ended. Then, in January 2023, the Vancouver Canucks hired Sergei Gonchar as a Defensive Development Coach. The Canucks were excited to add him to their team, saying he brings "championship pedigree" and lots of experience as an NHL defenceman.

Awards and Achievements

Sergei Gonchar has achieved many great things in his hockey career:

  • Led NHL defencemen in goals during the 1997-1998 NHL Playoffs (7 goals).
  • Led NHL defencemen in goals (26) and points (59) in 2001-2002.
  • Led NHL defencemen in goals (18) in 2002-2003.
  • Led NHL defencemen in assists (47) and points (58) in 2003-2004.
  • Led NHL defencemen in assists (54) in 2006-2007.
  • Played in the NHL All-Star Game five times: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2008.
  • Named to the NHL second All-Star team in 2002 and 2003.
  • Won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a player in 2009.
  • Won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a development coach in 2016 and 2017.

International Play

Medal record
Representing Russia Russia
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Games
Silver 1998 Nagano
Bronze 2002 Salt Lake City
World Championships
Silver 2010 Germany
Bronze 2007 Russia

Sergei Gonchar proudly represented Russia in many international tournaments. He won two Olympic medals: a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

He also played in the 1993 World Junior Championship, two World Cups, and three World Championships.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1990–91 Mechel Chelyabinsk USSR-2 2 0 0 0 0
1991–92 Traktor Chelyabinsk CIS 31 1 0 1 6
1991–92 Mechel Chelyabinsk CIS-2 2 0 0 0 2
1992–93 Dynamo Moscow IHL 31 1 3 4 70 10 0 0 0 12
1992–93 Dynamo–2 Moscow RUS-2 3 2 0 2 4
1993–94 Dynamo Moscow IHL 44 4 5 9 36 10 0 3 3 14
1993–94 Portland Pirates AHL 2 0 0 0 0
1994–95 Portland Pirates AHL 61 10 32 42 67
1994–95 Washington Capitals NHL 31 2 5 7 22 7 2 2 4 2
1995–96 Washington Capitals NHL 78 15 26 41 60 6 2 4 6 4
1996–97 Washington Capitals NHL 57 13 17 30 36
1997–98 Lada Togliatti RSL 7 3 2 5 4
1997–98 Washington Capitals NHL 72 5 16 21 66 21 7 4 11 30
1998–99 Washington Capitals NHL 53 21 10 31 57
1999–00 Washington Capitals NHL 73 18 36 54 52 5 1 0 1 6
2000–01 Washington Capitals NHL 76 19 38 57 70 6 1 3 4 2
2001–02 Washington Capitals NHL 76 26 33 59 58
2002–03 Washington Capitals NHL 82 18 49 67 52 6 0 5 5 4
2003–04 Washington Capitals NHL 56 7 42 49 44
2003–04 Boston Bruins NHL 15 4 5 9 12 7 1 4 5 4
2004–05 Metallurg Magnitogorsk RSL 40 2 17 19 57 4 1 1 2 6
2005–06 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 75 12 46 58 100
2006–07 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 13 54 67 72 5 1 3 4 2
2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 78 12 53 65 66 20 1 13 14 8
2008–09 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 25 6 13 19 26 22 3 11 14 12
2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 62 11 39 50 49 13 2 10 12 4
2010–11 Ottawa Senators NHL 67 7 20 27 20
2011–12 Ottawa Senators NHL 74 5 32 37 55 7 1 3 4 6
2012–13 Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHL 37 3 26 29 40
2012–13 Ottawa Senators NHL 45 3 24 27 26 10 0 6 6 14
2013–14 Dallas Stars NHL 76 2 20 22 20 6 0 0 0 4
2014–15 Dallas Stars NHL 3 0 1 1 2
2014–15 Montreal Canadiens NHL 45 1 12 13 16
NHL totals 1,301 220 591 811 981 141 22 68 90 102

International Play Statistics

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1992 Russia EJC 6 1 4 5 8
1993 Russia WJC 7 0 2 2 10
1996 Russia WCH 4 2 2 4 2
1998 Russia OLY 6 0 2 2 0
2000 Russia WC 6 1 0 1 2
2002 Russia OLY 6 0 0 0 2
2004 Russia WCH 4 1 2 3 6
2006 Russia OLY 8 0 2 2 8
2007 Russia WC 9 1 4 5 4
2010 Russia OLY 4 1 0 1 2
2010 Russia WC 5 0 4 4 0
Senior totals 52 6 16 22 26

See also

  • List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
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