Vladimir Konstantinov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vladimir Konstantinov |
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| Born | March 19, 1967 Murmansk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defense | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shot | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | CSKA Moscow Detroit Red Wings |
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| National team |  Soviet Union |
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| NHL Draft | 221st overall, 1989 Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1984–1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Vladimir Nikolaevich Konstantinov (Russian: Владимир Николаевич Константинов; born March 19, 1967) is a former professional ice hockey player from Russia. He played his entire National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Detroit Red Wings from 1991 to 1997. Before that, he played for the Soviet club CSKA Moscow. His amazing career ended suddenly because of a car crash just six days after the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997.
Contents
Playing Career
Joining the NHL
The Detroit Red Wings chose Konstantinov in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He was picked 221st overall. A scout from the Red Wings was very impressed by him at the 1987 World Junior Championships. During that tournament, a big fight happened in a game between the Soviet Union and Canada.
Even though the Cold War was ending, Soviet players were not allowed to leave their country easily. They couldn't go play in the NHL. The Red Wings worked for more than two years to bring Konstantinov to Detroit. He had signed a long contract with the army, which made it hard for him to leave. He also wanted to bring his wife and daughter with him.
A Russian journalist helped the Red Wings arrange for Konstantinov to leave the army. With money from the Red Wings, they helped him get a medical release. This allowed him to leave the military in the summer of 1991. The Red Wings planned to fly him and his family to Detroit. However, a political event in the Soviet Union closed the airports. So, Konstantinov and his family traveled by train to Budapest. A Red Wings executive met them there and flew Konstantinov to Detroit on a private jet. His wife and daughter followed a couple of days later.
Playing for the Red Wings
Konstantinov played hockey with a very strong and aggressive style. He was different from many other Russian players. He was known for making opponents focus on him instead of scoring goals. His teammates called him "Vladdie." Fans and media gave him nicknames like "Vladinator" and "Vlad the Impaler" because of his tough play. He was also called "the Red Shark."
Konstantinov was a key part of a special group of players called "The Russian Five." This group included him and fellow defenseman Slava Fetisov. The forwards were Igor Larionov, Sergei Fedorov, and Slava Kozlov.
In the 1995–96 season, Konstantinov won the NHL Plus/Minus Award. This award goes to the player who has the best plus/minus rating. His rating was +60, which was very high. It was the highest rating since Wayne Gretzky had a +70 in the 1986–87 season.
In the 1996–97 season, Konstantinov helped his team win the Stanley Cup. They beat the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers had a strong line of players called the "Legion of Doom." Many expected Konstantinov to play against them. But the Red Wings coach, Scotty Bowman, used other defensemen to stop them. That same year, Konstantinov was almost named the NHL's best defenseman. He was runner-up for the James Norris Memorial Trophy. Sadly, the 1996–97 season would be his last.
The Limousine Accident
On June 13, 1997, just after winning the Stanley Cup, Konstantinov and his teammate Viacheslav Fetisov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov were in a limousine. They were heading home after a golf outing. The limousine crashed.
Because of the crash, Konstantinov suffered very serious head injuries. He was also paralyzed and spent several weeks in a coma. Fetisov had minor injuries and was able to play hockey again. Mnatsakanov also had serious head injuries and a difficult recovery.
After the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup again in 1998, Konstantinov was brought onto the ice. He was in a wheelchair, surrounded by his teammates, to celebrate. During those playoffs, the Red Wings' motto was "Believe." In the 1997–98 season, the team wore a special patch. It had the initials of Konstantinov and Mnatsakanov. The word "Believe" was written on it in both English and Russian.
Even though Konstantinov could never play hockey again, the Detroit Red Wings still considered him part of their team. The NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, gave special permission for Konstantinov's name to be engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1998.
Life After Hockey
The Red Wings have not officially retired Konstantinov's jersey number 16. However, out of respect for him, no player has worn that number since his accident. Other players who usually wore number 16 on other teams chose different numbers when they joined the Red Wings.
The Red Wings even kept his locker ready for him during the 1997-98 season. A rock with the word "Believe" sat in his spot.
Konstantinov's health has gotten much better since the accident. He still has some trouble speaking and walking. But he often attends Red Wings games in Detroit, watching from a special box. His wife, Irina, has shared that his brain injuries affect how he feels about things. She said he sees things very factually.
Konstantinov has returned to the ice for special events. He used a walker for Steve Yzerman's jersey retirement ceremony in 2007. He also joined a rare reunion of "The Russian Five" at the 2014 NHL Winter Classic. He was also there for the retirement of Nicklas Lidström's number in 2014. In 2016, he celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 1997 Stanley Cup team. He was also present for the final game at Joe Louis Arena.
Playing for His Country
Konstantinov played in six international tournaments for the Soviet Union. These included:
- 1986 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- 1986 World Ice Hockey Championships
- 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- 1989 World Ice Hockey Championships
- 1990 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
- 1991 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
During the 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, a big fight happened. It was between Canada and the Soviet Union in the final game. This fight is known as the Punch-up in Piestany. Officials even turned off the arena lights to try and stop the fight. Both teams were removed from the tournament because of the brawl.
Personal Life
Konstantinov lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan. His wife, Irina, now lives in Florida with their daughter, Anastasia Konstantinova.
Career Statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
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| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1984–85 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 40 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 26 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 35 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 50 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 37 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 47 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | CSKA Moscow | USSR | 45 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 79 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 172 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | ||
| 1992–93 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 82 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 137 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 1993–94 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 80 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 138 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 1994–95 | ESC Wedemark | GER-2 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 47 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 101 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 | ||
| 1995–96 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 81 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 139 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 28 | ||
| 1996–97 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 77 | 5 | 33 | 38 | 151 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 29 | ||
| USSR totals | 280 | 36 | 48 | 84 | 179 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 446 | 47 | 127 | 174 | 838 | 82 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 107 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
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| 1985 | Soviet Union | EJC | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | |
| 1986 | Soviet Union | WJC | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | |
| 1986 | Soviet Union | WC | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| 1987 | Soviet Union | WJC | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | |
| 1989 | Soviet Union | WC | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
| 1990 | Soviet Union | WC | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 | |
| 1991 | Soviet Union | WC | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 37 | |
| Junior totals | 18 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 20 | |||
| Senior totals | 38 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 59 | |||
Awards and Achievements
- NHL All-Rookie Team – 1992
- NHL Second All-Star Team – 1996
- NHL Plus/Minus Award – 1996 (+60)
- Two-time Stanley Cup champion: 1997, 1998 Detroit Red Wings
