Russians have had quite the impact on the game of hockey worldwide over time. There are many facets to that influence, including great players in the Olympic arena, generational players that did not play in the NHL or did so for a very short time and players who made major impacts in the world’s foremost league.
Russians didn’t break into the NHL until the 1982-83 season when Victor Nechayev played three games for the Kings that season. Unfortunately, many players were unable to make it into the NHL for various reasons, as the Iron Curtain ruled the Soviet Union until its breakup in 1991.
Vladislav Tretiak, some say the greatest goaltender of all time, led the Red Army team to many victories including ten world championship victories and three Olympic Gold Medals. Tretiak was drafted by Montreal in 1983 but never played a game in the NHL.
Other notable Russians to never play in the NHL include Anatoly Firsov, Valery Kharlamov and Vsevolod Bobrov.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the proverbial flood gates opened, and many of the stars we all know made their impacts on the “North American” game. Alexander Mogilny was one of the first Russians to come to play in the NHL, and if you don’t know his story, it’s worth researching. He's the only Russian to score 70 goals in a season in the NHL.
Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Nemchinov and others were the first Russians to have their name engraved on the Stanley Cup when the Rangers won in 1994.
A recently published article by the Hockey Writers highlighted the top 50 NHL Russians of all time, and three members of the Nordiques/Avalanche organization made the cut. Let's take a look.
Top Russian players to suit up for Colorado Avalanche franchise
Andrei Kovalenko
Coming in at #44 on the list was former Nordique/Avalanche Andrei Kovalenko. Wearing his famous #51, Kovalenko played 210 games across four seasons with the franchise, scoring 27 goals as a rookie. He accounted for one hat trick as a member of the Nordiques and had a regular season penalty shot goal as well. His most important impact on the team was leaving it- he was part of the return package when Colorado obtained goaltender Patrick Roy from Montreal in 1995-96. Colorado went on to win the Stanley Cup that season, and Kovalenko played another five seasons in the NHL.
Alexei Gusarov
36th on the list is former Nordique/Avalanche defenseman Alexei Gusarov. Hailing from Leningrad, Russia, Gusarov was drafted in the 11th round in the 1988 draft but didn’t appear in a game for the team until the 1990-91 season.
Gusarov was a quality, tough player for the team, earning ten or more assists seven times as a member of the team, and scoring five or more goals four times.
Gusarov was a winner, as he and Valeri Kamensky were the first Russians to win the triple gold – world championship, Olympic gold, and Stanley Cup- and he won his Cup with Colorado in the 1996 season.
Valeri Kamensky
The final member of the organization on this list was a player just mentioned- Valeri Kamensky. Also drafted by Quebec in 1988, Kamensky did not play his first game in the NHL until the 1991-92 season.
Kamensky was a quality offensive player for the team, scoring a career high of 38 goals in the 1995-96 season. That season culminated in the team lifting the Stanley Cup, the franchise’s first and Kamensky’s first as well.
Kamensky scored more than 20 goals four times for the franchise and had 20 or more assists seven different times during his tenure.
There’s no doubt Russians have made their mark in the hockey world, especially since their influx into the league (regularly) over the last 35 years. The top goal scorer of all-time is Russian. The record everyone thought would never be broken is now held by Alexander Ovechkin. The Avalanche currently have three Russians on their roster, including Valeri Nichushkin and hope that Val can have the impact many prior Russians have had to help the team win.