Andrei Skopintsev

Andrei Borisovich Skopintsev (born September 28, 1971 in Moscow, U.S.S.R.) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for MVD Balashikha of the KHL.

Skopintsev began his career with Elektrostal Kristall before moving to Krylja Sovetov, where he spent six seasons. In 1995, he moved to Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga where he spent one season with the Augsburger Panther. There, he pulled out his best scoring numbers of his career. Despite his reputation as a stay-at-home defenceman, Skopintsev scored 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points in 46 games.

He moved on to Finland's SM-liiga in 1996 and played for TPS Turku for two seasons. During that time, Skopintsev was drafted 153th overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In spite of his strong reputation he built in Europe, Skopintsev never managed to emulate his performances, bouncing between the NHL and the International Hockey League. He played for the Tampa Bay Lightning and then the Atlanta Thrashers, playing 40 regular season games, scoring 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points, collecting 32 penalty minutes. After three mediocre season in the American league, Skopintsev returned in Russia in 2001 and spent five seasons with HC Dynamo Moscow and in 2006 he signed with Vityaz Chekhov.