Igor Larionov

Igor Nikolayevich Larionov (in Russian: Игорь Николаевич Ларионов) (also known as The Professor) (born on December 3, 1960 in Voskresensk) is a Russian retired professional center, a member of the Triple Gold Club and currently the head coach of the Russian National Junior Team. He was selected 214th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.

Club career
Larionov began his senior career with the Khimik Voskresensk of the Soviet Championship League.

The talented centre made himself famous in his home country and on the international stage as one of the members of the KLM Line he formed with Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov with the CSKA Moskva of the Soviet Championship League, where he played in 1981 - 1989, and the Soviet National Team, line that was, with the contribution of Viacheslav Fetisov, one of the main reason to explain the outrageous domination of the Soviet Team in the international competitions of the 1980s. In the 1987-88 season, he was also named the Soviet Union Player of the Year.

Along with Krutov, he joined the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL in 1989 and was, with Fetisov, the main reason why Russian players started coming in North America in increasing numbers from the beginning of the 1990s. This fight for his freedom to play where he wanted came at a price though; legendary coach Viktor Tikhonov banned him from the national team for that very reason. However, the pressure from Viacheslav Fetisov and his teammates eventually resulted in the ban being lifted. Larionov stayed with the Vancouver Canucks until the end of the 1991-92 season.

In the 1992-93 season played Larionov with the HC Lugano of the NLA.

In 1993 joined Larionov the San Jose Sharks of the NHL and spent there two seasons. He also began there the 1995-96 season, but after just 4 games played, he moved to the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. He finished there the season with 69 regular season games and 19 play-off games played.

Larionov then continued with the Detroit Red Wings until the end of the 1999-00 season. In the 1996-97 and 1997-98 season became Larionov the NHL Stanley Cup champion and also became a member of the Triple Gold Club.

Larionov began the 2000-01 season with the Florida Panthers of the NHL. He played there 26 games before he returned to the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. He there the season with 39 regular season games and 6 play-off games played. Larionov then spent next two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL and won the Stanley Cup again in the 2001-02 season.

In the 2003-04 season played Larionov with the New Jersey Devils of the NHL.

In the 2004-05 season Larionov did not play. Then he finished his career with the Brunflo IK of the Division 1 in the 2005-06 season.

International career
He played with the Soviet National Team at the 1978 European U18 Championship (winning there silver), 1979 and 1980 World Junior Championship s (winning gold at both tournaments and being selected into the tournament's all-star team in 1980), 1981, 1984 and 1987 Canada Cup s (becoming the champion in 1981 and the runner-up in 1987), 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1989 World Championship s (winning gold in 1982, 1983, 1986 and 1989, silver in 1987 and bronze in 1985 and being selected into the tournament's all-star team in 1983 and 1986) and at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics (winning gold at both tournaments and being the player who recorded most assists (9) at the 1988 tournament).

Then he participated with the Russian National Team at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and at the 2002 Olympics (winning there bronze as the captain).

As a coach, he represented Russia at the 2020 and 2021 World Junior Championship s (winning silver in 2020).