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\u2019s foremost league.<\/p>\n
Russians didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
Vladislav Tretiak<\/a>, 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. <\/p>\n Other notable Russians to never play in the NHL include Anatoly Firsov, Valery Kharlamov and Vsevolod Bobrov.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cNorth American\u201d game. Alexander Mogilny was one of the first Russians to come to play in the NHL, and if you don\u2019t know his story, it\u2019s worth researching. He’s the only Russian to score 70 goals in a season in the NHL.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n