Larionov, Igor Nikolaevich

Larionov was born in Voskresensk and has been playing hockey since childhood. At 17, he made his debut in the USSR Championship as part of the Sunday “ Chemist ”. After three seasons at Khimik, Larionov was transferred to CSKA , which, under the leadership of Viktor Tikhonov , has been the country's undisputed champion and base team club since the late 1970s.

In CSKA Larionov constantly played in a link with Sergei Makarov and Vladimir Krutov . Together with defenders Vyacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov, they formed the five Larionov , which in the 1980s was the basis of CSKA and the USSR national team . In total, in the championships of the USSR Larionov spent 457 matches and scored 204 goals.

Larionov became one of the first Soviet hockey players who left to play in the NHL in the late 1980s. Larionov obtained permission to leave after publishing the scandalous open letter to Viktor Tikhonov in Ogonyok . The first club of Larionov was the Vancouver Canucks , which back in 1985 drafted a hockey player. Larionov arrived in Vancouver with Krutov and, unlike the last one, who played in the NHL for only one year, adapted to life in North America and spent three productive seasons in Vancouver, twice with the team in the playoffs. In the 1991-92 season, Larionov’s partner in the link was young Pavel Bure , whom an experienced compatriot took custody of, helping to settle down abroad.

In 1992, Larionov left the United States. He explained his decision by the conflict with Sovintersport, which took away half of the earnings of the Russian Enkhaelists ^[1] . While relaxing in Switzerland visiting Andrei Khomutov , I received an invitation from the Swiss Lugano , which he soon accepted.

By the beginning of the 1993/94 season, Larionov returned to the NHL - in October 1992, the Canucks lost their rights to him, “ San Jose Sharks .” He signed a contract with the club according to the “2 + 1” scheme. In San Jose, Sergey Makarov became Larionov’s partner. A bunch of Soviet veterans allowed the outsider to reach the playoffs and beat the favorites from the Detroit Red Wings in the first round ^[2] .

At the beginning of the 1995-96 season, San Jose traded Larionov to Detroit. In Detroit, the hockey player was reunited with Fetisov, three younger compatriots - Vladimir Konstantinov , Vyacheslav Kozlov and Sergey Fedorov also played there. Coach Scotty Bowman came up with the idea of ​​releasing Russian players as part of one five, and the resulting Russian Five was different from other Detroit links with a pass culture and set-up combination game ^[3] . In the same season, Detroit won the regular season with 62 wins, and the next - the Stanley Cup ^[4] . The Russian Five ceased to exist when a car accident put an end to Konstantinov’s career. The following season, Detroit re-won the Stanley Cup.

In 2000, after the expiration of the agreement with Detroit, Larionov signed a contract with Florida , where Pavel Bure became his partner again, but this decision was unsuccessful, and already during the season he was exchanged to Detroit ^[2] . There Larionov played another two and a half seasons.

In the third match of the 2002 Stanley Cup final series against Carolina , Larionov scored a goal in the third overtime, which, admittedly, predetermined the final victory of the Wings ^[2] .

The last club in Larionov’s Enhael career was New Jersey Devils . The 2003-04 season was the most unfortunate for him: he scored only one goal in 49 games of the regular season ^[2] . December 13, 2004 Larionov held a farewell match in Moscow ^[5] .

In 2008, he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame and the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto .

From the summer of 2008 to the summer of 2009, he was the Director of Sports Operations at HC SKA (St. Petersburg).

Currently ^{[ when? ]} engaged in agency activities. Among Larionov's clients are Andrey Loktionov , Tyler Segin , Nail Yakupov - the first number of the NHL 2012 draft, Alex Galchenyuk , Artyom Sergeev , Ilya Samsonov (HC Metallurg Magnitogorsk).

In February 2018, he was a commentator on hockey broadcasts at the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang on Channel One along with Alexander Kuzmak ^[6] .

The wife of Igor Larionov is figure skater Elena Batanova . They have two daughters - Alena and Diana, and son Igor. Igor Larionov Jr. is also involved in hockey. July 15, 2019 signed a trial contract with SKA HC playing in the Continental Hockey League ^[7] .

Wine collector and winemaker ^[8] . Has its own restaurant in Moscow - Larionov Grill & Bar. Lives in the United States of America.

• Two - time Olympic champion (1984, 1988), bronze medalist ZOI-2002.
• 4-time world champion (1982, 1983, 1986, 1989). Second prize-winner of the 1987 World Cup, third prize-winner of the 1985 World Cup.
• 6-time European champion (1982, 1983, 1985-87, 1989).
• Winner of the Canada Cup 1981 . Finalist of the Canada Cup 1987, participant of the Canada Cup 1984. Member of the World Cup 1996 (5 matches).
• 8-time champion of the USSR (1982-89)
• 3x Stanley Cup Winner (1997, 1998, 2002)
• Since June 7, 1997 - a member of the Triple Golden Club .
• Member of the NHL All-Star Game 1998
• At the Olympic Games and World Championships - 77 matches, 30 goals. In the Canada Cup tournaments - 21 matches, 6 goals.

• Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1988)
• Order of Friendship (2004)
• Order of the Badge of Honor (1982)
• Order of Honor (2011)

Club career

International Competitions

• List of the best Russian scorers in the history of the NHL

• Igor Larionov - profile on the NHL website
• Igor Larionov - statistics on The Internet Hockey Database (eng.)
• Igor Larionov - statistics on Eliteprospects.com (English)
• Mr. Larionov. Conversation on Fridays - Sport Express, November 12, 2010
• Igor Larionov - profile on Instagram