Zubov to KHL (Confirmed)

July 30, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Sergei Zubov could be headed back home to the KHL. Rumors have surfaced that the 39 year-old veteran blueliner who was an integral part of the Rangers’ Stanley Cup championship in 1993-94 that he’s in talks with a KHL team.

Beyond The Blueshirts has more on it. He could sign with SKA St. Petersburg where oddly enough, former Blueshirt Darius Kasparaitis patrols the blueline for coach Barry Smith.

UPDATE: It is now confirmed. Here’s the official TSN link.

If he does depart the NHL to play back in Russia, it likely could be the end of one of the great careers. Originally drafted by the Rangers in the fifth round of the 1990 Draft, Zubov went on to become one of the elite defensemen in the game. While he’s best known for his offense that’s produced 152 goals and 619 assists totaling 771 points along over 16 seasons with the Rangers, Penguins and Stars, he was always dependable in any situation able to log big minutes, posting a respectable plus-148 rating in 1,068 career games.

His finest season came with the Blueshirts in his second year that ’93-94 season when he paced the club with 89 points including 77 helpers. He would add 19 points (5-14-19) including two key helpers on the club’s first two goals of Game 7 versus Vancouver helping the club end a 54-year Cup drought.

Amazingly, he played only one more year here thanks to Colin Campbell, who didn’t care for his lack of physicality which was exposed by a bigger Flyer club in a second round sweep loss. The umpopular move saw him and Petr Nedved dealt to Pittsburgh for Ulf Samuelsson and Luc Robitaille. I remember it like yesterday as I’d just gotten in from work and heard it on WFAN in New York nearly doing a doubletake. Though Samuelsson and Lucky Luc helped our club reach the Conference Final before being ousted by the Flyers again, I never cared for the deal because it took away our 1-2 punch on the power play of Brian Leetch and Zubov. Sadly, the Ranger PP has never been the same since.

Many Ranger bloggers and fans wanted to see Zubov make a Broadway revival and help guide some of our younger players this Fall. I had interest but only for a year with the idea to limit his minutes and give him games off so he would stay fresh. But as this month’s gone on, it seemed predictable that he might go home. Maybe he’s not able to get the security after parting with Dallas where he starred for 12 years, helping the franchise to their only Cup in 1998-99. They acquired him from Pitt for Kevin Hatcher during the summer of 1996.

What a great trade that turned out to be. In 839 games, he finished with 111 goals and 438 assists for 549 points. Ironically, he teamed with Kevin’s brother Derian Hatcher forming a dynamic duo which became the trademark of those Ken Hitchcock Star teams. In over a decade spent in the Lone Star state, Zubov helped Dallas become one of the better clubs in the league making the postseason 10 of 12 years, only failing to qualify in 2001-02 and this past season which saw the vet limited to a career low 10 games and four helpers. He amassed 15 goals and 57 helpers for 72 points during his Star playoff career including 13 points (1-12-13 in 23 GP) and a plus-13 rating with only four penalty minutes during their Cup run 10 years ago.

There just aren’t many defensemen as steady and who can last as long as Zubov has. He’s not Nick Lidstrom but few are. When you discuss this Era, his name deserves to come up. He’s done it all winning two Cups, Olympic gold (’92) and appearing in four All-Star Games which typifies how overlooked he’s been.

He’s been nominated for the Norris once with his 2005-06 season earning recognition. In it, he produced 71 points (13-58-71) and a plus-20 at the age of  35, proving how good he was. Zubov produced 50-or-more points eight times eclipsing 70 twice with the 71 the most since that special ’94 season when he was just 23. If that doesn’t speak to how consistent he was, I don’t know what else to say.

If it is the end, he’s had a brilliant career which hopefully will be recognized with his inclusion into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His 619 assists ranks 11th among active players with the 771 points placing 22nd. The plus-148 ranks 12th best behind Brendan Shanahan (+151) with former Devil Brian Rafalski (+144) one of three trailing.

Zubov is the NHL’s all-time scoring leader among Russian defensemen.