Igor Larionov
| Igor Larionov | |||
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2008 | |||
Larionov at the HHOF Legends Game in 2008
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| Born |
3 December 1960 Voskresensk, Russian SFSR, URS |
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| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
NHL Vancouver Canucks San Jose Sharks Detroit Red Wings Florida Panthers New Jersey Devils RSL Khimik Voskresensk CSKA Moscow NLA Lugano Allsvenskan Brunflo |
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| National team |
 Soviet Union  Russia
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| NHL Draft | 214th overall, 1985 Vancouver Canucks |
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| Playing career | 1977–2006 | ||
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Medal record
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Igor Nikolayevich Larionov (Russian: Игорь Николаевич Ларионов; born 3 December 1960) is a Russian agent and retired professional ice hockey player, known as The Professor. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that kept Soviet players from joining the National Hockey League (NHL). He primarily played the centre position, and is considered one of the best of all time.
Larionov won three Stanley Cup championships with the Detroit Red Wings (1997, 1998, 2002) and was inducted as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame on 10 November 2008. He was also a member of Detroit's famed Russian Five line.
Larionov began his career in the Soviet League with Khimik Voskresensk in 1977–78, appearing in six games. Joining the club full-time the following season, he recorded seven points in 32 games as a rookie. He improved to 45 points in 43 games in 1980–81, garnering the attention of CSKA Moscow and Soviet national team coach Viktor Tikhonov. Tikhonov approached him before a game between CSKA and Khimik early in the 1980–81 season, inviting Larionov to play for him. He notched five assists that game against Tikhonov's team and the following season, joined CSKA Moscow as the top-line centre between Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov. The trio became known as the "KLM Line" and dominated both the Soviet League and international competition. They were joined by defensive pairing Viacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov to form the five-man lineup known as the "Green Unit" (also known as the Russian Five), so called for the green uniforms they wore during practice.
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