After a 16-year NHL career, Sergei Zubov is heading home as the 39-year old blueliner has signed...

After a 16-year NHL career, Sergei Zubov is heading home as the 39-year old blueliner has signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.

Zubov, who has spent his last 12 seasons with the Stars, only played 10 games with Dallas in 2008-09 because of a hip injury that required surgery. The Moscow-native was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1990 with the 85th overall draft pick. ... Zubov has 152 goals and 619 assists in 1068 career games.

— TSN.ca

3 months ago James Mirtle 7 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

It’s getting hard to keep track of everyone that’s signed in Russia recently…

Fedorov, Kozlov, Zubov, Afinogenov (unofficially), Kalinin, Hudler, Zednik, Bonk, Gerber, Tellqvist…

"Without good hard work, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of success." - Anatoli Tarasov

by PRC on Jul 30, 2009 4:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This list is proof that the KHL is far from representing an actual threat to NHL talent. Except Hudler, none of these players really have room in the NHL anymore. A case could be made for Zubov but he’s clearly on the decline so it’s not a big loss for the NHL.

by Habs on Jul 30, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The real question is: Are the player replacing these players just as good? Probably not.

It’s obviously not going to lead to a huge decline in the talent level of the league, but it’s also not a non-existent one.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Jul 30, 2009 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a Stars fan,

I’m surprisingly upset by this news. Not that he won’t be back with the Stars… that’s been clear for some time – but rather that he won’t be playing in the NHL anymore. As much as it would have sucked to see him in another uniform, I still would have enjoyed watching him play and was really hoping he could stay healthy and have a couple more productive years in the NHL.

Unfortunately this probably eliminates whatever slight chance Zubie had at entering the HHOF some day. I still think he’s worthy, though.

by disposablehero on Jul 30, 2009 4:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I didn’t have time to comment on this, but Zubov was one of the best defencemen in the NHL right up to the end, aside from injuries.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Jul 30, 2009 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zubov was tremendous

I think he’ll look even better with time, as his play looks more and more impressive compared to other defensemen following him. He was just such a quiet understated person.

I think it’s kind of bittersweet that Russians of that time are going home to finish their careers. When you think about players like Sergei Fedorov had to defect, and they weren’t sure if they would ever be able to go home again, and now they are able to go to Russia and play hockey by choice instead of being forced … it’s too bad they aren’t in the NHL anymore, but despite the current cold war with the KHL, things are better than they were a couple decades ago.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." -- Philo of Alexandria

by Baroque on Jul 30, 2009 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has Sergei Zubov completely recovered from his hip injury? I remember the infamous Mats Sundin has to have “career-ending hip surgery” a couple of years back (which was later proven to be false, not surprisingly given the original source), so I wonder if hip surgeries rob older players of their speed and agility. Zubov was always known for his silky smooth skating, so it’ll be shame in any league to see him robbed of that skill. Even more unfortunate that I won’t be able to see and judge for myself on a regular basis now that Zubov’s departed to the KHL.

Sometimes, a hockey player coming full circle where they first started really stinks for the hockey fan, especially when you see your hockey heroes not finish the way that they deserved.

Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell

by bkblades on Jul 31, 2009 12:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs