Top 10 russian/soviet defenders ever in NHL

[Eye of Ra]

What would a list like that look like? Russia is famous for its goalies and forwards but not defenders so much.

A wild shoot:

1: Konstantinov
2: Fetisov
3: Gonchar
4: Zubov
5: A.Markov
6: Kasatonov
7: Kasparaitis
8: Zhitnik
9: Sergachev
10: Tyutin

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[Caser]

I'd say something like this:

Fetisov
Zubov
Konstantinov
Kasatonov
Gonchar
Markov
Malakhov
Gusarov
Kasparaitis
one of Yushkevich/D.Mironov/Zhitnik/maybe Sergachev and Orlov.

 

[Albatros]

I don't see Fetisov having any kind of a case for top 3. Zubov, Gonchar, Markov. Konstantinov could probably have been second based on his peak.

 

[Caser]

I don't see Fetisov having any kind of a case for top 3. Zubov, Gonchar, Markov. Konstantinov could probably have been second based on his peak.

I think it depends on if we separate his NHL career from everything that was there before or not, I'm personally not able to do that kind of separation.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Been watching since the Russians came over in 1990. Top 5 I have seen at their (NHL) peak:

1. Zubov
2. Malakhov
3. Markov
4. Konstantinov
5. B. Mironov

HM: Gonchar, D. Mironov, Orlov, Provorov, Zhitnik

Mid to late 90s was the golden age for Russian D in the NHL, and they had peak Fedorov/Mogilny/Bure/Zhamnov up front. It is too bad their coaches sabotaged the situation at the 96 World Cup.

 

[Caser]

Been watching since the Russians came over in 1990. Top 5 I have seen at their (NHL) peak:

1. Zubov
2. Malakhov
3. Markov
4. Konstantinov
5. B. Mironov

HM: Gonchar, D. Mironov, Orlov, Provorov, Zhitnik

Mid to late 90s was the golden age for Russian D in the NHL, and they had peak Fedorov/Mogilny/Bure/Zhamnov up front. It is too bad their coaches sabotaged the situation at the 96 World Cup.

To be fair while the coaches couldn't handle the situation properly it was Fetisov, who basically tried to be the coach himself therefore sabotaging the process. Bure got injured before the tournament btw.

 

[Majkee11]

i would pick these names:
1. Slava Fetisov
2. Vladimir Konstantinov
3. Sergei Gonchar
4. Alexei Kasatonov
5. Ilya Byakin
6. Alexei Gusarov
7. Igor Kravchuk
8. Vladimir Malakhov
9. Dmitri Orlov
10. Sergei Zubov

 

[Eye of Ra]

i would pick these names:
1. Slava Fetisov
2. Vladimir Konstantinov
3. Sergei Gonchar
4. Alexei Kasatonov
5. Ilya Byakin
6. Alexei Gusarov
7. Igor Kravchuk
8. Vladimir Malakhov
9. Dmitri Orlov
10. Sergei Zubov

Byakin...LOL. He played 2 seasons in Malmö.

 

[sdf]

Russia is not famous for its defenders, yet team ussr was many times seen to handle the asses of most famous canadians

 

[Majkee11]

Byakin...LOL. He played 2 seasons in Malmö.

it may look not that great but it was different era, and at international level, he was very good, quick, offensive, responsible, if he played in late 90's he would be one of best defenders in NHL, i stand on this opinion...

 

[Czechboy]

Maybe not top 10 but wasn't Federov a good Dman too? Didn't they switch him at times or am I way off here?

 

[ValeriKamensky]

1. Zubov
2. Gonchar
3. Konstantinov
4. Malakhov
5. A. Markov
6. Zhitnik
7. Kasparaitis
8. B. Mironov
9. Fetisov
10. Yushkevich

HM: Tverdovsky, Kravchuk, D. Mironov, D. Markov

 

[DaaaaB's]

i would pick these names:
1. Slava Fetisov
2. Vladimir Konstantinov
3. Sergei Gonchar
4. Alexei Kasatonov
5. Ilya Byakin
6. Alexei Gusarov
7. Igor Kravchuk
8. Vladimir Malakhov
9. Dmitri Orlov
10. Sergei Zubov

This list is awful. Zubov being behind numbers 5-9 is laughable. Malakhov might have a case if he'd been able to stay healthy.

Russia is not famous for its defenders, yet team ussr was many times seen to handle the asses of most famous canadians

Whatever makes you sleep better at night.