At 38, Larionov Still a Force

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 1999

By Lucas Aykroyd

Igor Larionov is used to playing on teams with red-and-white uniforms that win all the time. This season, those wins haven’t come so easily for his Detroit Red Wings. But don’t blame Larionov.

The former star of Moscow’s Central Red Army and the Soviet national team is still a potent force at age 38. Balancing an exceptional offensive creativity with a commitment to defense is his specialty.

This season, Larionov may not be completely satisfied with his scoring numbers (7-22-29 in 44 games). And one can only imagine how many points he would have scored if he had played in the wide-open NHL of the 1980s. Instead, Larionov reveled in the creative freedom of playing center ice for the Soviets’ famed Green Unit with Vladimir Krutov, Sergei Makarov, Alexei Kasatonov, and Viacheslav Fetisov, while chafing under the dictatorial regime of coach Viktor Tikhonov.

But still, Larionov’s career NHL statistics are impressive (122-304-426 in 554 games with Vancouver, San Jose, and Detroit). And his overall plus-minus rating of plus-93 is a testament to how well he covers for his wingers in the defensive zone.

More than any personal accomplishments, Larionov relishes the successes of his team — and he’s had many. Forgetting the titles celebrated in Soviet league play, Larionov has centered gold medal winners in five Olympic and World Championship tournaments and has his name on the Stanley Cup twice.

“You can’t really divide among the Stanley Cup, the world championships, and the Olympics,” Larionov told EuroReport recently. “Every championship has been very special to me.”

But it may be difficult for his team to repeat as champions this season. By their standards, the Red Wings have struggled. Heading into Tuesday’s game against Nashville, Detroit’s record of 49 points in 46 games (23-20-3) was a far cry from its usual regular season dominance in the 1990s. Only one Detroit player, Steve Yzerman, has managed to crack the top 10 in NHL scoring (19-28-47).

Brendan Shanahan, one of the best left wings of the 1990s, has played that position next to Larionov almost continuously since arriving in Detroit from the Hartford Whalers on 9 October 1996. Asked by EuroReport what it’s like to be the prototypical Canadian power forward playing with the prototypical Russian passing center, the two-time 50-goal scorer said: “When you play with Igor, he is such an intelligent, creative hockey player, you can’t just go up and down the wing and go to the net and fly around. You need to get open, understand when he’s making his attack, and if you jump forward at the right time, 99.9 percent of the time he’ll put the puck there.

“Igor likes it best when he can have puck control and draw as many eyes to him as possible,” added Shanahan. “He has a way of hypnotizing defensemen when he slows down. He’s a technician when it comes to that. He controls the pace of the game.”

In a recent outing against the Canucks, Larionov demonstrated the accuracy of his linemate’s comments. Larionov opened the scoring for Detroit, tucking in Shanahan’s rebound off a Nicklas Lidström point shot during a 4-on-3 Detroit man advantage. The cheering that followed was not only from the Red Wings fans in the stands, but also from the Vancouver crowd in general. Larionov’s skillful play and likeable personality have garnered him friends and admirers throughout the entire NHL.

Although Larionov was held off the score sheet for the rest of the night, he showed great vision and agility, whether feeding Shanahan for more opportunities or dodging a stiff check from Canucks defenseman Adrian Aucoin with 3:45 left in the third period.

Off-ice, Larionov looks more like a bespectacled medical student than a professional hockey player. At 5-10, 170 pounds (180 cm, 77 kg), he’s a small man by the standards of today’s NHL. His longevity seems surprising when one considers that his larger, stronger comrades from the Green Unit have all retired.

Or maybe it’s not so surprising. Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Stan Smyl, who helped Larionov adjust to North American life when the Russian first arrived in Vancouver for the 1989-90 NHL season, said: “Igor’s brought a lot to the game by the way he plays it and he’s adjusted very well to the North American style of physical play. I think the Detroit Red Wings have built their whole system around a player like that.”

As to Larionov’s longevity, Smyl said: “He’s very smart. That’s what’s made him last so long in the league. He’s also a very well-conditioned athlete, and he knows the game. I think that’ll keep him playing for as long he wants to play.”

Larionov himself was non-committal about how much longer he intends to play. “I’ve got another year and the next year, and then I’ve got to make my decision,” he said. “So I’m not sure.” But it looks as if he may be settling in for the long haul, as he has recently built a new home in the Detroit area.

Now if you can imagine Larionov as a medical student, it’s not surprising that in real life he is an author. His 1990 book, Larionov (a collaboration with Vancouver writer Jim Taylor), chronicles his days growing up in Voskresensk, Russia, his ascent through the Soviet hockey system, and his break with Viktor Tikhonov that culminated in his departure for the NHL. He is supposed to write a sequel to Larionov, but it’s not ready yet. Larionov told EuroReport that his new book will be released before Christmas 1999.

Igor Larionov’s intelligence and creativity on and off the ice should maintain his status as a major player in the world of hockey for many years to come.