Igor Larionov

Igor Larionov

Igor Nikolayevich Larionov (Russian: Игорь Николаевич Ларионов; born December 3, 1960) is a Russian 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 passers 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 November 10, 2008.