EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey Devils centre Igor Larionov announced his retirement Monday.
The 43-year-old Larionov, the oldest player to compete in the NHL this season, signed with New Jersey as a free agent in September. He had hoped to win a fourth Stanley Cup to cap a professional career that began in 1980 in the former Soviet Union.
But the Philadelphia Flyers ousted the defending Cup champions in an opening-round series that ended Saturday.
He will wear a uniform once more for a farewell exhibition game in Moscow in December.
"It will be my first time coming back to play for the Russians," Larionov said. "It will be a chance to say goodbye."
Larionov finishes his NHL career with 169 goals and 644 points in 921 regular season games. In addition to the Devils, Larionov played for the Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings, with whom he won Stanley Cups in 1997, 1998 and 2002.
Larionov saw limited action in his final season, appearing in only 49 games for the Devils with one goal and 11 points.
Prior to coming to North America in 1989, Larionov played 12 seasons in the Soviet Elite League and won Olympic gold medals with the Soviet team in the Winter Games in 1984 and 1988.
"When you leave the game, it's sad," Larionov said. "It's time to move on. There are things in my mind that I want to do, but I'm not going to rush into anything."
thats to bad but I think it was time for him , i mean he was 43 wasnt he? and he didnt get much playing time in newjersey, but he was truley a legand of hockey(not really in the nhl) but back in europe.
Igor will be in the game in some capacity either in North America or in Russia. Oh and 43 is not old in the general scheme of things but it is for professional athletes.
even after he left for new jersey the fans in hockey town still had tremendous respect for him. i know some people who call dominos igors game because he started the tradition of playing dominos on the plane to road games
Igor Larionov had a solid career in the NHL and a fine one on the Soviet National Team. Do you think that he has what it takes to get into the HH of F. I think that if he did it would be based on his Red Army days and not neccessarily his NHL career, although it might certainly help him out.
its funny because igor is one of the nhl players that i have the most respect for. but when i look at the 1980s i despised the russian army hockey team and igor was a member of their lineup along with fitisov both former red wings
In my opinion, Larionov had a career that hockey players only dream of, and one that is not likely to ever be matched. It was truly unfortunate that Larionov never had the chance to play in the NHL while in his prime. If he had, the league would be celebrating one of its all time greatest today. I had the opportunity to see some of his first NHL games with the Canucks, and that is something I'll never forget. Here's to you, Iggy.
Hats off to the Professor for a great career. Of course, I'll remember his contribution to our Stanley Cup wins in '97-'98 and '02. I remember the winning goal in OT in Carolina in the '02 SC finals, which basically finished off the 'Canes as a great moment. Good luck and I'm sure we'll see him in hockey one way or another.
Yes, Igor was definetly a classy player. And although his playmaking skills remained amazing, he was not contributing as much as he was in his earlier years, so retirement may have been the best option.
Professor hangs up his skates
Professor hangs up his skates
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