Dallas Stars Top 100 Players of All-Time: 20-1

#2 – DEFENSEMAN, SERGEI ZUBOV

In a defenseman era featuring Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Pronger, and Scott Niedermayer, it’s easy to be overlooked. In turn, Sergei Zubov is perhaps the most underrated and underappreciated defenseman of all-time. Only nominated for the Norris Trophy once, and only an All-Star three times.

However, the only defenseman to ever lead a President’s Trophy winning team in scoring (New York Rangers, 1993-94), Sergei Zubov was an absolute terror to defend. His stretch passes, his dekes, his tremendous ice vision, and his deadly shot were only his offensive upsides. Don’t disregard his fundamentally sound hip check, his skating away from forechecks, his hands to get out of the zone, and everything else that made him an unstoppable two-way force.

Dallas Stars

The Moscow, Russia native started his career with the aforementioned Rangers, where his 89 points helped lift the 1994 Cup in Manhattan, but after a short stint at Madison Square Garden and in Pittsburgh, Zubov found himself in Dallas.

The Dallas Stars acquired Zubov from Pittsburgh at the expense of Kevin Hatcher in 1995 in arguably the most one-sided trade in franchise history, one that puts the Seguin trade to shame. They didn’t look back.

With Sergei Zubov at the helm of the power play, and as a stout offensive defenseman destined to forever possess the puck, the Stars’ blueline of the late 1990s was set. A lineup of Zubov, Darryl Sydor, Derian Hatcher, Craig Ludwig, etc was borderline unbeatable, and Zubov led Stars rearguards in Playoff points with 13.

Thankfully, Sergei was more than just clutch scoring. Zubov’s 461 assists is tops in Stars defensemen history (not to mention his place at the summit of almost every Stars D stat), and his ability to pull off insane passes on the power-play will never be equaled.

Ever since Zubov had to retire from the NHL in 2009, the Stars have lacked the presence of an all-around elite defenseman like him. The former fifth-round selection will almost surely have his #56 retired by the Dallas Stars eventually, and hopefully receive an induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Zubov was the head coach of St Petersberg SKA of the KHL last year, his last taste of professional hockey. Sergei retired with 771 points (152 goals, 619 assists) in his NHL career, while ranking second in Stars franchise history in points with 545.