The player
In the 1990 fifth-round Entry Draft, the New York Rangers selected defenseman Sergei Zubov. Zubov was developed under the historic and powerful Red Army Club until the club was split up and placed under temporary joint control. Sergei Zubov tallied 31 points in just 49 games in his rookie season with the Rangers, proving himself not only NHL-worthy but also an offensive threat. In the 1994 season, he went on to lead the team with 89 points and helped lead the Rangers to a Stanley Cup victory, where he and three of his teammates became the first Russian-born players to engrave their names on the Cup. After spending one season in Pittsburgh, Zubov spent much of his career in Dallas. Noted as the league’s most reliable defenseman, he excelled on the power play and was known for his IQ and elite vision. Sergei Zubov was not the “toughest” defenseman, but his elite vision and skills propelled him into a career in which he etched his name on the Cup a total of two times and appeared in a total of four All-Star games before his retirement in 2009.
The coach
Sergei Zubov first assisted the Blues organization during the 2012– 2013 season as a team consultant, after two seasons in the KHL as an assistant coach. Notably, his first assistant coaching position helped SKA St. Petersburg finish first in the conference and second overall in the league in power-play efficiency. His second year as an assistant coach was followed by more success, as he helped CSKA Moskva climb from eighth place to finish second in the conference while improving their postseason power play from 1.19 to 1.85. Apart from the 2020 – 2021 season, when he served as a senior advisor for the Dallas Stars, he remained in the KHL, serving as an assistant coach from 2013 – 2026 and as head coach from 2016 – 2020 for several teams.
So, what does this mean for the Blues?
Although Zubov may not play a direct in-game coaching role, his skill set is most valuable for youth development and player evaluation. Zubov has the championship pedigree forged in the rigorous Red Army, which will help the St. Louis Blues team and organization understand what it takes to get back into the playoffs and remain there. He also has the elite hockey sense and precise decision-making skills that earned him a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019. The Blues organization hopes this is where players use Zubov to advance their development and build on-ice chemistry. One of the most elite Russian-born defensemen who aided the Rangers in ending their 54-year championship drought is now a St. Louis Blue. Overall, it looks like a solid decision for player development and evaluation.
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