Dainius Zubrus
Encyclopedia
Dainius Gintas Zubrus is a Lithuania
n professional ice hockey
right winger
and center
currently playing for the New Jersey Devils
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He is the first Lithuanian to have played 1000 games in the National Hockey League.
to train under Ivan Pravilov on the Druzhba-78
squad. He continued to develop his play there until the end of 1995.
by the Philadelphia Flyers
from the Caledon Canadians
of the Metro Junior A Hockey League
. As of the 2006 draft, Zubrus was the highest drafted Tier II Junior "A" player since the Canadian Junior A Hockey League
's 1993 inception (since surpassed by Kyle Turris
at 2007 NHL Entry Draft
). Prior to being traded to Caledon, Zubrus played for the Pembroke Lumber Kings
of the Central Junior A Hockey League
. He made his NHL debut on October 5, 1996, scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers
. In his rookie season, he helped the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup
final.
Like Darius Kasparaitis
, Dainius trained with Aleksey Nikiforov
.
The Flyers traded him to the Montreal Canadiens
on March 10, 1999, with a pair of draft picks, for Mark Recchi
. He registered his first career hat-trick
on October 14, 2000, against the Chicago Blackhawks
, and was traded by the Canadiens to the Washington Capitals
along with Trevor Linden
for Richard Zedník
and Jan Bulis
on March 13, 2001.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Zubrus decided to play abroad with Washington Capitals
teammate Alexander Semin
. He played 42 regular season games for HC Lada Togliatti
, tallying 19 points on eight goals and 11 assists. He also appeared in ten playoff games while in the former Russian Superleague
(RSL), scoring three goals and one assist.
Zubrus returned to the Capitals the following 2005–06 season and posted a career-high 57 points playing alongside star rookie Alexander Ovechkin
. In the 2006–07 season, Zubrus continued his impressive form posting 52 points in 60 games before he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres
, along with Timo Helbling
, for Jiří Novotný and a first round draft pick on February 27, 2007.
On July 3, 2007, as a free agent
, Zubrus signed a six-year, $20.4 million contract with the New Jersey Devils
.
On November 23, 2008, Dainius Zubrus had one of the best offensive games in Devils history. Zubrus tied a team record with four goals to help New Jersey win its season-high fourth straight game, 7–3 over the Tampa Bay Lightning
.
during the World Cup of Hockey
in 2004. But since then, he has played internationally for Lithuania, most notably in the 2005 World Championships
. He had told the press that, "Lithuania needs me more than Russia." Because of the existence of the USSR, players born during its time as a nation were able to choose to play for any of the newly formed countries after the breakup. He now plans to represent Lithuania in all of his future international hockey appearances.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
right winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
and center
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
currently playing for the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He is the first Lithuanian to have played 1000 games in the National Hockey League.
Early career
In the summer of 1989, Zubrus moved to Kharkiv, UkraineKharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...
to train under Ivan Pravilov on the Druzhba-78
Druzhba-78
-External links:**...
squad. He continued to develop his play there until the end of 1995.
NHL career
Dainius Zubrus was drafted 15th overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft1996 NHL Entry Draft
The 1996 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22, 1996.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...
by the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
from the Caledon Canadians
Caledon Canadians
The Caledon Canadians are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from Caledon, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League and were the only team in the "Metro" to win an Ontario Hockey Association Junior "A" Championship.-History:...
of the Metro Junior A Hockey League
Metro Junior A Hockey League
----The Metro Junior "A" Hockey League was a junior level ice hockey league based out of Southern Ontario. The league originated in 1956 as the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, which lasted until 1991, when it changed its designation from Junior B to Junior A. It remained a Jr...
. As of the 2006 draft, Zubrus was the highest drafted Tier II Junior "A" player since the Canadian Junior A Hockey League
Canadian Junior A Hockey League
The Canadian Junior Hockey League , an association of Canadian Junior A ice hockey leagues and teams, formed in November 1993, emerging from the Canada West Association of Junior 'A' Hockey. The champion of the Canadian Junior Hockey League wins the Royal Bank Cup.The CJHL spans the majority of...
's 1993 inception (since surpassed by Kyle Turris
Kyle Turris
Kyle Turris is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre with the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League . He was selected third overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...
at 2007 NHL Entry Draft
2007 NHL Entry Draft
The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was the 45th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted at Nationwide Arena in the city of Columbus, Ohio, United States on June 22, 2007. The draft consisted of seven rounds with rounds two through seven taking place on June 23, 2007...
). Prior to being traded to Caledon, Zubrus played for the Pembroke Lumber Kings
Pembroke Lumber Kings
The Pembroke Lumber Kings are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League and are the longest running and winningest team in CJHL history as well as 2011 Royal Bank Cup National Junior A Champions...
of the Central Junior A Hockey League
Central Junior A Hockey League
The Central Canada Hockey League is a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league operating in eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ottawa District Hockey Association and Hockey Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League...
. He made his NHL debut on October 5, 1996, scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
. In his rookie season, he helped the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
final.
Like Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman. Known by the nickname Kaspar, he has dual citizenship in both the United States and Russia, and he has played for the Russian national ice hockey team.- Playing career :Kasparaitis left Lithuania for Russia at age 14 after...
, Dainius trained with Aleksey Nikiforov
Aleksey Nikiforov
Aleksey Nikiforov is a former professional hockey player for the Dynamo Riga team of the Russian Elite League. He is the father of New York Islanders prospect Vladimir Nikiforov...
.
The Flyers traded him to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
on March 10, 1999, with a pair of draft picks, for Mark Recchi
Mark Recchi
Mark Louis Recchi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 22 years in the National Hockey League , most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
. He registered his first career hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
on October 14, 2000, against the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, and was traded by the Canadiens to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
along with Trevor Linden
Trevor Linden
Trevor John Linden, C.M., O.B.C. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre and right wing with four different teams: the Vancouver Canucks , New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals...
for Richard Zedník
Richard Zednik
Richard Zedník is a Slovak professional hockey winger, currently without a contract. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and Florida Panthers....
and Jan Bulis
Jan Bulis
Jan Bulis is a Czech professional hockey winger who is currently playing for Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Playing career:...
on March 13, 2001.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Zubrus decided to play abroad with Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
teammate Alexander Semin
Alexander Semin
Alexander Valerievich Semin , also known by fans as The Great 28, The Other Alex, or most commonly known as Sasha, is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League ....
. He played 42 regular season games for HC Lada Togliatti
HC Lada Togliatti
HC Lada is a Russian professional ice hockey team based in Togliatti, Russia. They were members of the Kharlamov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League.Due to a lack of a satisfactory arena the KHL expelled the team...
, tallying 19 points on eight goals and 11 assists. He also appeared in ten playoff games while in the former Russian Superleague
Russian Superleague
The Russian Superleague , commonly abbreviated as RSL, was the highest division of the main professional ice hockey league in Russia. It was considered the second best league in the world, after the National Hockey League of North America...
(RSL), scoring three goals and one assist.
Zubrus returned to the Capitals the following 2005–06 season and posted a career-high 57 points playing alongside star rookie Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
. In the 2006–07 season, Zubrus continued his impressive form posting 52 points in 60 games before he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
, along with Timo Helbling
Timo Helbling
Timo Helbling is a professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for Oulun Kärpät of the Finland SM-Liiga.-Playing career:...
, for Jiří Novotný and a first round draft pick on February 27, 2007.
On July 3, 2007, as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, Zubrus signed a six-year, $20.4 million contract with the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
On November 23, 2008, Dainius Zubrus had one of the best offensive games in Devils history. Zubrus tied a team record with four goals to help New Jersey win its season-high fourth straight game, 7–3 over the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1995–96 | Pembroke Lumber Kings Pembroke Lumber Kings The Pembroke Lumber Kings are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League and are the longest running and winningest team in CJHL history as well as 2011 Royal Bank Cup National Junior A Champions... |
CJHL Central Junior A Hockey League The Central Canada Hockey League is a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league operating in eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ottawa District Hockey Association and Hockey Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League... |
28 | 19 | 13 | 32 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Caledon Canadians Caledon Canadians The Caledon Canadians are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from Caledon, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League and were the only team in the "Metro" to win an Ontario Hockey Association Junior "A" Championship.-History:... |
MTJHL Metro Junior A Hockey League ----The Metro Junior "A" Hockey League was a junior level ice hockey league based out of Southern Ontario. The league originated in 1956 as the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, which lasted until 1991, when it changed its designation from Junior B to Junior A. It remained a Jr... |
7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 4 | ||
| 1996–97 | Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
68 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 12 | ||
| 1997–98 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 69 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 42 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 63 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL | 17 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 73 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 49 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
NHL | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 71 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 63 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 43 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 54 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Lada Togliatti HC Lada Togliatti HC Lada is a Russian professional ice hockey team based in Togliatti, Russia. They were members of the Kharlamov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League.Due to a lack of a satisfactory arena the KHL expelled the team... |
RSL Russian Superleague The Russian Superleague , commonly abbreviated as RSL, was the highest division of the main professional ice hockey league in Russia. It was considered the second best league in the world, after the National Hockey League of North America... |
42 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 85 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 22 | ||
| 2005–06 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 71 | 23 | 34 | 57 | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 60 | 20 | 32 | 52 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
NHL | 19 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 8 | ||
| 2007–08 | New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 82 | 13 | 25 | 38 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
New Jersey Devils | NHL | 82 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 69 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
New Jersey Devils | NHL | 51 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
New Jersey Devils | NHL | 79 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 983 | 189 | 306 | 495 | 637 | 68 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 54 | ||||
International career
Originally, Zubrus had suited up for the Russian national teamRussian national ice hockey team
The Russian men's national ice hockey team is the national ice hockey team of Russia and are controlled by the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia. They are currently rated number one in the IIHF World Ranking; with 3980 points...
during the World Cup of Hockey
World Cup of Hockey
The World Cup of Hockey is an international ice hockey tournament. Inaugurated in 1996, it is the successor to the previous Canada Cup, which ran from 1976 to 1991...
in 2004. But since then, he has played internationally for Lithuania, most notably in the 2005 World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
. He had told the press that, "Lithuania needs me more than Russia." Because of the existence of the USSR, players born during its time as a nation were able to choose to play for any of the newly formed countries after the breakup. He now plans to represent Lithuania in all of his future international hockey appearances.