Sergei Gonchar
Encyclopedia
Sergei Viktorovich Gonchar is a Russia
n professional ice hockey
defenceman
currently playing for the Ottawa Senators
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He has also played for the Washington Capitals
, Boston Bruins
and Pittsburgh Penguins
, with whom he won the Stanley Cup
in 2009.
.
Gonchar was the first round pick, 14th overall, of the Washington Capitals
in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
. He began his North America
n career in 1994
, suiting up in two playoff games for the Capitals' American Hockey League
(AHL) affiliate, the Portland Pirates
. He continued with Portland in 1994–95
, before making his NHL debut, with the Capitals, on February 7, 1995 against the Buffalo Sabres
. He would appear in 31 games total during the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season. The following year, in his first full-length campaign in the NHL, Gonchar would tally 41 points, showing his potential as an effective offensive defenceman.
In the 1998-99 season
, Gonchar became the first Russian defenseman to score over 20 goals in regular-season play. The following season, Gonchar would break the 50-point mark for the first time in his career. He would also finish in fifth place in Norris Trophy voting as the NHL's best defenceman.
After 57 and 67-point (tied for a career high) seasons in 2000–01 and 2002–03 respectively, Gonchar was named to the Second All-Star Team
both seasons.
On March 3, 2004, in his tenth season with the Capitals, Gonchar was traded to the Boston Bruins
for Shaone Morrisonn
and two draft picks. Finishing the season with Boston, he would tally 58 points, leading all NHL defencemen. Between 2000 and 2004, Gonchar recorded more points than any other defenceman, with 74 goals and 241 points.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Gonchar returned to Russia to play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk
, where he played with future Pittsburgh teammates Petr Sýkora
and Evgeni Malkin
. After the lockout, Gonchar signed a 5-year, $25 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins
on August 4, 2005. In 2006–07, his second season with Pittsburgh, Gonchar tied a career-high with 67 points. In addition to his on-ice duties for the Penguins, Gonchar housed rookie Evgeni Malkin
when he arrived from Russia in October 2006.
The following season, Gonchar helped lead the Penguins, with offensive superstars Sidney Crosby
and Evgeni Malkin, to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
, the franchise's first finals appearance since 1992
. After a 65-point regular season (the eighth 50-plus point season of his career), Gonchar added 14 points in 20 playoff games, as the Penguins lost in the finals to the Detroit Red Wings
. Gonchar placed fourth in Norris Trophy voting, tying his best-ever placing for the league's best defenceman.
During the first game of the 2008–09
pre-season, Gonchar was hit into the boards by David Kočí
in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning
, dislocating his shoulder
. It was reported that he would miss 4–6 months after opting for arthroscopic
surgery. While both Gonchar and defensive partner Brooks Orpik
claimed the hit was late, well after Gonchar had completed a pass, it was asserted by coach Michel Therrien
as a clean hit and that Koci had simply "finished his check". With the Penguins struggling to make the playoffs, Gonchar returned to play his first game of the season on February 14, 2009, against the Toronto Maple Leafs
after being sidelined for 21 weeks. He played in the final 25 games of the regular season and tallied 19 points, helping the Penguins into the 2009 playoffs
as the fourth seed. However, playing in game four of the Conference Semi-Finals against the Washington Capitals
, Gonchar suffered a serious knee injury. Despite being initially expected to be out for several weeks and possibly the remainder of the playoffs, Gonchar returned for game seven of the series. Gonchar and the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup in seven games, facing the Detroit Red Wings for the second consecutive year. After winning, he revealed he had been playing with a partially torn medial collateral ligament
.
Gonchar was sidelined with injuries again for a total of 20 games in the 2009–10 season
. Despite missing time, he went on to record his ninth 50-point season in the past 10 seasons, besting Nicklas Lidstrom
's eight. He also had his eleventh season with 10 goals or more, tying Sergei Zubov
for the most 10+ goal seasons among Russian defencemen. Gonchar finished the season third in points-per-game average among defencemen (behind Norris Trophy nominees Mike Green and Duncan Keith
). He set an NHL record on March 2, 2010, by scoring his 200th NHL goal, making him the first Russian defenceman to ever do so in the NHL.
From the 2000-01 season to the 2009-10 season, Gonchar tallied exactly 500 points, which was second among NHL defensemen only to Nicklas Lidstrom's 550 points. Gonchar was also second among NHL defensemen in assists during that span with 372 assists, behind Lidstrom's 434 assists. However, he led the league in goals by a defenseman during that span, scoring 128 goals. Rob Blake
was second with 119 goals, while Lidstrom had 116 goals. Gonchar would actually lead the NHL in points-per-game average among NHL defensemen during that span, scoring at 0.80 points per game to Lidstrom's 0.76 points per game. He would also lead the league in goals created per game among NHL defensemen with 0.27 to Al MacInnis
's 0.26 and Lidstrom's 0.25. In fact, since his first NHL season in 1995, only Lidstrom has scored more points among defencemen. Lidstrom tallied 889 points in that time, while Gonchar tallied 684 points. Scott Niedermayer
was third with 653 points.
On July 1, 2010, Gonchar signed a three-year, $16-million contract with the NHL's Ottawa Senators. The deal included a no-trade clause. Gonchar returned to Pittsburgh on October 18, 2010 for a regular season game against the Penguins where he was welcomed by Pittsburgh fans with a standing ovation and highlight reel from his career with the team.
medal-winner with Team Russia. He earned a silver medal at the 1998 Games
, and a bronze medal at the 2002 Games
. Gonchar met his future wife, Xenia Smetanenko
, a, then, figure skater for Armenia
, at the 1998 Nagano Olympic games.
In addition, Gonchar also competed in the 1993 World Junior Championship, two World Cups
and two World Championships.
International statistics
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
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...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
currently playing for the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast 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 has also played for 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...
, Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, with whom he won 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...
in 2009.
Playing career
Sergei Gonchar began his professional career in 1991 with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the Soviet Championship League. He also played two seasons for Dynamo MoscowHC Dynamo Moscow
HC Dynamo Moscow was a Russian professional ice hockey club based in Moscow. They were members of the Bobrov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League...
.
Gonchar was the first round pick, 14th overall, of 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...
in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
1992 NHL Entry Draft
The 1992 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 264 players were drafted.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
. He began his North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n career in 1994
1993–94 AHL season
The 1993–94 AHL season was the 58th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The St. John's Maple Leafs finished first overall in the regular season...
, suiting up in two playoff games for the Capitals' American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) affiliate, the Portland Pirates
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
. He continued with Portland in 1994–95
1994–95 AHL season
The 1994–95 AHL season was the 59th season of the American Hockey League. The All-Star Game is revived, with All-Stars grouped into "Team Canada" and "Team USA." Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule...
, before making his NHL debut, with the Capitals, on February 7, 1995 against 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:...
. He would appear in 31 games total during the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season. The following year, in his first full-length campaign in the NHL, Gonchar would tally 41 points, showing his potential as an effective offensive defenceman.
In the 1998-99 season
1998-99 NHL season
-Stanley Cup Final:The teams split the first two games, held in Dallas, then split the following two games in Buffalo. In the fifth game, Dallas shut out Buffalo to put the Sabres on the brink of elimination. Game 6 was held in Buffalo and it went to triple-overtime before being decided on Brett...
, Gonchar became the first Russian defenseman to score over 20 goals in regular-season play. The following season, Gonchar would break the 50-point mark for the first time in his career. He would also finish in fifth place in Norris Trophy voting as the NHL's best defenceman.
After 57 and 67-point (tied for a career high) seasons in 2000–01 and 2002–03 respectively, Gonchar was named to the Second All-Star Team
NHL All-Star Team
The NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are...
both seasons.
On March 3, 2004, in his tenth season with the Capitals, Gonchar was traded to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
for Shaone Morrisonn
Shaone Morrisonn
Shaone Morrisonn is a professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Rochester Americans of the AHL.- Playing career :Shaone started his hockey career with the Vancouver Thunderbird Minor Hockey Association...
and two draft picks. Finishing the season with Boston, he would tally 58 points, leading all NHL defencemen. Between 2000 and 2004, Gonchar recorded more points than any other defenceman, with 74 goals and 241 points.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Gonchar returned to Russia to play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Metallurg Magnitogorsk is a professional ice hockey team based in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. They are members of the Kharlamov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League...
, where he played with future Pittsburgh teammates Petr Sýkora
Petr Sýkora
Petr Sýkora is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League . Sýkora has previously played in the NHL for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild. He is a two-time Stanley Cup...
and Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni "Geno" Vladimirovich Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ....
. After the lockout, Gonchar signed a 5-year, $25 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
on August 4, 2005. In 2006–07, his second season with Pittsburgh, Gonchar tied a career-high with 67 points. In addition to his on-ice duties for the Penguins, Gonchar housed rookie Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni "Geno" Vladimirovich Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ....
when he arrived from Russia in October 2006.
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
and Evgeni Malkin, to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
2008 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2008 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2007–08 season. As a culmination of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings defeated the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh...
, the franchise's first finals appearance since 1992
1992 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1992 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Prince of Wales Conference and defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and the Clarence Campbell Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks were making their first appearance in the Final since...
. After a 65-point regular season (the eighth 50-plus point season of his career), Gonchar added 14 points in 20 playoff games, as the Penguins lost in the finals to the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. Gonchar placed fourth in Norris Trophy voting, tying his best-ever placing for the league's best defenceman.
During the first game of the 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...
pre-season, Gonchar was hit into the boards by David Kočí
David Kocí
David Kočí is a Czech professional ice hockey player who is currently an Unrestricted Free Agent. He last played for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
in a game against 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...
, dislocating his shoulder
Dislocated shoulder
A dislocated shoulder occurs when the humerus separates from the scapula at the glenohumeral joint. The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body and as a result is particularly susceptible to dislocation and subluxation. Approximately half of major joint...
. It was reported that he would miss 4–6 months after opting for arthroscopic
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage of the interior of a joint is performed using an arthroscope, a type of endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision...
surgery. While both Gonchar and defensive partner Brooks Orpik
Brooks Orpik
Brooks Orpik is an American professional ice hockey defenseman, an alternate captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . His brother, Andrew, was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres organization and is also currently in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization...
claimed the hit was late, well after Gonchar had completed a pass, it was asserted by coach Michel Therrien
Michel Therrien
Michel Therrien is a hockey scout for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League. Prior to that he was a player and head coach for the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Therrien coached the Canadiens for three seasons, taking them to the Eastern Conference semi-finals in the...
as a clean hit and that Koci had simply "finished his check". With the Penguins struggling to make the playoffs, Gonchar returned to play his first game of the season on February 14, 2009, against the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
after being sidelined for 21 weeks. He played in the final 25 games of the regular season and tallied 19 points, helping the Penguins into the 2009 playoffs
2009 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and...
as the fourth seed. However, playing in game four of the Conference Semi-Finals against 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...
, Gonchar suffered a serious knee injury. Despite being initially expected to be out for several weeks and possibly the remainder of the playoffs, Gonchar returned for game seven of the series. Gonchar and the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup in seven games, facing the Detroit Red Wings for the second consecutive year. After winning, he revealed he had been playing with a partially torn medial collateral ligament
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
.
Gonchar was sidelined with injuries again for a total of 20 games in the 2009–10 season
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...
. Despite missing time, he went on to record his ninth 50-point season in the past 10 seasons, besting Nicklas Lidstrom
Nicklas Lidström
Nicklas Erik Lidström is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings, and is their captain...
's eight. He also had his eleventh season with 10 goals or more, tying Sergei Zubov
Sergei Zubov
Sergei Alexandrovich Zubov is a former Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League as well as SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League...
for the most 10+ goal seasons among Russian defencemen. Gonchar finished the season third in points-per-game average among defencemen (behind Norris Trophy nominees Mike Green and Duncan Keith
Duncan Keith
Duncan Keith is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is an alternate captain for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
). He set an NHL record on March 2, 2010, by scoring his 200th NHL goal, making him the first Russian defenceman to ever do so in the NHL.
From the 2000-01 season to the 2009-10 season, Gonchar tallied exactly 500 points, which was second among NHL defensemen only to Nicklas Lidstrom's 550 points. Gonchar was also second among NHL defensemen in assists during that span with 372 assists, behind Lidstrom's 434 assists. However, he led the league in goals by a defenseman during that span, scoring 128 goals. Rob Blake
Rob Blake
Robert Bowlby Blake is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, appearing in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy and serving as team captain for five seasons in his initial 11 season-stint with...
was second with 119 goals, while Lidstrom had 116 goals. Gonchar would actually lead the NHL in points-per-game average among NHL defensemen during that span, scoring at 0.80 points per game to Lidstrom's 0.76 points per game. He would also lead the league in goals created per game among NHL defensemen with 0.27 to Al MacInnis
Al MacInnis
Allan MacInnis is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues. A first round selection of the Flames in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, he went on to become a 13-time All-Star...
's 0.26 and Lidstrom's 0.25. In fact, since his first NHL season in 1995, only Lidstrom has scored more points among defencemen. Lidstrom tallied 889 points in that time, while Gonchar tallied 684 points. Scott Niedermayer
Scott Niedermayer
Scott Niedermayer is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for two teams: the New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks. Niedermayer was known for his skating stride, and ability for leading or joining the offensive rush...
was third with 653 points.
On July 1, 2010, Gonchar signed a three-year, $16-million contract with the NHL's Ottawa Senators. The deal included a no-trade clause. Gonchar returned to Pittsburgh on October 18, 2010 for a regular season game against the Penguins where he was welcomed by Pittsburgh fans with a standing ovation and highlight reel from his career with the team.
Awards
- Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 200151st National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 51st National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on February 4, 2001, at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The final score was North America 14, World 12.-Super Skills Competition:...
, 200252nd National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 52nd National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on February 2, 2002, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The final score was World 8, North America 5. This was the last National Hockey League All-Star Game to have the North America vs...
, 200353rd National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 53rd National Hockey League All-Star Game was held during the 2002–03 NHL season, and took place at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise, Florida, the home of the Florida Panthers, on February 2, 2003...
, 200454th National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 54th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place during the 2003–04 NHL season and was held on February 8, 2004, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, official arena of the NHL's Minnesota Wild...
and 200856th National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 56th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held on January 27, 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Atlanta Thrashers, during the 2007–08 NHL season.... - Named to the NHL Second All-Star TeamNHL All-Star TeamThe NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are...
in 2001 and 2003 - Won the Stanley CupStanley CupThe 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...
with the Pittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in 20092009 Stanley Cup FinalsThe Red Wings took Game 1, 3–1, as three different Detroit players scored goals off of unusual bounces. The first period featured back and forth action, with each team having a variety of chances...
.
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 | ||
| 1991–92 | Traktor Chelyabinsk | CIS | 31 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | HC Dynamo Moscow HC Dynamo Moscow HC Dynamo Moscow was a Russian professional ice hockey club based in Moscow. They were members of the Bobrov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League... |
IHL International Hockey League (1992–1996) The International Hockey League lasted from 1992 to 1996. It replaced the Soviet Union's Championship league. The last season was in 1995-1996, as the league was replaced replaced by the Russian Superleague the following season.... |
31 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | HC Dynamo Moscow | IHL | 44 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 1994–95 AHL season The 1994–95 AHL season was the 59th season of the American Hockey League. The All-Star Game is revived, with All-Stars grouped into "Team Canada" and "Team USA." Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule... |
Portland Pirates Portland Pirates The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
61 | 10 | 32 | 42 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | 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 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... |
31 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1995–96 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 78 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 60 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 1996–97 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 57 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | 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... |
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... |
7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 72 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 66 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 30 | ||
| 1998–99 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 53 | 21 | 10 | 31 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 73 | 18 | 36 | 54 | 52 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2000–01 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 76 | 19 | 38 | 57 | 70 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 76 | 26 | 33 | 59 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 82 | 18 | 49 | 67 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 56 | 7 | 42 | 49 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
NHL | 15 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2004–05 | Metallurg Magnitogorsk Metallurg Magnitogorsk Metallurg Magnitogorsk is a professional ice hockey team based in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. They are members of the Kharlamov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League... |
RSL | 40 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 57 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2005–06 | Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... |
NHL | 75 | 12 | 46 | 58 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 82 | 13 | 54 | 67 | 72 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 78 | 12 | 53 | 65 | 66 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 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... |
Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 25 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 26 | 22 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 12 | ||
| 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... |
Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 62 | 11 | 39 | 50 | 49 | 13 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 4 | ||
| 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... |
Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 67 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1058 | 209 | 502 | 711 | 862 | 118 | 21 | 59 | 80 | 78 | ||||
International play
Gonchar is a two-time OlympicWinter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
medal-winner with Team Russia. He earned a silver medal at the 1998 Games
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to...
, and a bronze medal at the 2002 Games
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics were held at the E Center in West Valley City and Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host USA in both games.-Men:...
. Gonchar met his future wife, Xenia Smetanenko
Xenia Smetanenko
Ksenia Smetanenko or Xenia Smetanenko is a retired Russian competitive ice dancer who also competed for Armenia and Germany.Smetanenko originally competed for Russia. With Igor Lukanin, she placed 3rd at the 1992 Russian National Junior Championships and 10th at the 1993 World Junior Championships...
, a, then, figure skater for Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, at the 1998 Nagano Olympic games.
In addition, Gonchar also competed in the 1993 World Junior Championship, two World Cups
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...
and two World Championships.
International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | Place | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 17th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Gävle, Sweden. Canada won the gold medal, its sixth championship, while Sweden won silver, and the combined team of the Czech and Slovak Republics won bronze... |
Russia | WJC | 6th | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | |
| 1996 1996 World Cup of Hockey The first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey .... |
Russia | WCH 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... |
SF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1998 Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to... |
Russia | Oly Ice hockey at the Olympic Games Ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1920. The men's tournament was introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics and was transferred permanently to the Winter Olympic Games programme in 1924. The women's tournament was first held at the 1998 Winter Olympics... |
6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2000 2000 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -World Championship Group A :Final standings# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # — relegated to Division I for 2001# -World Championship Group B :... |
Russia | WC 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... |
11th | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2002 Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics were held at the E Center in West Valley City and Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host USA in both games.-Men:... |
Russia | Oly | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2004 2004 World Cup of Hockey The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues... |
Russia | WCH | 5th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| 2006 Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics -Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and... |
Russia | Oly | 4th | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
| 2007 2007 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -Championship:Final standings# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # — relegated to Division I for 2008# — relegated to Division I for 2008- Group A :Final standings# — promoted to Championship for 2008# # # #... |
Russia | WC | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2010 Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held at Canada Hockey Place, home of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, and at UBC Winter Sports Centre, home of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's UBC Thunderbirds. Twelve teams competed in the men's event and eight teams competed in the... |
Russia | Oly | 6th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2010 2010 IIHF World Championship The 2010 IIHF World Championship was the 74th IIHF World Championship, an annual international ice hockey tournament. It took place between 7 and 23 May 2010 in Germany. The games were played in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, SAP Arena in Mannheim, and one game at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen... |
Russia | WC | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Senior int'l totals | 52 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 26 | ||||