Position: Defense
Height: 6-5
Weight: 230
Shoots: Left
Birthday: August 30, 1968
Birthplace: Ekaterinburg, Russia

Olympic Experience
Will be skating in his second Winter Olympic Games for Russia. Vladimir also was a member of the Russian team at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. He captured a gold medal at the 1992 Games.

• Missed 79 games after suffering a left knee injury on Oct. 7 at Atlanta and undergoing reconstructive knee surgery on Dec. 1.
   
• Skated in three matches with the Rangers, tallying two assists.
   
• Made his Rangers debut and registered his first point as a Ranger on Oct. 7 at Atlanta, assisting on Valeri Kamensky's power play goal.

• Named to the 1992-93 NHL All-Rookie Team as a member of the New York Islanders.
   
• Helped lead the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup Championship during the 1999-00 season, collecting five points in 23 playoff contests.
   
• Has appeared in 520 career matches with the New York Islanders, Montreal, New Jersey and the New York Rangers, recording 76 goals and 219 assists for 295 points, along with 535 penalty minutes.
   
• Signed as a free agent with the Rangers on July 10, 2000.
   
• Originally drafted by the Islanders in the 12th round, 191st overall, of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

Did anyone inspire you to play? If so who and how? - Laura grade 6, LI
My father was the biggest factor in me playing hockey. He was a former player and he started me skating when I was very young. He sacrificed a lot to enable me to play the game and was always there to support me. As for a hockey idol, I looked up to Slava Fetisov, one of the game's all-time greats because he was Russian and played well on offense and defense. Interestingly, Slava is our coach for the Olympics!!

Did you have to give up something to come to the Olympics? - Danny grade 6, LI
Any player who has made it to the Olympics or the NHL has had to sacrifice many things because of all the hard work that goes into playing the game. We sacrifice time with our families during the season because we have so many games and practices. Many players, like me, are a long way from their hometown, so we've had to leave friends and family in order to accomplish our goals. Luckily, we can see them in the summer.

Did you ever knock down the goalie from hitting him with a slapshot? - Danny grade 6, LI
Even though I won the Rangers hardest shot competition this year, I have never knocked a goalie down from a slapshot. Most of the time, I shoot the puck low, so that one of our other players can tip it past the goalie. I'd rather have the puck go in the net than knock the goalie down, you don't get any points for that!!!!

Are you glad that there is no fighting allowed in Olympic Games? - Bruce, 6th grader, NYC
The wide open space of the Olympic rink -- which is 50 feet bigger than an NHL-sized rink, allows for a game that is more focused on skating and less on the physical component that may be more typical in an NHL game... Both have their strengths and challenges. I am looking forward to playing a more finesse game in Salt Lake City, but of course I am focused on winning the Stanley Cup with the Rangers. You adjust your game.