Igor Bobkov Explained

Team:Amur Khabarovsk
League:KHL
Former Teams:Admiral Vladivostok
Avangard Omsk
Ak Bars Kazan
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Position:Goaltender
Birth Date:2 January 1991
Birth Place:Surgut, Russian SFSR,
Soviet Union
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lb:192
Catches:Left
Draft:76th overall
Draft Year:2009
Draft Team:Anaheim Ducks
Career Start:2008

Igor Bobkov (Russian: Игорь Бобков) (born January 2, 1991) is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender. He currently plays for Amur Khabarovsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was previously under a two-way contract with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL), however never featured with the Ducks. Before playing professional hockey, Bobkov spent time in the Ontario Hockey League with the London Knights and Kingston Frontenacs. Bobkov represents Russia internationally, and helped them win a gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Playing career

Bobkov was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 3rd round (76th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. After spending a year in Russia, including playing at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Bobkov was selected 53rd overall in the 2010 CHL Import Draft by the London Knights. He managed three wins in 21 games playing behind Michael Houser. He was signed by the Ducks to a three-year entry-level contract on October 7, 2010.[1] During the 2011 OHL offseason, Bobkov was traded to the Kingston Frontenacs.[2]

Bobkov made his professional debut with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League at the end of the 2010–11 season, after his season with the Knights was over. He joined the Crunch again after the Frontenacs' season was over the following season. Bobkov made the jump to professional hockey full-time with the Norfolk Admirals during the 2012–13 season.[3] During the 2013–14 season, Bobkov has split time between the Admirals in the AHL and the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.[4]

On August 6, 2015, after not being tendered a contract offer to be retained by the Ducks, Bobkov's KHL rights were traded from Metallurg Magnitogorsk to Admiral Vladivostok. He was then signed as free agent to a two-year contract with the Russian club.[5]

After three seasons with Admiral, Bobkov left Vladivostok as a free agent, securing a lucrative two-year contract with Avangard Omsk on May 16, 2018.[6]

In the 2020–21 season, Bobkov backstopped in tandem with Šimon Hrubec, helping Avangard to their first KHL championship, posting an 18–7–2 regular season record and collecting 4 post-season wins to claim the Gagarin Cup.

As a free agent following the conclusion of his contract with Avangard, Bobkov signed a one-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan on 14 May 2021.[7] In the following 2021–22 season, Bobkov made just 16 appearances with Ak Bars, collecting 7 wins.

Bobkov left Ak Bars at the conclusion of his contract and moved to Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg as a free agent, agreeing to a one-year contract on 6 May 2022.[8] In the 2022–23 season, Bobkov made 34 appearances in posting a 14–13–1 record in the regular season.

As a free agent, Bobkov signed a one-year agreement with Amur Khabarovsk on 11 May 2023.[9]

International play

Bobkov was recognized as the "Best Goaltender" at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he backstopped Team Russia to a win a silver medal.[10] He represented Russia again at the 2010 and 2011 World Junior Championships, helping the team to a gold medal in 2011.[11] During the 2011 tournament, Bobkov served as a backup to Dmitri Shikin for most of the tournament. In the gold medal game against Canada, Bobkov came in to relieve Shikin and stopped 20 shots. In addition to securing the gold medal, Bobkov was named Russia's top player in that game.

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2008–09Metallurg MagnitogorskRussia 39-24--
2009–10Stalnye LisyMHL14816653022.71.89320059303.50.893
2010–11London KnightsOHL21410010487204.12.87430029204.16.882
2010–11Syracuse CrunchAHL2200120703.51.917
2011–12Kingston FrontenacsOHL5817326330020013.64.902
2011–12Syracuse CrunchAHL42112461102.68.913
2012–13Norfolk AdmiralsAHL281117015708223.13.903
2013–14Utah GrizzliesECHL29178417686022.04.921202130703.23.881
2013–14Norfolk AdmiralsAHL105315432202.43.919
2014–15Norfolk AdmiralsAHL72403792704.27.852
2014–15Utah GrizzliesECHL341912219508442.58.91810455472512.74.915
2015–16Admiral VladivostokKHL28711614396232.59.909211119412.02.922
2016–17Admiral VladivostokKHL381715421757452.04.9326243741802.89.888
2017–18Admiral VladivostokKHL33917317287402.57.917
2018–19Avangard OmskKHL492517426828981.99.9141912711813631.83.926
2019–20Avangard OmskKHL482516628168151.73.9326243242003.70.882
2020–21Avangard OmskKHL30187216695612.01.9287424071712.51.903
2021–22Ak Bars KazanKHL167709033322.19.897
2022–23Avtomobilist YekaterinburgKHL341413117816722.26.9243121731204.17.888
2023–24Amur KhabarovskKHL441916525369332.20.9306243241502.78.923
AHL totals5122252285814923.13.901
KHL totals3201411193117,729629292.13.9234924242,90212252.52.909

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
2009RussiaU1864203602013.33
2010RussiaWJC6th63303431312.45
2011RussiaWJC211093603.85.903
Junior totals14860796392
As of the end of the 2010–11 season.[12] [13]

Awards and honors

AwardYear
KHL
All-Star Game2017, 2019, 2020
Gagarin Cup (Avangard Omsk)2021[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ducks ink Bobkov to entry-level deal . . 2010-10-07 . 2011-05-31.
  2. News: Bobkov now part of Frontenacs' rebuild . London Free Press . Pyette, Ryan . 2011-06-02 . 2013-12-30.
  3. Web site: Igor Bobkov Anaheim Ducks . . 2013-12-30.
  4. Web site: Igor Bobkov hockey statistics . hockeyDB.com . 2013-12-30 .
  5. Web site: Bobkov has signed a contract with Admiral . championat.com . 2015-08-06 . 2015-08-06 . Russian.
  6. Web site: Igor Bobkov signs two-year deal with Avangard . . 2018-05-16 . 2018-05-16.
  7. Web site: Igor Bobkov at Ak Bars . . 14 May 2021 . 14 May 2021 . Russian.
  8. Web site: Igor Bobkov is a newcomer to Avtomobilist . . 6 May 2022 . 6 May 2022 . Russian.
  9. Web site: Return to the Far East . . 11 May 2023 . 11 May 2023 . Russian .
  10. Web site: 2009 Award winners . 2009-01-29 . . 2009-01-29.
  11. Book: IIHF Guide & Record Book 2014 . Podnieks, Andrew . Fenn / McClelland & Stewart . Toronto . 420.
  12. Web site: Igor Bobkov . 2011-01-06 . NHL.
  13. Web site: World Junior Ice Hockey Championship Russia PLAYER STATISTICS BY TEAM . 2011-01-06 . . 2011-01-05 .
  14. Web site: Avangard is crowned 2021 Gagarin Cup Champions . . 29 April 2021 . 29 April 2021 . Russian .