Vadim Sharifijanov Explained

Vadim Rimovich Sharifijanov (Russian: Вадим Римович Шарифьянов; born December 23, 1975) is a Russian former professional ice hockey right winger who spent parts of three seasons in the National Hockey League with the New Jersey Devils and the Vancouver Canucks.

Playing career

Sharifijanov burst onto the international hockey scene in 1992, when he was named a tournament all-star after scoring 8 goals in 6 games at the European U18 Championships at the age of only 16. After two solid seasons with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Russian Super League, he was selected in the first round (25th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. He spent one more year in Russia with HC CSKA Moscow before coming to North America, and also turned in a stellar performance at the 1995 World Junior Championships, recording 10 points in 7 games.

Sharifijanov joined the Albany River Rats, New Jersey's AHL affiliate, after the Russian season ended in 1995, and scored 2 points in his first North American professional game. However, his progress to the NHL would be slow in a deep New Jersey system, and his first three full seasons were spent almost entirely in Albany, appearing in only 2 NHL games during the 1996–97 campaign.

In 1998–99, Sharifijanov was finally promoted to the Devils and turned in a highly successful rookie season, recording 11 goals and 27 points in just 53 games. Stocky and strong on the puck, he displayed a well-rounded all-around game and a solid touch around the net.

However, in 1999–2000 his play fell off considerably. After scoring just 3 goals in 20 games for the Devils, and showing a marked drop-off in his defensive play, Sharifijanov was shipped to the Vancouver Canucks for a draft pick. In Vancouver, he made an instant impact, scoring a goal on his first shift as a Canuck, but it was all downhill from there as he quickly became a healthy scratch and earned a reputation for lazy play. He finished the season with just 5 goals and 10 points in 37 games, as well as a +/- rating of a dismal -13.

The 2000–01 season would prove no better, as Sharifijanov failed to crack the Canucks' roster out of training camp and was assigned to the Kansas City Blades of the International Hockey League, where he spent the entire season. Released by the Canucks, Sharifijanov returned to Russia. He would continue to struggle in Russia, however, and would suit up for 6 different Super League teams in the next three seasons without making any significant impact for any of them. After brief stints in France and Sweden, Sharifijanov signed on with Sputnik Nizhny Tagil of the Supreme Hockey League in 2005.

In 92 NHL games, Sharifijanov recorded 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points, along with 50 penalty minutes. His sudden decline in ability while still a young player remains unexplained - at age 23, he was a key young player on an elite NHL team, and by the time he turned 26 he was already unable to hold down a regular job in the Russian Superleague.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP				PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1990–91	Avangard Ufa	URS.3		2	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Avangard Ufa	CIS.3		17	1	1	2	8		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Salavat Yulaev Ufa	IHL		37	6	4	10	16		2	1	0	1	0
1992–93	Novoil Ufa	RUS.2		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Salavat Yulaev Ufa	IHL		46	10	6	16	36		5	3	0	3	4
1994–95	CSKA Moscow	IHL		34	7	3	10	26		2	0	0	0	0
1994–95	CSKA–2 Moscow	RUS.2		1	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Albany River Rats	AHL		1	1	1	2	0		9	3	3	6	10
1995–96	Albany River Rats	AHL		69	14	28	42	28		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Albany River Rats	AHL		70	14	27	41	89		10	3	3	6	6
1996–97	New Jersey Devils	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Albany River Rats	AHL		72	23	27	50	69		12	4	9	13	6
1998–99	New Jersey Devils	NHL		53	11	16	27	28		4	0	0	0	0
1998–99	Albany River Rats	AHL		2	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	New Jersey Devils	NHL		20	3	4	7	8		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		17	2	1	3	14		—	—	—	—	—
	Kansas City Blades	IHL		70	20	43	63	48		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Lada Togliatti	RSL		4	0	0	0	12		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Severstal–2 Cherepovets	RUS.3		3	2	1	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Severstal Cherepovets	RSL		25	9	3	12	2		2	0	0	0	6
2002–03	Spartak Moscow	RSL		23	2	2	4	12		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Krylya Sovetov Moscow	RSL		16	5	3	8	34		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Metallurg Novokuznetsk	RSL		7	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	SKA Saint Petersburg	RSL		20	2	2	4	20		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	SKA–2 Saint Petersburg	RUS.3		7	3	10	13	8		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Arboga IK	SWE.2		7	0	3	3	12		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Rapaces de Gap	FRA		15	2	7	9	12		4	2	3	5	12
2005–06	Sputnik Nizhny Tagil	RUS.2		47	8	15	23	78		5	0	1	1	2
2006–07	Sputnik Nizhny Tagil	RUS.2		54	11	24	35	48		4	0	2	2	2
2007–08	Toros Neftekamsk	RUS.2		45	12	23	35	30		4	2	0	2	2
2008–09	Toros Neftekamsk	RUS.2		36	11	12	23	46		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Rys Mozhaisk	RUS.2		23	4	10	14	22		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Yertis Pavlodar	KAZ		9	0	2	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Kazzinc–Torpedo	RUS.2		4	0	1	1	2		7	0	2	2	0
RUS totals				213	41	24	65	164		11	4	0	4	10
AHL totals				214	53	84	137	186		31	10	15	25	22
NHL totals				92	16	21	37	50		4	0	0	0	0

International

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Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992	Russia	EJC		6	8	1	9	8
1993	Russia	WJC		7	2	2	4	4
1993	Russia	EJC		6	3	5	8	6
1994	Russia	WJC		7	2	2	4	10
1995	Russia	WJC		7	4	6	10	6
Junior totals				33	19	16	35	34