With the distinction the first ever Russian born player to be drafted in the first round by a team in the National Hockey League, Alexei Kovalev did not disappoint. Kovalev would score over 1,000 Points in the NHL and is a winner of the Stanley Cup and a Gold Medal as a member of the 1992 Unified Team. The crafty forward was a three-time All-Star and would earn Second Team All-Star honors once in his career.

Although Sandis Ozolinsh played for a plethora of NHL teams, Sandis Ozolinsh was not exactly a journeyman. The Latvian was adept at playmaking and was an excellent scoring defenseman. He finished his career playing in European leagues and though he made seven All-Star teams, there is a very good chance that he is going to be quickly forgotten by those who decide the Hall of Fame inductees.

The best player in the famous Nordiques/Flyers Eric Lindros trade was not Lindros. Rather it was the Swedish born playmaker, Peter Forsberg, who would win the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy and two Olympic Gold Medals and two Colorado Avalanche. Not a bad career for what was perceived as a throwaway in that trade!

The talented Slovakian player was a very good scorer in the National Hockey League and in International play, but Pavol Demitra is probably best known these days for his tragic end. Demitra was killed in the tragic plane crash that killed the entire Lokomotiv squad from the Russian League. We would rather remember him for his skilled play in hockey than for his unfortunate end.