Without a doubt, there was a slew of phenomenal players who emerged from the Soviet Union and the formidable Red Army.  One such great player is blueliner Alexi Kasatonov, who played for the elite national team throughout the 1980s, winning two Olympic Gold Medals (1984 & 1988), a Canada Cup Gold Medal (1981), and the World Hockey Championship five times.  Kasatonov was easily among the elite of Soviet Defenseman, and he was also a multi-time champion in the Soviet League with CSKA Moscow.  He would join the NHL at the age of 30, and although he was no longer a top player, he was still an All-Star in 1984.

Part 2 of 8: Kirk Buchner discusses the Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibles from the AFC South with Vinny Lospinuso.

A Second Team All-Star with the Winnipeg Jets before he arrived in Chicago, Alex Zhamnov had a good run for the Chicago Blackhawks, albeit while playing for them when they were not particularly that good.  An All-Star in 2012, the Russian Centre would have four 60 Point seasons with 424 in total for the Blackhawks, averaging a solid .80 PPG.  Sadly for Zhamnov, he is dead last among the 50 Blackhawks players in terms of Playoff Games, having played in only five of them.