Vadim Sharifijanov

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.

Vadim Sharifijanov
Born (1975-12-23) December 23, 1975
Ufa, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Left
Played for New Jersey Devils
Vancouver Canucks
National team  Russia
NHL Draft 25th overall, 1994
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 19922010

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 GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1990–91 Avangard Ufa URS.3 20002
1991–92 Avangard Ufa CIS.3 171128
1992–93 Salavat Yulaev Ufa IHL 37641016 21010
1992–93 Novoil Ufa RUS.2 10000
1993–94 Salavat Yulaev Ufa IHL 461061636 53034
1994–95 CSKA Moscow IHL 34731026 20000
1994–95 CSKA–2 Moscow RUS.2 11120
1994–95 Albany River Rats AHL 11120 933610
1995–96 Albany River Rats AHL 6914284228
1996–97 Albany River Rats AHL 7014274189 103366
1996–97 New Jersey Devils NHL 20000
1997–98 Albany River Rats AHL 7223275069 1249136
1998–99 New Jersey Devils NHL 5311162728 40000
1998–99 Albany River Rats AHL 21120
1999–2000 New Jersey Devils NHL 203478
1999–2000 Vancouver Canucks NHL 1721314
2000–01 Kansas City Blades IHL 7020436348
2001–02 Lada Togliatti RSL 400012
2001–02 Severstal–2 Cherepovets RUS.3 32130
2001–02 Severstal Cherepovets RSL 2593122 20006
2002–03 Spartak Moscow RSL 2322412
2002–03 Krylya Sovetov Moscow RSL 1653834
2003–04 Metallurg Novokuznetsk RSL 70116
2003–04 SKA Saint Petersburg RSL 2022420
2003–04 SKA–2 Saint Petersburg RUS.3 7310138
2004–05 Arboga IK SWE.2 703312
2004–05 Rapaces de Gap FRA 1527912 423512
2005–06 Sputnik Nizhny Tagil RUS.2 478152378 50112
2006–07 Sputnik Nizhny Tagil RUS.2 5411243548 40222
2007–08 Toros Neftekamsk RUS.2 4512233530 42022
2008–09 Toros Neftekamsk RUS.2 3611122346
2009–10 Rys Mozhaisk RUS.2 234101422
2009–10 Yertis Pavlodar KAZ 90224
2009–10 Kazzinc-Torpedo RUS.2 40112 70220
RUS totals 213412465164 1140410
AHL totals 2145384137186 3110152522
NHL totals 9216213750 40000

International

Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
1992 Russia EJC 68198
1993 Russia WJC 72244
1993 Russia EJC 63586
1994 Russia WJC 722410
1995 Russia WJC 746106
Junior totals 3319163534
Preceded by
Denis Pederson
New Jersey Devils first round draft pick
1994
Succeeded by
Petr Sýkora
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