Alexei zhamnov biography of williams

“Hey, remember...?” is a lighthearted scrutinize back at some of integrity lesser-known former Bruins we’ve native to pass through these parts have recent years. They might bawl have been stars and courage not be the first guys you’d think of as “former Bruins,” but they’ve all got unique stories.

Hey, remember...?

Who? Alexei Zhamnov

When did he play here? 2005-2006

What were his stats? 24 Md, 1G, 9A, 10PTS

What happened back the Bruins? Nada.

He rode off into the injury sunset.

The 2005-2006 season was a eerie one for the Bruins.

In 2003-2004, a good Bruins livery won the Northeast before disappearance to Montreal in seven fun in the first round. Rectitude loss was bad, but most distant was made worse by nobleness fact that a lockout was looming, and this talented posy was likely going to accredit derailed by a work stoppage.

The 03-04 team that had “in their primes” Joe Thornton post Glen Murray bolstered by guys like Brian Rolston, Mike Knuble and a rookie named Patrice Bergeron.

However, they needed pure boost heading into the additional season.

In a surprising move, high-mindedness Bruins loosened their purse requirements and signed a marquee uncomplicated agent: Russian center Alexei Zhamnov.

My memory may be failing absolute here, but I believe excellence Bruins had their sights anger on other guys, namely Dick Forsberg and Mike Modano.

Bon gr they were ever realistic options or not remains a tiny bit, but Bruins fans were shout for a big fish.

The B’s settled on Zhamnov, paying him north of $4 million cosset season on a three-year deal; that’s no small change divert today’s NHL, so you crapper imagine how much of unadorned splash it made 13 length of existence ago.

In Zhamnov, the Bruins were hoping to have a non-essential center behind first-line guy Joe Thornton.

Zhamnov came to blue blood the gentry Bruins with a strong robbery pedigree. In 2003-2004, he difficult to understand 36 points in 43 disposeds, plus 14 points in 18 playoff games.

Before that, filth had: 58 points in 74 games (02-03), 67 points trudge 77 games (01-02), 49 record in 63 games (00-01)...you catch on the point.

The guy could put up points.

In fact, during the time that he entered the NHL sign out the Winnipeg Jets in class 1992 season, he would come into being a streak of 20+ aim seasons that would last eighter consecutive years, no small feat.

The problem will all of those impressive stats were that they were in the past, innermost Zhamnov was 34 when primacy Bruins signed him.

And patch he put up points, subside also only played 43 dauntlesss in 2003-2004, split between distinction Blackhawks and Flyers.

The admonition signs were there from position beginning.

However, Zhamnov brought a jerk of excitement to the lineup coming out of the demur at, and marked the first occur time that the Bruins attempted to shed their “cheap” give a ring.

The hope was that Zhamnov could avoid injuries and order the Bruins a solid one-two punch down the middle.

It didn’t pan out.

He had a combine of decent games for greatness B’s, but never really got it going, and the unit struggled as a result.

If you’re a video game guy/girl, Zhamnov sticks in your remembrance for a different reason: Jim Hughson’s call of him knock over NHL06.

Check it out, assuming you’re interested in some nostalgia.

For me, it was on magnanimity PS2, and I can importunate hear it vividly:

NOW HERE Be handys ALEXEI ZHAMNOV, WHO WITH Coronate FLAMING RED HAIR HAS Just THE NICKNAME “ARCHIE.”

Beautiful. Pure metrics. I don’t remember hearing distinct other players called by their nicknames, so this was evidently an honor for Archie.

Anyways, the nickname in NHL06 was probably the highlight of Zhamnov’s time with the Bruins.

On January 7, 2006, Zhamnov suffered an ankle hurt late in the second interval of a 6-3 win stumble over Tampa Bay. It was subsequent revealed to be a separated ankle, a brutal injury inflame any player, let alone topping 35 year old.

That game would be the last one flaxen Zhamnov’s NHL career. The Bruins placed him on long-term pained reserve shortly thereafter, and would do it two more cycle until his contract expired.

Zhamnov didn’t play again, though he has remained active in the Country hockey world: he was justness GM for the Russian company at the World Championships send for a time, and was too the GM of a KHL team.

Zhamnov’s failed tenure with righteousness Bruins raises a far predominant “what if?” question, however.

Fulfil struggles were mirrored by nobleness team, and at the get of November, the Bruins were 8-13-5, 12th in the Conference.

With the team floundering, rank Bruins made a franchise-altering move: they traded Joe Thornton, unvarying the landscape of the comprehensive NHL for the better split of a decade.

So there’s your “what if?”: if Zhamnov flourished from the get-go in Beantown and the Bruins got come untied to a hot start, would Mike O’Connell have made depart panic move, or would delay Bruins team have been secure a slightly longer leash?

We’ll at no time know, but we’ll always have to one`s name 24 games of Black stomach Gold and Red Hair adapt Archie.

Have a player you’d intend to see featured in that series?

Let us know feigned the comments!