Already a member of the IIHF Hall of Fame, Sergei Makarov will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, along with Eric Lindros, Rogie Vachon, and Pat Quinn.
Both Halls are located in the same building in Toronto, and the Russian forward rightfully belongs on each side.
Here's what you need to know about Makarov's splendid career.
Red Army
A native of Chelyabinsk, Makarov spent his formative playing years skating with CSKA Moscow, commonly referred to as the Red Army Team based on its past affiliation with the Soviet Army.
In those days, all able-bodied Soviet males were required to serve in the Army, meaning CSKA was able to draft the very best young players and build a hockey powerhouse built around the principles and discipline of military service. A member of the famous "KLM" line, Makarov - along with Vladimir Krutov and Igor Larionov - formed one of the most successful trios in hockey history.
In 519 games with CSKA, Makarov recorded 322 goals and 388 assists for a total of 710 points, the most in Soviet League history. Meanwhile, the club won 11 straight league championships.
During this time, Makarov was drafted by the Calgary Flames (1983), with then general manager Cliff Fletcher bestowing upon him the highest of comparisons.
"He was referred to at that time as the Wayne Gretzky of Russia," Cliff told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "He played on that powerhouse Red Army team, which was one of the greatest hockey teams ever, and he was the key player on their No. 1 line. Anybody who was a hockey fan, when you saw him play you knew he was a great player."
International dominance
Makarov's achievements at the international level are quite simply staggering.
Here's a quick tour.
- World Junior Championships: Two gold medals, 12 goals and 14 assists in 14 games.
- World Championships: Eight gold medals, one silver medal, two bronze medals, 56 goals and 68 assists in 100 games.
- Olympics: Two gold medals, one silver medal, 11 goals and 17 assists in 22 games.
- Canada Cup: One championship, one second-place finish, 16 goals and 15 assists in 22 games.
As impressive an international resume as one will ever find in hockey history.
Changing the NHL rule book
Prohibited from playing in the NHL by the Soviet Union until 1989, Makarov made an immediate impact upon joining the Flames.
In 68 games as a 31-year-old "rookie", Makarov recorded 24 goals and 62 assists, and went on to win the Calder Trophy. That Makarov won the award at an advanced age prompted the NHL to amend the rule book, stipulating from that point on that a player must be 26 or younger to be eligible for the trophy.
Makarov appeared in 424 NHL games with the Flames, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars (in a brief four-game comeback attempt), scoring 134 goals and adding 250 assists. Over the course of his tenure, no player over the age of 31 scored more goals.
One can only imagine where he'd rank among the league's greats had he been able to enjoy a lengthier NHL career.
"His career may have been starting to downtrend slightly by the time he reached the NHL, but he had a very productive two-to-three years for us and there was no doubting his individual talent," Fletcher said. "He was one unbelievably skilled hockey player."
That fact will now forever be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and rightfully so.
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