Lithuanian ice hockey player (born 1978)
Ice hockey player
Dainius Gintas Zubrus
(born June 16, 1978) is a Lithuanian former professional
ice hockey
right winger
and
centre
who played in the
National Hockey League
(NHL), the first Lithuanian to have played
1,000 games in the NHL
. Drafted 15th overall in the
1996 NHL Entry Draft
by the
Philadelphia Flyers
, Zubrus played for the Flyers,
Montreal Canadiens
,
Washington Capitals
,
Buffalo Sabres
,
New Jersey Devils
and
San Jose Sharks
.
Playing career
[
edit
]
Early career
[
edit
]
In the summer of 1989 at 11 years of age, Zubrus moved to
Kharkiv
, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, to train under Ukrainian coach
Ivan Pravilov
, with whom he became close as he played for him for six years, on the
Druzhba-78
squad, where he played until the end of 1995.
[1]
[2]
As a youth, he played in the 1992
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament
with them.
[3]
Pravilov was arrested in 2012 for
sexual abuse
of a teenage student, and committed
suicide by hanging
in prison.
[4]
[5]
Zubrus said: "Since learning of the terrible accusations against my former coach, all my thoughts and concerns have been for the children. I have reached out to the children, and assured them that I am, and will continue to be, there for them."
[4]
Professional
[
edit
]
The
Philadelphia Flyers
selected Zubrus 15th overall in the
1996 NHL Entry Draft
from the
Caledon Canadians
of the
Metro Junior A Hockey League
, making him the highest drafted Tier II Junior "A" player since the inception of the
Canadian Junior A Hockey League
in 1993 (a record later surpassed when
Kyle Turris
was selected third at
2007 NHL Entry Draft
). Prior to being traded to Caledon, Zubrus played for the
Pembroke Lumber Kings
of the
Central Junior A Hockey League
.
[
citation needed
]
Zubrus made his NHL debut on October 5, 1996, scoring a goal against the
Florida Panthers
. In his rookie season, he helped the Flyers reach the
1997 Stanley Cup Finals
. The Flyers traded him to the
Montreal Canadiens
on March 10, 1999, along with a pair of draft picks, in exchange for
Mark Recchi
. He registered his first career
hat-trick
on October 14, 2000, against the
Chicago Blackhawks
, and was traded to the
Washington Capitals
(along with
Trevor Linden
) in exchange for
Richard Zednik
and
Jan Bulis
on March 13, 2001.
[6]
During the
2004?05 NHL lockout
, Zubrus decided to play abroad with Capitals teammate
Alexander Semin
. He played 42 regular season games for
Lada Togliatti
, recording 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points. He also appeared in ten playoff games while in the former
Russian Superleague
(RSL), scoring three goals and one assist.
[
citation needed
]
Zubrus returned to the Capitals the following
2005?06 season
and recorded a career-high 57 points playing alongside star rookie
Alexander Ovechkin
.
[7]
In the
2006?07 season
, Zubrus continued his impressive form, posting 52 points in 60 games before he was traded on February 27, 2007, to the
Buffalo Sabres
(along with
Timo Helbling
) in exchange for
Ji?i Novotny
and a first round-draft pick.
[8]
On July 3, 2007, as a
free agent
, Zubrus signed a six-year, $20.4 million contract with the
New Jersey Devils
.
[9]
On November 23, 2008, Zubrus had one of the best offensive games in Devils history. Zubrus tied a team record with four goals to help New Jersey win its season-high fourth straight game, 7?3 over the
Tampa Bay Lightning
.
[10]
Four years later, Zubrus got to his second Stanley Cup decision, losing the
2012 Stanley Cup Finals
to the
Los Angeles Kings
.
[11]
On July 4, 2013, the Devils re-signed Zubrus to a reported three-year contract.
[12]
[13]
On July 29, 2015, after eight seasons with the Devils, Zubrus was placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating the final year of his contract.
[14]
[15]
[16]
On October 27, 2015, it was announced Zubrus was invited to
professional tryout
(PTO) with the
St. Louis Blues
.
[17]
[18]
On November 6, 2015, Zubrus was released from his professional tryout after the Blues opted instead to sign
Martin Havlat
to a one-year contract.
[19]
On November 16, 2015, Zubrus was invited to a professional tryout by the
San Jose Sharks
.
[20]
[21]
Eight days later, he signed a contract with the Sharks, reuniting with former Devils head coach
Peter DeBoer
and former Devils teammate
Paul Martin
.
[22]
[23]
With San Jose, Zubrus reached his third
Stanley Cup Finals
, which the Sharks lost to the
Pittsburgh Penguins
.
[11]
He retired during the off-season.
[24]
International play
[
edit
]
Originally, Zubrus had suited up for the
Russia national team
during the
World Cup of Hockey
in 2004. But since then, he has played internationally for
Lithuania
, most notably in the
2005 World Championships
. He had told the press, "Lithuania needs me more than Russia".
[
citation needed
]
Because of the existence of the
Soviet Union
, players born during its time as a nation were able to choose to play for any of the newly formed countries after the breakup, and even considered representing Ukraine due to his training there.
[
citation needed
]
Personal life
[
edit
]
Zubrus and his wife have two children.
[25]
Zubrus holds dual citizenship and is a citizen of Lithuania and the United States.
[26]
[27]
Career statistics
[
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]
Regular season and playoffs
[
edit
]
International
[
edit
]
Year
|
Team
|
Event
|
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts
|
PIM
|
2004
|
Russia
|
WCH
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
2005
|
Lithuania
|
WC D1
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
2014
|
Lithuania
|
WC D1B
|
5
|
2
|
7
|
9
|
4
|
2018
|
Lithuania
|
WC D1B
|
5
|
0
|
6
|
6
|
2
|
2019
|
Lithuania
|
WC D1A
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
Tier I senior totals
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
Tier II senior totals
|
19
|
6
|
14
|
20
|
12
|
See also
[
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]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Chere, Rich (January 19, 2012).
"Devils' Dainius Zubrus disappointed by his former Ukrainian coach's arrest"
.
NJ.com
. Retrieved
January 24,
2022
.
- ^
"Dainius Zubrus biography"
.
drazhba78.com
. April 6, 2012. Archived from
the original
on February 20, 2012
. Retrieved
April 7,
2012
.
- ^
"Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA"
(PDF)
.
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament
. 2018. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on March 6, 2019
. Retrieved
February 3,
2019
.
- ^
a
b
"NHL forward Dainius Zubrus reacts to the death of his former coach"
.
NHL.com
. February 11, 2012
. Retrieved
January 24,
2022
.
- ^
Nark, Jason (May 15, 2012).
"The Perfect Predator"
.
Iquirer.com
. Retrieved
January 24,
2022
.
- ^
"Capitals acquire Linden, Zubrus, Marshall"
. usatoday.com. March 13, 2001
. Retrieved
June 29,
2009
.
- ^
Cohn, Linda (November 10, 2006).
"Ovechkin, Zubrus work well on, off the ice"
. ESPN
. Retrieved
October 9,
2010
.
- ^
Brady, Erik (February 28, 2007).
"Zubrus checks in with Sabres"
. usatoday.com
. Retrieved
June 29,
2009
.
- ^
"Devils sign free agents Zubrus, Rachunek"
. usatoday.com. July 3, 2007
. Retrieved
June 29,
2009
.
- ^
"D.Zubrus - geriausias NHL lygos dienos ?aid?jas"
.
DELFI
(in Lithuanian). November 24, 2008
. Retrieved
November 24,
2008
.
- ^
a
b
Gilmore, Eric (May 28, 2016).
"Sharks' Zubrus hopes third time's the charm"
. NHL.com
. Retrieved
May 29,
2016
.
- ^
"Devils re-sign Dainius Zubrus"
.
NHL.com
. July 4, 2013
. Retrieved
January 31,
2020
.
- ^
"Devils Re-Sign Elias, Zubrus; Place Hedberg On Unconditional Waivers"
.
CBS New York
. July 4, 2013
. Retrieved
January 31,
2020
.
- ^
"Devils place forward Zubrus on unconditional waivers"
. NHL.com. July 29, 2015
. Retrieved
July 30,
2015
.
- ^
"Zubrus placed on unconditional waivers"
. NHL.com. July 30, 2015
. Retrieved
July 31,
2015
.
- ^
"Dainius Zubrus leaves Devils with no bitterness"
.
NJ.com
. July 30, 2015
. Retrieved
July 30,
2015
.
- ^
"Blues invite forwards Havlat, Zubrus for tryouts"
. NHL.com. October 27, 2015
. Retrieved
October 29,
2015
.
- ^
"Zubrus, Havlat Invited to Pro Tryouts"
. NHL.com. October 28, 2015
. Retrieved
October 29,
2015
.
- ^
"Blues Sign Havlat to One-Year Deal"
. NHL.com. November 6, 2015
. Retrieved
November 19,
2015
.
- ^
"Former Devils forward Dainius Zubrus gets tryout with Pete DeBoer's San Jose Sharks"
.
NJ.com
. November 16, 2015
. Retrieved
November 19,
2015
.
- ^
"Still with Sharks, Zubrus never lost will to keep playing"
.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
. November 18, 2015
. Retrieved
November 19,
2015
.
- ^
"Sharks Sign Forward Dainius Zubrus to a Two-Way Contract"
. NHL.com. November 24, 2015
. Retrieved
November 24,
2015
.
- ^
"Sharks sign Zubrus to two-way contract"
. NHL.com. November 24, 2015
. Retrieved
November 24,
2015
.
- ^
"Paskelbtas ledo ritulio rinktin?s kandidat? s?ra?as: yra ir Dainius Zubrus"
.
lrytas.lt
(in Lithuanian). February 28, 2017
. Retrieved
April 12,
2017
.
- ^
"L'ancien Canadien Dainius Zubrus n'ecarte pas un retour a Montreal"
.
LNH.com
(in Canadian French). March 2, 2007
. Retrieved
May 14,
2018
.
- ^
"Devils get into USA-Canada spirit with shootout showdown; Clowe feels "fine"
"
. North Jersey. February 21, 2014
. Retrieved
February 13,
2016
.
- ^
"D. Zubrus ? apie JAV pilietyb?, KHL klubo viliones ir baim? d?l draug? gyvybi?"
(in Lithuanian). Delfi. April 18, 2014
. Retrieved
February 13,
2016
.
External links
[
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]