Alexei Kasatonov
Alexei Viktorovich Kassatonow (Russian Алексей Викторович Касатонов; born October 14, 1959 in Leningrad, Russian SFSR ) is a former Russian ice hockey player (defender).
Career
His career began at the age of 16 years at SKA Leningrad. Two years later he was hired by HK CSKA Moscow. In Moscow he was one of the best defenders in the world and won with CSKA 11 times the champion title.
With the Soviet national team, he participated in three Olympic Winter Games and was two gold medals (1984, 1988) and one silver medal (1980 ) win. In addition, they were able to win 5 times the Ice Hockey World Championships and Kassatonow in 1983 named the best defender of the tournament.
Kassatonow and his partner Vyacheslav Fetisov were regarded as the best defense team outside the NHL. As a block behind the famous KLM series they formed an almost unbeatable team. Some experts also believed that he was still better than Fetisov. This and the fact that he had been the " favorite player " and the so-called "eye" of the then coach of the Soviet national team Viktor Tikhonov, led to a unrettbaren break in the friendship. He also wanted the rebellion of the Russian players, led by Igor Larionov and Fetisov to play against the Soviet system, for better treatment and the possibility outside the Soviet Union, do not support.
In 1989 he moved to the New Jersey Devils by them he was already at the NHL Entry Draft in 1983 in the 12th round has been drawn to 225th place. Here he met again on Fetisov, but both avoided it continue to communicate with each other.
Meanwhile, 30 years old, he was still a very good defender and so he moved in 1993 to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He was also nominated for the All-Star Game. In 1995 he was hired by the Boston Bruins, so he helped the Bruins legend Ray Bourque. His career ended in 1996/97 season at CSKA Moscow Viktor Tikhonov below.
Even after his playing days, he remained connected to the Hockey. So he led the Russian national ice hockey team at the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano in 1998 as General Manager for the silver medal. In 1981 he was honored with induction into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame.