Sergei Zubov to Coach Russian National Team

Former NHL defenseman Sergei Zubov has been named an assistant coach, who will focus on defense, for the Russian National Team, according to the IIHF website. Despite taking on the new gig, he’ll remain the assistant coach of SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL as well.

Zubov will help the Russian National Team prepare for the 2016 World Championship, which will be held in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as preparing for the 2016 World Cup and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. He will be a part of a staff that assists head coach Oleg Znarok.

Zubov played in the NHL for 16 seasons, winning a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994 and another with the Dallas Stars in 1999. He’s a veteran of 1,068 NHL games, which includes 12 seasons spent with the Stars. He scored 152 goals and 619 assists over that span. He also recorded 24 goals and 93 assists in 164 career playoff games.

Zubov retired after suffering an injury during the 2009-10 season while playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.