Ilya Vladimirovich Nikulin (Russian: Илья Владимирович Никулин; born 12 March 1982) is a Russian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played for HC Dynamo Moscow and Ak Bars Kazan in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Nikulin was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the second round, 31st overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
| Ilya Nikulin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Born |
12 March 1982 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Dynamo Moscow Ak Bars Kazan | ||
| National team |
 Russia | ||
| NHL draft |
31st overall, 2000 Atlanta Thrashers | ||
| Playing career | 2000–2019 | ||
Playing career
editLater that year, Nikulin began his professional career in the Russian Superleague (RSL) with Dynamo Moscow. He played with Dynamo for five seasons. In 2005, he joined Ak Bars Kazan. His five-year contract with Kazan included allowing him to leave for the NHL. However, after negotiations in 2008 and 2009, Nikulin did not sign a contract with the Thrashers.[1]
On 15 July 2020, Nikulin officially announced his retirement from professional hockey, ending a 19-year career.[2]
International play
editNikulin has played for Team Russia. He competed at the 1999 under-18 Championship, earned a silver medal at the 2000 World Junior Championship, a bronze at the 2007 World Championship, a silver at the 2010 World Championship and a gold at the 2008, 2009 and 2012 IIHF World Championships.[3] He was selected to the 2010 Russian Olympic team.[4]
Personal
editNikulin is good friends with Alexander Ovechkin, with whom he played four seasons with during his tenure with Dynamo Moscow. He is also the godfather of Nikulin's son.[5]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1998–99 | Dynamo–2 Moscow | RUS.2 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Dynamo–2 Moscow | RUS.3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | THK Tver | RUS.2 | 39 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Dynamo Moscow | RSL | 44 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Dynamo–2 Moscow | RUS.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Dynamo Moscow | RSL | 48 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | Dynamo–2 Moscow | RUS.3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Dynamo Moscow | RSL | 40 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 46 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04 | Dynamo Moscow | RSL | 54 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2003–04 | Dynamo–2 Moscow | RUS.3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Dynamo Moscow | RSL | 50 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 65 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2005–06 | Ak Bars Kazan | RSL | 49 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 48 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 36 | ||
| 2006–07 | Ak Bars Kazan | RSL | 51 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 99 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 18 | ||
| 2007–08 | Ak Bars Kazan | RSL | 57 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 95 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 | ||
| 2008–09 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 53 | 7 | 26 | 33 | 72 | 17 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 22 | ||
| 2009–10 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 49 | 6 | 27 | 33 | 86 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 14 | ||
| 2010–11 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 49 | 6 | 35 | 41 | 56 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | ||
| 2011–12 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 51 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 52 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 29 | ||
| 2012–13 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 51 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 46 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 28 | ||
| 2013–14 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 52 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 56 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 2014–15 | Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 58 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 44 | 20 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 2015–16 | Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 35 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2016–17 | Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 47 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 36 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2017–18 | Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 56 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Dynamo Moscow | KHL | 61 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 55 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| RSL totals | 393 | 28 | 61 | 89 | 514 | 59 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 82 | ||||
| KHL totals | 562 | 92 | 217 | 309 | 549 | 131 | 16 | 42 | 58 | 129 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Russia | WJC18 | 6th | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2000 | Russia | WJC18 | 
|
6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | |
| 2006 | Russia | WC | 5th | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | |
| 2007 | Russia | WC | 
|
9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2008 | Russia | WC | 
|
9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2009 | Russia | WC |
|
9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2010 | Russia | OG | 6th | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2010 | Russia | WC |
|
9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2011 | Russia | WC | 4th | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2012 | Russia | WC |
|
10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | |
| 2013 | Russia | WC | 6th | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Russia | OG | 5th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | ||||
| Senior totals | 77 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 34 | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Ilya Nikulin: NHL is my Childhood Dream". 7 November 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ "Three time World Champion Ilya Nikulin retires" (in Russian). tass.ru. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ "Ilya Nikulin". Atlanta Thrashers. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ "Russia passes on Kovalev, names team". Toronto Sun. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ "Ilya Nikulin (Atlanta Thrashers): I really wanted to go to Atlanta". Soviet Sports Press. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database