Alexander Korolyuk

Alexander Korolyuk
Born	(1976-01-15) January 15, 1976 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shoots	Left
KHL team Former teams	Vityaz Podolsk San Jose Sharks Krylya Sovetov Ak Bars Kazan Khimik Voskresensk Atlant Mytishchi SKA St. Petersburg Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk Metallurg Magnitogorsk
National team	Russia
NHL Draft	141st overall, 1994 San Jose Sharks
Playing career	1993–present

Alexander Ivanovich Korolyuk (Russian: Александр Иванович Королюк, born January 15, 1976) is a Russian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for Vityaz Podolsk in the Kontinental Hockey League.

He was drafted in the sixth round, 141st overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Initially developed with the Krylya Sovetov club, Korolyuk was drafted 141st overall by the San Jose Sharks in 1994.

Three years later, he jumped to the NHL, making the opening night roster for the Sharks. However, he spent the majority of that season playing in the American Hockey League. Differences with then-head coach Darryl Sutter caused Korolyuk to be a contract hold-out at the start of the 2000–01 NHL season. He would eventually play 70 games for the Sharks that season. Korolyuk only played 32 games the next season and left the team after continued problems with Sutter. He played all of 2002–03 with Ak Bars Kazan.

While playing in Russia, Sutter was fired, paving the way for his return to the Sharks in 2003–04. Playing primarily on the second line with Alyn McCauley and Nils Ekman, Korolyuk posted a career-high 37 points.

That would be his final season in the NHL, however, as Korolyuk returned to Russia during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. On 1 October 2006, his rights were traded to the New Jersey Devils, along with Jim Fahey, for Vladimir Malakhov and a first-round draft pick. Later that season, Korolyuk became interested in an NHL return and requested to Devils management that his rights be traded back to the Sharks. His request was granted and the Sharks re-acquired him 16 February 2007 for a third-round draft pick, only to have the trade voided six days later when Korolyuk did not report for his physical in the allotted time period.

Korolyuk continued his playing career in the Kontinental Hockey League, playing for Atlant Mytishchi, SKA St. Petersburg, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Vityaz Podolsk.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993–94	Krylya Sovetov	RSL		22	4	4	8	20		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Krylya Sovetov	RSL		52	16	13	29	62		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Soviet Wings	IHL		7	2	2	4	12		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Krylya Sovetov	RSL		50	30	19	49	77		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Manitoba Moose	IHL		42	20	16	36	71		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Krylya Sovetov	RSL		17	8	5	13	46		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	San Jose Sharks	NHL		19	2	3	5	6		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Kentucky Thoroughblades	AHL		44	16	23	39	96		3	0	0	0	0
1998–99	San Jose Sharks	NHL		55	12	18	30	26		6	1	3	4	2
1998–99	Kentucky Thoroughblades	AHL		23	9	13	22	16		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	San Jose Sharks	NHL		57	14	21	35	35		9	0	3	3	6
2000–01	Ak Bars Kazan	RSL		6	0	5	5	4		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	San Jose Sharks	NHL		70	12	13	25	41		2	0	0	0	0
2001–02	San Jose Sharks	NHL		32	3	7	10	14		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Ak Bars Kazan	RSL		46	14	17	31	46		4	0	0	0	0
2003–04	San Jose Sharks	NHL		63	19	18	37	18		17	5	2	7	10
2004–05	Khimik Voskresensk	RSL		10	4	3	7	12		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Vityaz Chekhov	RSL		45	19	19	38	80		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Vityaz Chekhov	RSL		47	17	28	45	76		3	0	0	0	8
2007–08	Vityaz Chekhov	RSL		50	16	36	52	52		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Atlant Mytishchi	KHL		56	21	32	53	32		7	2	3	5	8
2009–10	SKA St. Petersburg	KHL		54	8	21	29	38		4	1	0	1	2
2010–11	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	KHL		48	14	26	40	30		18	3	9	12	32
2011–12	Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk	KHL		50	8	26	34	26		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Vityaz Chekhov	KHL		41	15	14	29	51		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Metallurg Magnitogorsk	KHL		5	0	1	1	0		7	2	2	4	8
2013–14	Vityaz Podolsk	KHL		30	7	12	19	33		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				296	62	80	142	140		34	6	8	14	18
KHL totals				284	73	132	205	210		36	8	14	22	50
RSL totals				345	128	149	277	483		14	2	2	4	16

International statistics

Year	Team	Event	Place		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995	Russia	WJC			7	8	2	10	47
1996	Russia	WJC			7	5	2	7	4
Junior int'l totals					14	13	4	17	51
1997	Russia	WC	4th		6	2	3	5	6
2001	Russia	WC	5th		7	1	1	2	6
2006	Russia	Oly	4th		6	1	1	2	6
Senior int'l totals					19	4	5	9	18

External links

• Alexander Korolyuk's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Alexander Korolyuk's player profile at NHL.com
• Alexander Korolyuk's career statistics at EliteProspects.com
• Alexander Korolyuk profile at Eurohockey.com