Oleg Tverdovsky

Oleg Fedorovych Tverdovsky (; born 18 May 1976) is a Russian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played professionally from 1994 to 2013. He was selected second overall by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1994 NHL entry draft, playing 713 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, and Los Angeles Kings. He won two Stanley Cups with the Devils in 2003, and the Hurricanes in 2006.

He also played in the Russian Superleague (RSL)/Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Avangard Omsk, Salavat Yulayev Ufa, and Metallurg Magnitogorsk winning 2 RSL Championships in 2004 (Avangard Omsk), and 2008 (Salavat Yulaev Ufa), he later won a Gagarin Cup in 2011 with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

Playing career NHL and Superleague Tverdovsky was drafted second overall by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1994 NHL entry draft. Due to the 1994–95 lockout delaying the season, Tverdovsky was assigned to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, where he played seven games. When he debuted for the Mighty Ducks, he set a franchise record for being the youngest player to suit up for a game, at 18 years, eight months and 13 days. Despite being considered one of the cornerstones for the young Mighty Ducks franchise, Tverdovsky was traded to the Winnipeg Jets on 7 February 1996 with Chad Kilger and a 1996 third-round pick in exchange for Teemu Selänne, Marc Chouinard and a 1996 fourth-round pick. In 1996, Tverdovsky represented Russia at the World Cup of Hockey. While establishing himself as a fixture on the Coyotes blueline for his tenure with the club, Tverdovsky was traded back to the Mighty Ducks at the 1999 NHL entry draft in exchange for Travis Green and a 1999 first-round pick (Scott Kelman). In 2002, he represented Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics. While with Avangard, he won the league championship. Tverdovsky represented Russia at the World Cup of Hockey. He returned to the NHL as a free agent, signing with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005. On 29 September 2006, Tverdovsky and Jack Johnson were traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Éric Bélanger and Tim Gleason.

Return to Russia Tverdovsky played the 2007–08 season in Russia for Salavat Yulayev Ufa, where he played for the next five seasons. When he left the NHL, Tverdovsky was still under contract with the Los Angeles Kings. This was able to happen because there was no transfer agreement between the NHL and the Russian Hockey Federation.

He was also selected as a reserve by Team Russia for the 2010 Winter Olympics should an injury occur during the tournament.

He was traded to Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the 2011–12 season, and played part of the next season with that club before retiring.

Personal life Tverdovsky lives with his second wife Mia in the United States. Together they are raising five kids.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1993 Russia EJC 6 1 2 3 0 1994 Russia WJC 7 1 5 6 6 1994 Russia EJC 5 1 9 10 22 1996 Russia WC 4th 3 0 1 1 0 1996 Russia WCH SF 4 1 0 1 0 2001 Russia WC 6th 7 2 2 4 2 2002 Russia OG 6 1 1 2 0 2004 Russia WC 10th 6 0 1 1 6 2004 Russia WCH QF 3 0 0 0 0 2009 Russia WC 9 2 2 4 6 Junior totals 18 3 16 19 28 Senior totals 38 6 7 13 14 Note: 2010 - Winter Olympics (reserve)

Awards and achievements Award Year NHL All-Star Game 1997 Stanley Cup (New Jersey Devils) 2003 Stanley Cup (Carolina Hurricanes) 2006 RSL Champion (Avangard Omsk) 2004 MVP 2004 Champion (Salavat Yulaev Ufa) 2008 KHL Gagarin Cup (Salavat Yulaev Ufa) 2011