For those of you who have taken the time to read my profile…I am a huge fan of the Russian style of play! The finesse puck control style of play that is so beautiful to watch, only when played correctly. You had to have a knack at orchestrating such a style of play and one of the greatest was just inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame yesterday. One time San Jose Shark….Igor “The Professor” Larionov. Albeit short….Sharks fans were blessed to be able to witness one of the world’s greatest players. On a top line with another of the All-Time World greats Sergei Makarov, winger Johan Garpenlov, and Defense with Jeff Norton and Sandish Ozolinsh not only did he help to lead San Jose into their first playoff series in 1994, and against all odds defeated the Detroit Red Wings to move on past them in the first round, only to then lose at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs. However for those of you that remember those early days in our young Sharks history…That first round victory was so sweet and we owe much of it to Larionov. He meant so much to that seasons Sharks team that San Jose’s record that season with Larionov was 30-20-11 and then 3-15-5 without “The Professor”, who got his nickname due to his dimunitive size in stature as well as off of the ice Igor wore spectacles that would very much make him look like a school teacher. Think Indiana Jones sans Fedora. Looking over Larionov’s storied career which began on the former Soviet Union’s infamous Central Red Army national team where he played eleven seasons on arguably the greatest hockey line of all time, “The KLM Line” which he Centered two of the most gifted Wingers ever to strap on skates, Vladamir Krutov and another former Shark Sergei Makarov. The accolades that Larionov has won include two Olympic Gold Medals and three Stanley Cup Championship Rings! It is a shame to me that due to the barriers faced due to the former Soviet Union, Larionov was unable to play here in the NHL until he was Thirty years of age, otherwise I feel his career numbers in the league might have been just staggering! I am a huge Igor Larionov fan and am glad to say “Congradulation Professor!…You’re very much deserving in joining the Hockey Hall Of Fame”.