Vadim Sharifijanov

Vadim Sharifijanov
Vadim Sharifijanov
Born	December 23, 1975 (age 50); Ufa, Russia
Occupation	Professional ice hockey right winger (retired)
Years active	1990–2005
Known for	NHL player for New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks

Vadim Rimovich Sharifijanov (; born December 23, 1975) is a retired Russian professional ice hockey right winger who appeared in parts of three NHL seasons with the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks.

Playing career

Sharifijanov gained international attention in 1992 when he was named a tournament all-star at the European U18 Championships, netting 8 goals over 6 games at just 16 years old. Following two campaigns with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the Russian Super League, he was selected 25th overall in the first round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. Before transitioning to North America, he spent another season with HC CSKA Moscow and delivered an impressive showing at the 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, accumulating 10 points in 7 contests.

In 1995, Sharifijanov joined the Devils' American Hockey League affiliate, the Albany River Rats, registering 2 points in his debut North American professional game. Despite this promising start, his NHL debut was delayed due to New Jersey’s strong lineup depth; he primarily played in Albany during his initial three full seasons, appearing in only two NHL games during the 1996–97 campaign.

During the 1998–99 season, Sharifijanov earned a consistent role with New Jersey, tallying 11 goals and 27 points across 53 games. He was recognized for his effective puck handling and reliable presence near the net, demonstrating potential as a versatile forward.

Nevertheless, his performance deteriorated significantly in the 1999–2000 season. After scoring just three goals in twenty games and exhibiting defensive weaknesses, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a draft pick. Though he scored on his very first shift with Vancouver, he soon became a healthy scratch and developed a reputation for uneven effort levels. He concluded that season with five goals and ten points in thirty-seven games while posting a minus-13 rating.

In the following season (2000–01), Sharifijanov failed to secure a spot on Vancouver’s roster and spent the year competing for the Kansas City Blades of the International Hockey League. After being released by Vancouver, he returned to Russia but struggled to recapture his earlier form. Over three seasons, he represented six different Super League teams without making a notable impact. Brief stints followed in France and Sweden before he signed with Sputnik Nizhny Tagil of the Supreme Hockey League in 2005.

Overall, Sharifijanov played 92 NHL games, amassing 16 goals and 21 assists for a total of 37 points while accruing 50 penalty minutes. His swift decline after early promise remains unexplained; at age 23 he was an important contributor on a top-tier NHL team, yet by age 26 he could no longer maintain a regular role even within Russia’s premier league.

Regular season and playoffs

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1990–91	Avangard Ufa	URS.3	2	0	0	0	2	—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Avangard Ufa	CIS.3	17	1	1	2	8	—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Salavat Yulaev Ufa	IHL	37	6	4	10	16	2	1	0	1	0
1992–93	Novoil Ufa	RUS.2	1	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Salavat Yulaev Ufa	IHL	46	10	6	16	36	5	3	0	3	4
1994–95	CSKA Moscow	IHL	34	7	3	10	26	2	0	0	0	0
1994–95	CSKA–2 Moscow	RUS.2	1	1	1	2	0	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Albany River Rats	AHL	1	1	1	2	0	9	3	3	6	10
1995–96	Albany River Rats	AHL	69	14	28	42	28	—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Albany River Rats	AHL	70	14	27	41	89	10	3	3	6	6
1996–97	New Jersey Devils	NHL	2	0	0	0	0
1997–98	Albany River Rats	AHL	72	23	27	50	69	12	4	9	13	6
1998–99	New Jersey Devils	NHL	53	11	16	27	28	4	0	0	0	0
1998–99	Albany River Rats	AHL	2	1	1	2	0	—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	New Jersey Devils	NHL	20	3	4	7	8	—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Vancouver Canucks	NHL	17	2	1	3	14	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Kansas City Blades	IHL	70	20	43	63	48	—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	HC Lada Togliatti	RSL	4			12	—			—
2001–02	Severstal–2 Cherepovets	SHL	3					—			—
2001–02	Severstal Cherepovets	RSL	25	9	3	12	2	2			6
2002–03	HC Spartak Moscow	RSL	23	2	2	4	12
2002–03	Krylya Sovetov Moscow	RSL	16	5	3	8	34
2003–04	Metallurg Novokuznetsk	RSL	- bgcolor="#e۰e۰e۰"	colspan="۳" RUS totals	213	41	24	65	164	11	4	۰	۴	۱۰
colspan="۳" AHL totals	214	53	84	137	186	31	10	15	25	22
colspan="۳" NHL totals	92	16	21	37	50	۴	۰	۰	۰	۰

International

Year	Team	Competition	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992	Russia	EJC	6	8	1	9	8
1993	Russia	WJC	7	2	2	4	4
1993	Russia	EJC	6	3	5	8	6
1994	Russia	WJC	7	2	2	4	10
1995	Russia	WJC	7	4	6	10	6
Total Junior Statistics			33	19	16	35	34

External links