Vladimir Konstantinov

[Henkka]

He had an unusual stride. You didn't have to see his number to know who was on the ice.

I think his fearlessness was the most agitating aspect of his game. It didn't matter the time or score on the board, he still play hard every shift of every game.

I've always wondered what the team would have been like if he had not been injured

I've speculated this a lot.

I think Red Wings would not have traded for Chelios, if Vladdy is still there. They kind tried to find that physical element all these years and plug this hole.

Frist they got Krupp, and that was a failure. Then they got Chelios at 1999 and he was good short-term. Then Chelly got older, and they went after Hatcher at 2003. But he blow his knee and cap was implemented. New era and bad luck again did lead to failure.

But thanks to great drafting again, we had Fischer, who did look promising as physical leader... then became his heart problems at 2006. Finally Brad Stuart was kind of mediocre new era version of Vladdy effect, and we got our last Cup. Think Vladdy would have been on the mix to his fourties until ~2008, if not injured.

 

[SCD]

Not to hijack the thread, but Seider has some of the same physical play, albeit in a bigger package.

 

[BigDucky]

Vladimir Konstantinov was generally considered the best defenseman in Detroit and was one of the hardest hitters in the league. He had good offensive instincts as well. When Fedorov had his 5 goal game Konstantinov had 4 primary assists. He played a hard style, so it's difficult to say if he would have kept it up, but he was on pace for the Hall of Fame before the accident. The closest I've seen another Red Wing come to Konstantinov was Niklas Kronwall in 2008.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

Not to hijack the thread, but Seider has some of the same physical play, albeit in a bigger package.

How about we don't do this before he even sets foot on NHL ice? Seider's physical play is not like Konstantinov. Nor should it be. Konstantinov was also a badass offensive defenseman in his own right. Points might not do him the best justice, but that's because the whole of the Russian Five's game was free-flowing offense and getting a lot of guys touching the puck and having a lot of options to maintain control.

Vladimir Konstantinov was generally considered the best defenseman in Detroit and was one of the hardest hitters in the league. He had good offensive instincts as well. When Fedorov had his 5 goal game Konstantinov had 4 primary assists. He played a hard style, so it's difficult to say if he would have kept it up, but he was on pace for the Hall of Fame before the accident. The closest I've seen another Red Wing come to Konstantinov was Niklas Kronwall in 2008.

Yes. In 1997, Konstantinov was the bigger threat to Philly than Lidstrom was. Konstantinov was the one expected to tangle with Lindros and be why Detroit could possibly beat the Legion of Doom. Lidstrom was already in the "just so boringly amazing that you overlook him" status. Stuart in 2008 was more like Vladdy than Kronner though. That's why it's been hard to watch Detroit since Lidstrom left. When he was there until Rafalski retired... the Wings pretty much always had multiple top pairing D at any time.

Vladdy, Coffey, Fischer, Schneider, Rafalski, Murphy, Chelios.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

How about we don't do this before he even sets foot on NHL ice? Seider's physical play is not like Konstantinov. Nor should it be. Konstantinov was also a badass offensive defenseman in his own right. Points might not do him the best justice, but that's because the whole of the Russian Five's game was free-flowing offense and getting a lot of guys touching the puck and having a lot of options to maintain control.



Yes. In 1997, Konstantinov was the bigger threat to Philly than Lidstrom was. Konstantinov was the one expected to tangle with Lindros and be why Detroit could possibly beat the Legion of Doom. Lidstrom was already in the "just so boringly amazing that you overlook him" status. Stuart in 2008 was more like Vladdy than Kronner though. That's why it's been hard to watch Detroit since Lidstrom left. When he was there until Rafalski retired... the Wings pretty much always had multiple top pairing D at any time.

Vladdy, Coffey, Fischer, Schneider, Rafalski, Murphy, Chelios.

That's what the storyline was prior to the series but it's not what happened. Bowman outmaneuvered Philly's coach all the time and kept the matchups in Detroit's favor. Lidstrom and Murphy handled the legion of doom and played so smartly that it negated Philly's physical edge. Konstantinov was deployed out there to crush Brindamour, Hawerchuck and the rest of the Philadelphia lineup.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

That's what the storyline was prior to the series but it's not what happened. Bowman outmaneuvered Philly's coach all the time and kept the matchups in Detroit's favor. Lidstrom and Murphy handled the legion of doom and played so smartly that it negated Philly's physical edge. Konstantinov was deployed out there to crush Brindamour, Hawerchuck and the rest of the Philadelphia lineup.

Right. I guess I was more saying that Konstantinov was viewed as equally or more important than Lidstrom on that Cup team. So, he was truly the elite of the elite.

 

[Mount Suribachi]

As others have said, surprisingly mobile and good offensively, especially joining the rush, on top of that incredible toughness and physicality.

 

[SCD]

How about we don't do this before he even sets foot on NHL ice? Seider's physical play is not like Konstantinov. Nor should it be.

Actually, it is similar. Finishing checks, reverse hits, open ice hits, control inside the blueline are very similar. Seider lacks a good hip check, but that would be difficult for a big guy. You can equate styles of play without suggesting similar levels of success. At least some of us can.

 

[SoupGuru]

He was sturdy and got unreal leverage for his frame.

My fave memory of him was when he was mucking around in his own corner and just reached down, grabbed the puck, and threw over the glass and kind of laughed when he got called for a delay of game.

 

[FabricDetails]

What's the latest on his health and home care situation?

 

[MBH]

I've speculated this a lot.

I think Red Wings would not have traded for Chelios, if Vladdy is still there.

There's almost no doubt about it.

Finally Brad Stuart was kind of mediocre new era version of Vladdy effect, and we got our last Cup. Think Vladdy would have been on the mix to his fourties until ~2008, if not injured.

Unlikely Konstantinov is a wing much longer beyond the lockout.

I would not use the word "mediocre" to describe Stuart.

 

[Reality Check]

Wasn't there a story in the Russian Five documentary that he barged into the trainer's room and told Fedorov to suck it up after he suffered a rib injury?

Believe it was game 6 versus Colorado in '97?

 

[Cursed Lemon]

Does anyone have any relatively current information on Vladdy? I as well as other people I'm sure are probably curious about how he's doing these days. There was that short video segment on his condition in the 00's but basically radio silence since then.

 

[Mo Kasmond]

Some thought he was just as good as Lidstrom at the time.

He got a Norris nomination before Lidstrom did. Bowman played him even more than Lidstrom.

 

[Gniwder]

Was gonna look for his greatest hits but I found this instead.... Vlad's featured quite a few times as you would expect.

Not the best video quality, but entertaining.

 

[Astyanax]

Konstantinov was the soul of the wings defense.
He was a warrior. Only 5'11, 190 (max), but hit like a ton of bricks.
And because he was a Russian who hit hard, he took an enormous amount of abuse - and he manned up and battled lots of guys who were 2-3 weight classes above him.
He went balls out blocking shots.
And he could be cheap and dirty, sometimes. And in those days, most Wings fans were just fine with that.

Heart and soul.

Konstantinov's offense was highly underrated.
He grew up as a forward and he joined the rush better than any other Wings defenseman - even better than Coffey at this stage.
Where Lidstrom ran the point in traditional fashion, Konstantinov was like a 4th forward, cycling around the ozone making incredible IQ plays.

Konstantinov didn't get the kind of PP time that Lidstrom got.
But check out his ES production in his final year.
Konstantinov 5-24-29
Lidstrom 7-19-26
f***, even Fetisov was still an unreal producer. 5-20-25 in just 64 games.

The year before:
Konstantinov 10-15-25 (also an amazing +60)
Lidstrom 8-15-25.
Fetisov 5-22-27

I'd love to see his CF% and GF%.

I think Konstantinov's lack of top-minute powerplay employment is the only thing that kept him from winning a Norris.

I don't know how long Konstantinov might have lasted with that hard-nosed style.

I forget who said in on hockey night in Canada back in the day, "if his name was Brian mckenzie and he was from mousejaw, he would have 2 or 3 Norris by now."

 

[14ari13]

Mark Crawford said he should get a penalty on every shift.

 

[FMichael]

What do you guys remember of him when he played for Red Wings? Was he considered to be a top defender for the team with Lidstrom?

Did he not play a very physical game?

He was the Russian version of Chelios - but only better.

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

Konstantiov's goals.
In a lot of ways, he played like Makar, offensively.

Maybe because of the right handed shot I think Makar is superior offensively tho.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Mark Crawford said he should get a penalty on every shift.

My disdain for Marc Crawford has apparently not subsided.

Vladdy played with a lot of edge to his game, but the whining from Crawford is pretty rich considering he had the Turtle on his team.

 

[Retire91]

I was pretty new to hockey around the time Lidstrom came over and I remember it took a long time to appreciate just how good he was. His style of play made what happened look effortless and the point totals could be dismissed as "of course he has 50 points look at the forwards he plays with"

I think that was the time frame where some regarded Konstantinov better than Lidstrom. You had a more seasoned Vladdy at the time take to the ice and delivering shift after shift of dazzling displays of physical defense and Russian 5 puck movement. Then you had Yzerman and Lidstrom quietly hop over the boards and do all the little things at a Hall of Fame skill level and literally make the game look easy. Lidstrom's greatness wasn't flashy and almost invisible. It took a skilled observer to appreciate the level of talent. At any rate good times to be a wings fan.

I remember getting in debates in the 90's on general NHL boards where people would say Lidstrom was a pure offensive defenseman and Konstantinov was a pure defensive defenseman. And I was like "you know nothing"

 

[Retire91]

My disdain for Marc Crawford has apparently not subsided.

Vladdy played with a lot of edge to his game, but the whining from Crawford is pretty rich considering he had the Turtle on his team.

I like that quote that Bowman had when Crawford climbed up and was screaming over the glass. Bowman said something like I heard some noise and I looked over and all I could see were these eyes budging out at me.

2:29

 

[FireBird71]

Back when the Wings had training camp here in Flint Konstantinov and Primeau had a pretty epic fight

 

[silkyjohnson50]

Maybe because of the right handed shot I think Makar is superior offensively tho.

With all due respect to Vladdy, there is no comparison.

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

With all due respect to Vladdy, there is no comparison.

Yeah exactly.