Ilya Zubov

Playing career

Zubov played centre for Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Spartak Moscow, and Atlant Moscow Oblast in the Russian Superleague. He was drafted 98th overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft by the Ottawa Senators, a pick acquired from the St. Louis Blues for Patrick Lalime. Before the 2007-08 season, Zubov stated he would accept assignment to the Senators' AHL affiliate in Binghamton if he did not make the NHL team, a move Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray considered necessary for him to learn North American hockey. He was assigned to Binghamton on October 1, 2007. In his first NHL pre-season game, Zubov scored the first goal in a 4-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. He played the entire season in the AHL, primarily in a third- and second-line checking role, recording 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in 70 games. During that time he worked on initiating and absorbing heavy contact and on his defensive game, and he gained over 20 pounds of muscle while residing in Ottawa with strength and conditioning coach Randy Lee. After a strong showing at the Senators' mini development camp in summer 2008, he hoped to make the 2008-09 roster but played most of the season with Binghamton again, earning a ten-game call-up to Ottawa where he recorded two assists for his first NHL points. In the 2009-10 season, Zubov was again demoted from Ottawa's training camp to Binghamton. Disappointed, he demanded a trade on September 30, 2009. He left Binghamton on October 7 and received permission from Ottawa to sign with a Russian team, while his NHL rights were retained. On October 19, it was announced he would be loaned to his former team, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, for the season. In 2009, Zubov signed with CSKA Moscow, playing four and a half seasons there before being transferred to Admiral Vladivostok in December 2013. On July 1, 2014, with his NHL rights expired, he became a free agent and chose to continue his career in the KHL.