The Russian 5 had a perfect balance. Fedorov 2 way forward, Larionov “The Professor” playmaker, Kozlov young gun, Fetisov offensive setup man, and Konstantinov the enforcer. I miss Detroit hockey of the 90’s 😔
Konstantinov wasn’t just an enforcer. He had great talent, and he always ended up getting the breakaway goals with the Russian five passing around on the ice. He had the skill of a finessed European player, and the rugged toughness of a North American goon. Always playing on the edge. Great player. I bet he would’ve been a hall of famer or at-least one of the greatest defensemen in the past 30 years.
What’s insane is that all four lines were perfect compliments of each other! Line one was pure offensive power and the other three could get you either way! Be it brutality or finesse!
Под впечатлением! Как здорово играл, практически без "грязи" на лёд укладывал. Браво Владимир!!! А К.Лемье на "мельнице" прокатил-просто в пособие по хоккею надо занести!!! Мужчина который играл по-настоящему в хоккей!!!!
Konstantinov was so dominant on the blue line the opposing team would often pull up short and try to pass into the zone rather than taking the chance of running in to him. We will always love Vlad Konstantinov in Detroit. He is a blue collar player who worked and got the job done. There have been very few defense players as dominant as he was. Never forgotten and always in our hearts.
The Russian five were an unstoppable force! I’m from the upper peninsula Michigan and grew up playing hockey all the way into college Konstantinov, Kozlov, Fetisov, Federov and Larionov were my favorite players. I miss those days.
I got to see the Wings play in Phoenix with the Russian Five. Talk about amazing hockey. Federov was of course dazzling. But Konstantinov was the toughest player out there. A Phoenix player whacked him across the face with his stick while he was skating with the puck at full speed. Didn’t even phase him, didn’t slow down, almost like he didn’t even notice it. Legendary player.
Saddest moment in sports for me was picking up the Saturday morning paper from my porch to see a headline that took away all the joy of that 1997 Cup in an instant.
Strong like bull! I’m not a wings fan, but my young son just asked me who my favorite Red Wing of all time was and I had to show him VK highlights! I hated him when he played my Sharks but a First ballot Hall Of Famer, if I had any say. That’s how you play hockey. Sorry not to see him finish his career correctly. God bless , Vlad
@@glenndsouza5447 his timing and angles, and body position, were outstanding. He wasn't big, but he played like it. And if you watch where he hit guys, at least in this video, all clean body shots. Not to the head or the legs.
As a life long season ticket holder of the Wings I would hardly ever take my eyes off him when he was on the ice,there was always something going on with him. He was a game within the game.
Marchand of the Bruins and all the OTHER BACKSTABBER'S OF THE NHL NEED TO STUDY THESE FILMS! Pound for Pound, By Far, One Of The Best Open Ice Hitters OF ALL TIME!!! NO ELBOWS, NO STICKS, NO HITS FROM BEHIND... EVEN AT 180 lbs! That Is Why Nobody Gets Mad And Fights Him, THEY KNOW! KEEP YOUR STICK DOWN AND YOUR HEAD UP!!! WE MISS YOU KONSTANTINOV!!!
It still breaks my heart what happened to Vladdie he still had so much hockey left in him .. His best years were still in front of him. What a competitive player. Absolutely no one played with such ferocity..
I loved watching interviews with Vladdie. The guy was hilarious.Remember "I didnt know I scored, my team mates told me"? But he in concert with Larionov was also a play maker. All the Russians were. How sad he didnt get to play out his career.
I think the crazy thing about the Russian Five is how good they all were as both passers and defenders. Not all of them could score, but man, they played some devastatingly effective hockey.
В современном НХЛ защитники такого уровня отсутствуют напрочь.Константинов имея скромный вес для защитника выделывает такое, это просто талант я вам скажу.
Almost 25 year's later and I still get sad when I think about the career that could have been. I was fortunate enough to grow up in Detroit watching that era of hockey.
The game has really changed, it is like football. You can not hit anybody without getting fined and suspended. They have to keep their high paid players healthy. I understand, but i miss the old days.
@@jim7297 football you are more likely to get serious injuries compared to hockey. Hockey went the route of trying to prevent as many of those injuries with higher penalties and suspension. Football you get a 15 yard penalty for a helmet to helmet or contact with a defenseless receiver.
Of course it follows that I am a Red Wings fan . The Wings had Lidstrom, the greatest defenseman ever . I believe Konstantinov was a great player and the thing I thought was so great about him was his attitude. He was rugged and did his job. Didn't matter who the opponent was. Big or small Vlady crushed em all. And the thing was that while he dished it out, he could take it as well and didn't have to skate over and cry to the ref. He would take it all in stride, but he didn't forget. Every Wings fan adored and respected the guy !
I went to most of these home games with my step-dad when I was young. Watching this and hearing the music between plays makes me feel there again. Holy hell. Good times.
1997 was a good year to be wings fan watching this guy line them up and lay em out was something amazing and a cup to top it all off miss you vlady 😳🙁😥
I remember well Konstantinov play for Red Army at the beginning of his career, and I liked him, but he didn't have that gladiator reputation at that time. He must had revealed another face of himself after moving into the NHL environment. Very happy for him that he became such a prominent player over the ocean.
@@sebastianpatriksson7814 in accident is dead just Vladimir's hockey player's career. He got a Stanley Cup from his teammates when Red Wings won again next year. He got a american citizenship in 2005 and some years later was able to walk again.
The amazing thing is none of these seem like suspension worthy hits even in 2k18 as head shots get phased out. He might get a few more roughing or interference calls today but that's really cool to see. He was chippy but definitely not out there to end careers. I love it.
Смотрю и думаю ,вот она сила ....жизненного бумеранга....Сокрушал ,ломал соперника, навязываю силовой хоккей,травмировал ...И вот обраточка вернулась...Сидит в инвалидной кресле ,себя не может обслуживать, здоровья нет.Вот судьба как повернулась...Дай ему Бог здоровья.
Даже в этой нарезке немало хитов на чистом льду, круто читал игру, с Константиновым можно сравнить Антона Волченкова особенно периода Оттавы, до финала дошли, много блокировал броски и силовых немало провел
Да дерьмо он, а не защитник. Тот же Емелин так на площадке не работает, как он работал. Уж насколько Емелин жестко встречает нападающих все видели, но Константинов в открытую нападал на всех подряд, и ему наплевать было с шайбой игрок бежит в данный момент или нет. Это - хоккей, а не бокс, а он - позор советской хоккейной школы, в которой были крупные жесткие защитники, но они никогда до такой подлости, как атака игрока без шайбы в любой ситуации, не доходили.
Konstantinov was just about to enter his primetime of his career. Amazing strength, heart and timing in a relatively small size, by NHL standards of 6'1-195 lbs, for a defenseman in the league. Built like a "Brick Shit-House", that's hockey language for his body is as solid as rock.
Unlike Kronwall he NEVER left his skates either each hit was clean and crisp Vlad would let you see it coming like a true man *The Russian Frankenstein*
Применение таких силовых приемов требует не только силы и массы, а в первую очередь умения ЧИТАТЬ ИГРУ! Очень умный был защитник! Сейчас таких по пальцам пересчитать и то нельзя.
Дитя, не неси ерунды! Советская школа хоккея всегда проповедовала умный и быстрый хоккей. Конечно и силовые приёмы присутствовали. Но такая откровенная грубость, хоть и в пределах правил, в нашем хоккее не приветствовалась и такие игроки уважением были оч сильно обделены!
@@ReDragon12 следуя твоей логике, он тоже провоцировал судьбу, и то что он в коляске это его проблема. Судьба ему так сказать ответку за других прислала, кого он в голову атаковал. А в настрящее время атака в голову, грубейшее нарушение правил, вплоть до дисклалификации, как за сознательное намерение нанести человеку серьезнейший вред. Если ты не понимаешь о чем я - не про драку, а про нанесение на скорости неожиданного удара плечом, логтем или корпусом соперника в голову. Константинов откровенно грязный защитник, Каспер играл жестко, но в его стремлении в отличии от Констатинова не было стремления вырубить.
@@user-jy2gj2jm3m вам не надоело про его судьбу везде писать? Такое впечатление, что вы злорадствуете, что он в инвалидной коляске? Во-первых, это чревато с вашей стороны! Бумерангом может вернуться! А во-вторых, назовите хоть одного игрока, которого Константинов "отправил в инвалидную" коляску? Ну и? Нету? Так и неКуй злорадствовать над инвалидом!
The hit on John Klemm, specifically the replay angle at 1:08, is the only time I've actually seen someone catapulted through the air into the boards and then crumple to the ice almost EXACTLY like the new check that was introduced in EA Sports NHL 95 (or maybe it was 96. It was when the player renders switched from short and chunky to more lanky). It even almost manages to match the "gunshot" sound the game had for those hits. Amazing hit. All of his hits are that much more amazing when you consider that he was 5' 11", 180 or 185 lb., smaller than almost everyone he crushed!
You had to know there was a crosshair on your back when Vlad was on the ice. This was must watch hockey and was the first thing we talked about on the bus ride to school the next morning.
Евгений Опарин согласен. Местами играл, как мясник или маньяк. Казалось, что может покалечить. По иронии судьбы, в итоге сам получил по голове и остался калекой. Как будто это было для него уроком.
@@wckvn у него что голова крепче чем у другого, или мозги ударопрочные, нет - это не накачаешь. А у тебя отсутствие мозгов, ты что до аварии, что после - идиот.
Love Vladdy K...one of the first Russian players that perfected the late 80's/90's North American style of play... My FLYERS got swept by this Red Juggernaut of future HOFers...so that was painful to watch...however, the best hit of those playoffs was by The BIG E on Konstatinov...he almost put him through the boards!!!...but Detroit won the cup, so Vladdy would gladly take that hit a million times over to get his name on Lord Stanley's Chalice!!!... I really miss the NHL from the 90s...best era of hockey IMO.
