Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sergachev (Russian: Михаил Александрович Сергачёв; born 25 June 1998) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected ninth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Sergachev won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

Mikhail Sergachev
Sergachev with the Tampa Bay Lightning in May 2018
Born (1998-06-25) 25 June 1998 (age 26)
Nizhnekamsk, Russia
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Utah Hockey Club
Montreal Canadiens
Tampa Bay Lightning
National team  Russia
NHL draft 9th overall, 2016
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 2016–present

Player career

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Juniors

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Sergachev began his junior career in Russia, where he played for Irbis Kazan of the Molodezhnaya Hokkeinaya Liga (MHL). Sergachev was drafted sixth overall in the CHL Import Draft, selected by the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He committed to the Spitfires on 8 July 2015, stating that playing in the OHL offered him the best of chance of achieving his dream of playing in the NHL.[1]

 
With the Spitfires in January 2016

In his rookie OHL season, Sergachev emerged as a top defenceman, finishing third in scoring amongst defenceman and winning the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL's most outstanding defenceman.[2]

Leading up to the 2016 NHL entry draft, Sergachev was highly regarded by scouts and was considered one of the top defencemen available in the draft.[3] Ultimately, he was selected by the Montreal Canadiens ninth overall, the second defenceman drafted behind Olli Juolevi of the Vancouver Canucks. On 1 July 2016, the Canadiens announced they had signed Sergachev to a three-year, entry-level contract.[4]

On 28 May 2017, Sergachev helped the Windsor Spitfires to capture their third Memorial Cup championship in franchise history.[5] Sergachev was also named as an All-Star of the Memorial Cup tournament.[6]

Professional

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Montreal Canadiens (2016–2017)

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After attending his first Canadiens' training camp, Sergachev impressively made the opening night roster for the 2016–17 season. He made his NHL debut with Montreal in a 4–1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on 13 October 2016.[7][8] He appeared in four games with the Canadiens before he was returned to continue his development with junior club, the Windsor Spitfires, on 31 October 2016.[9]

Tampa Bay Lightning (2017–2024)

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On 15 June 2017, the Canadiens traded Sergachev (along with a conditional second-round pick in the 2018 NHL entry draft) to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Jonathan Drouin and a conditional sixth-round draft pick in the same draft.[10]

On 6 October 2017, Sergachev made his Lightning debut, where he also recorded his first career NHL assist and point on a goal by Nikita Kucherov in a 5–3 victory over the visiting Florida Panthers.[11] On 19 October, Sergachev scored his first and second career NHL goals against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, which came in a 2–0 Lightning victory.[12] The two goals also made Sergachev the youngest Lightning defenceman (and second-youngest Russian-born defenceman) to record a multi-goal game.[13] On 16 December, Sergachev recorded the game-winning goal in Lightning's 6–5 win over the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.[14] This was Sergachev's fifth game-winning goal of the season, which made him only the fourth rookie defenceman in NHL history to score five game-winning goals in their rookie season.[15][16] On 12 April 2018, Sergachev made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in a 5–2 Lightning win over the visiting New Jersey Devils.[17] Sergachev also recorded his first career playoff assist (and point) in the Lightning victory.[18] On 21 April 2018, Sergachev recorded his first career playoff goal in a 3–1 series clinching win over the New Jersey Devils at Amalie Arena. With the goal he also became the youngest player in Lightning history to record a playoff goal.[19]

On 13 January 2019, the NHL Department of Player Safety fined Sergachev $2,403.67 for cross-checking Johan Larsson during the game against the Buffalo Sabres the night before at KeyBank Center.[20]

On 26 August 2020, Sergachev recorded a goal and 2 assists to help the Lightning to a 7–1 Lightning victory over the Boston Bruins in game 3 of their second round series.[21] Sergachev joined Eric Brewer and Victor Hedman as the only Lightning defensemen to record three points in a single playoff game.[22]

On 25 November 2020, Sergachev signed a three-year, $14.4 million contract with the Lightning.[23]

On 13 July 2022, Sergachev signed an eight-year, $60 million contract extension with the Lightning. His teammates Anthony Cirelli and Erik Černák also signed eight-year extensions with the team that same day.

Utah Hockey Club (2024–present)

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On 29 June 2024, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club for Conor Geekie, J.J. Moser, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2024 seventh-round pick (no. 199 overall).[24]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Irbis Kazan MHL 25 2 6 8 18 2 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Windsor Spitfires OHL 67 17 40 57 56 5 2 3 5 8
2016–17 Windsor Spitfires OHL 50 10 33 43 71 7 1 2 3 10
2016–17 Montreal Canadiens NHL 4 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 79 9 31 40 38 17 2 3 5 12
2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 75 6 26 32 28 4 1 1 2 0
2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 70 10 24 34 58 25 3 7 10 26
2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 56 4 26 30 30 23 0 3 3 18
2021–22 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 78 7 31 38 59 23 2 8 10 18
2022–23 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 79 10 54 64 53 6 1 2 3 16
2023–24 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 34 2 17 19 16 2 0 1 1 0
NHL totals 475 48 209 257 282 100 9 25 34 90
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing   Russia
World Championships
  2019 Slovakia
World Junior Championships
  2017 Canada

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Russia U17   6 1 0 1 8
2015 Russia U18 5th 5 0 0 0 0
2016 Russia U18 6th 5 0 0 0 8
2017 Russia WJC   7 1 0 1 4
2019 Russia WC   10 1 6 7 0
Junior totals 23 2 0 2 20
Senior totals 10 1 6 7 0

Awards and honours

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Award Year
OHL
CHL Top Prospects Game 2016
First All-Rookie Team 2016
First All-Star Team 2016
Max Kaminsky Trophy 2016 [25]
Memorial Cup champion 2017 [26]
Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2017 [27]
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2020, 2021 [28]

References

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  1. ^ "Bob Duff: Russian rookie Mikhail Sergachev starts new life in Windsor". Windsor Star. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Sergachev Presented Max Kaminsky Trophy by Tom Kaminsky & Ryan Ellis". windsorspitfires.com. Windsor Spitfires. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Dubois jumps to top of draft rankings". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Canadiens agree to terms on entry-level contract with Mikhail Sergachev". Montreal Canadiens. 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Windsor Spitfires are 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup Champions". mastercardmemorialcup.ca. Canadian Hockey League. 28 May 2017. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  6. ^ "2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup Awards & All-Stars". mastercardmemorialcup.ca. Canadian Hockey League. 28 May 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Canadiens' Mikhail Sergachev: Some nerves in debut". CBS Sports. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  8. ^ Cowan, Stu (19 October 2016). "Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Mikhail Sergachev only learned to skate at age 9". The Gazette. Montreal. Archived from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017. Sergachev had 11:48 of ice time during his NHL debut in the season opener last Thursday in Buffalo
  9. ^ Engles, Eric (31 October 2016). "Mikhail Sergachev's demotion a win for Spitfires and Canadiens". Sportsnet.ca. Brossard, Que.: Sportsnet. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Lightning acquire Mikhail Sergachev from Montreal Canadiens". Tampa Bay Lightning. 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  11. ^ Long, Corey (7 October 2017). "Stamkos gets assist in Lightning win against Panthers". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  12. ^ Merz, Craig (19 October 2017). "Kucherov's goal-scoring streak ends but Lightning win". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  13. ^ @StatsCentre (19 October 2017). "Sergachev becomes youngest Lightning defenceman to record multi-goal game" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Sadowski, Rick (17 December 2017). "Lightning hold off Avalanche for seventh straight victory". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  15. ^ @PR_NHL (17 December 2017). "Sergachev 5th rookie defenseman to record 5 game winning goals in a season" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ Smith, Joe (17 December 2017). "Lightning has goalie Peter Budaj's back after near-collapse". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  17. ^ Mooney, Roger (12 April 2018). "Tony Cirelli makes his playoff presence felt immediately for Lightning". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  18. ^ @BBurnsNHL (12 April 2018). "Sergachev picks up his 1st career point with the 2nd assist" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Long, Corey (21 April 2018). "Lightning defeat Devils, advance to second round". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  20. ^ @NHLPlayerSafety (13 January 2019). "Sergachev fined $2,403.67 for his cross check to Johan Larsson last night, the maximum allowable fine under the CBA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "Lightning blow out Bruins in Game 3; Tampa Bay takes 2-1 series lead". nbcsports.com. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  22. ^ @StatsCentre (26 August 2020). "Sergachev joins Eric Brewer & Victor Hedman as the only defencemen in Lightning history to have a 3 point playoff effort" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ "Lightning re-sign Mikhail Sergachev to three-year contract". NHL.com. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  24. ^ https://x.com/frank_seravalli/status/1807080391531962618 [bare URL]
  25. ^ "Mikhail Sergachev named defenceman of the year". Ontario Hockey League. 29 April 2016. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  26. ^ "Spitfires hang on to win thrilling Memorial Cup final". CBC Sports: NHL. 28 May 2017. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  27. ^ "2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup Awards & All-Stars". Memorial Cup. 28 May 2017. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  28. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning win Stanley Cup in Pandemic Bubble". New York Times. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Montreal Canadiens first round draft pick
2016
Succeeded by