Alexander Korolyuk

Alexander Korolyuk
Born	(1976-01-15) January 15, 1976 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Krylya Sovetov San Jose Sharks Ak Bars Kazan HC Vityaz Khimik Voskresensk Atlant Mytishchi SKA St. Petersburg Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk Metallurg Magnitogorsk HC Yugra
National team	Russia
NHL draft	141st overall, 1994 San Jose Sharks
Playing career	1993–2015

Alexander Ivanovich Korolyuk (Russian: Александр Иванович Королюк, born January 15, 1976) is a Russian former professional ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks before playing the remainder of his career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Korolyuk was drafted in the sixth round, 141st overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

As a youth, Korolyuk played in the 1990 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Moscow.

Korolyuk was drafted 141st overall by the San Jose Sharks in 1994 NHL Entry Draft, from PHC Krylya Sovetov.

Three years later, he jumped to the NHL, making the opening night roster for the Sharks. However, he spent the majority of that season playing in the American Hockey League. Differences with then-head coach Darryl Sutter caused Korolyuk to be a contract hold-out at the start of the 2000–01 NHL season. He would eventually play 70 games for the Sharks that season. Korolyuk only played 32 games the next season and left the team after continued problems with Sutter. He played all of 2002–03 with Ak Bars Kazan.

While playing in Russia, Sutter was fired, paving the way for his return to the Sharks in 2003–04. Playing primarily on the second line with Alyn McCauley and Nils Ekman, Korolyuk posted a career-high 37 points.

That would be his final season in the NHL, however, as Korolyuk returned to Russia during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. On 1 October 2006, his rights were traded to the New Jersey Devils, along with Jim Fahey, for Vladimir Malakhov and a first-round draft pick. Later that season, Korolyuk became interested in an NHL return and requested to Devils management that his rights be traded back to the Sharks. His request was granted and the Sharks re-acquired him 16 February 2007 for a third-round draft pick, only to have the trade voided six days later when Korolyuk did not report for his physical in the allotted time period.

Korolyuk continued his playing career in the Kontinental Hockey League, playing for HC Vityaz, Atlant Mytishchi, SKA St. Petersburg, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and HC Yugra.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992–93	Krylya Sovetov–2 Moscow	RUS.2		41	4	3	7	18		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Krylya Sovetov Moscow	RUS		22	4	4	8	20		3	1	0	1	4
1994–95	Krylya Sovetov Moscow	RUS		52	16	13	29	62		4	1	2	3	4
1995–96	Krylya Sovetov Moscow	RUS		50	30	19	49	77		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Krylya Sovetov Moscow	RSL		17	8	5	13	46		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Manitoba Moose	IHL		42	20	16	36	71		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	San Jose Sharks	NHL		19	2	3	5	6		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Kentucky Thoroughblades	AHL		44	16	23	39	96		3	0	0	0	0
1998–99	San Jose Sharks	NHL		55	12	18	30	26		6	1	3	4	2
1998–99	Kentucky Thoroughblades	AHL		23	9	13	22	16		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	San Jose Sharks	NHL		57	14	21	35	35		9	0	3	3	6
2000–01	Ak Bars Kazan	RSL		6	0	5	5	4		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	San Jose Sharks	NHL		70	12	13	25	41		2	0	0	0	0
2001–02	San Jose Sharks	NHL		32	3	7	10	14		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Ak Bars Kazan	RSL		45	14	17	31	46		4	0	0	0	0
2003–04	San Jose Sharks	NHL		63	19	18	37	18		17	5	2	7	10
2004–05	Khimik Voskresensk	RSL		10	4	3	7	12		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Vityaz Chekhov	RSL		45	19	19	38	80		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Vityaz Chekhov	RSL		47	17	28	45	76		3	0	0	0	8
2007–08	Vityaz Chekhov	RSL		50	16	36	52	52		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Atlant Mytishchi	KHL		56	21	32	53	32		7	2	3	5	8
2009–10	SKA St. Petersburg	KHL		54	8	21	29	38		4	1	0	1	2
2010–11	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	KHL		48	14	26	40	30		18	3	9	12	32
2011–12	Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk	KHL		50	8	26	34	26		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Vityaz Chekhov	KHL		41	15	14	29	51		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Metallurg Magnitogorsk	KHL		5	0	1	1	0		7	2	2	4	8
2013–14	Vityaz Podolsk	KHL		30	7	12	19	33		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk	KHL		12	2	2	4	14		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	HC Yugra	KHL		30	5	8	13	12		—	—	—	—	—
RSL totals				221	78	108	186	324		7	0	0	0	5
NHL totals				296	62	80	142	140		34	6	8	14	18
KHL totals				326	80	142	222	236		36	8	14	22	50

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1994	Russia	EJC			5	2	3	5	0
1995	Russia	WJC			7	8	2	10	47
1996	Russia	WJC			7	5	2	7	4
1997	Russia	WC	4th		6	2	3	5	6
2001	Russia	WC	6th		7	1	1	2	6
2006	Russia	OG	4th		6	1	1	2	6
Junior totals					19	15	7	22	51
Senior totals					19	4	5	9	18

Awards and honours

Award	Year
KHL
All-Star Game	2013

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database