Igor Ozhiganov

Igor Olegovich Ozhiganov (Russian: Игорь Олегович Ожиганов; born 13 October 1992) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for SKA Saint Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Igor Ozhiganov
Ozhiganov with Sibir Novosibirsk in 2013
Born (1992-10-13) October 13, 1992
Krasnogorsk, Russia
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
KHL team
Former teams		 SKA Saint Petersburg
CSKA Moscow
Amur Khabarovsk
Sibir Novosibirsk
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ak Bars Kazan
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2011–present

Playing career

Ozhiganov played junior hockey within the CSKA Moscow organization. During the 2010–11 season, he made his professional debut by featuring in two games with CSKA in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Having established himself in the KHL with CSKA, Amur Khabarovsk and Sibir Novosibirsk, Ozhiganov despite being undrafted, initially met with Mike Babcock and Lou Lamoriello of the Toronto Maple Leafs in August 2017.[1] While long rumoured to sign with the Maple Leafs, Ozhiganov played out the 2017–18 season in the KHL with CSKA, scoring 9 points in 42 games.[2]

On 17 May 2018, Ozhiganov signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs.[3] After attending the Maple Leafs training camp, Ozhiganov remained on the opening night roster for the 2018–19 season. On 26 November, he scored his first NHL goal, against the Boston Bruins in a 4–2 home win. Ozhiganov established himself as a regular on the blueline in the first half of the season before falling out of favour with head coach Mike Babcock, sitting as a healthy scratch for 12 of the final 19 contests, including all seven playoff games against the Boston Bruins. He finished the season with 7 points in 53 games.[4]

On 1 May 2019, Ozhiganov's KHL rights were traded by CSKA to Ak Bars Kazan in exchange for Jiri Sekac.[5] As an impending free agent, Ozhiganov's departure from the Maple Leafs was confirmed on 17 May 2019, after he signed a two-year contract to return to the KHL with Ak Bars. His move to Ak Bars reunited Ozhiganov with head coach Dmitri Kvartalnov, formerly of CSKA.[6]

In the 2019–20 season, Ozhiganov made 19 appearances with Ak Bars, posting 8 points before he was traded to SKA Saint Petersburg in exchange for Roman Rukavishnikov and Viktor Tikhonov on 7 November 2019.[7]

Personal life

Ozhiganov is married to rhythmic gymnast Alexandra Merkulova,[8] and they have one son together.[9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Krasnaya Armiya MHL 63 3 8 11 167 5 0 1 1 4
2010–11 Krasnaya Armiya MHL 48 4 14 18 129 16 0 4 4 22
2010–11 CSKA Moscow KHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2011–12 Krasnaya Armiya MHL 35 9 18 27 48 — — — — —
2011–12 CSKA Moscow KHL 7 2 0 2 2 — — — — —
2012–13 Amur Khabarovsk KHL 49 3 12 15 32 — — — — —
2012–13 CSKA Moscow KHL 4 0 1 1 2 6 1 0 1 0
2013–14 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 52 1 5 6 34 10 1 2 3 6
2014–15 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 59 8 13 21 62 16 2 3 5 10
2015–16 CSKA Moscow KHL 50 5 11 16 36 11 3 2 5 2
2016–17 CSKA Moscow KHL 50 8 14 22 61 9 0 1 1 0
2017–18 CSKA Moscow KHL 42 2 7 9 12 5 0 0 0 2
2018–19 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 53 3 4 7 14 — — — — —
2019–20 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 19 1 7 8 12 — — — — —
2019–20 SKA Saint Petersburg KHL 35 2 10 12 16 4 0 2 2 2
KHL totals 369 32 80 112 269 61 7 10 17 22
NHL totals 53 3 4 7 14 — — — — —
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
2012 Canada

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 Russia WJC 7 1 0 1 4
Junior totals 7 1 0 1 4

Awards and honours
Award Year
KHL
All-Star Game 2017

References
  1. "Report: Leafs show interest in Russian defenceman Igor Ozhiganov - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. "Maple Leafs sign four players to ELCs". Pension Plan Puppets. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  3. "Maple Leafs sign four to entry-level contracts". Toronto Maple Leafs. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. "Igor Ozhiganov expected to return to native Russia". CBS Sports. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  5. "CSKA make trade with Ak Bars" (in Russian). CSKA Moscow. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  6. "Igor Ozhiganov signs contract with Ak Bars" (in Russian). Ak Bars Kazan. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  7. "Roman Rukavishnikov and Viktor Tikhonov at Ak Bars". Ak Bars Kazan. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  8. Hornby, Lance (3 October 2018). "LEAFS LOCKER: Igor an eager learner of the language". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  9. Hornby, Lance (24 August 2018). "New Leafs defenceman 'Ozzie' already in love with Toronto". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
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