After playing 65 Games with the Winnipeg Jets, he was traded late in his rookie year to Edmonton. That year, he would be named to the All-Rookie Team, and he would build on that with two 32 Point seasons, and then a 46 Point campaign in 1997-98. The Defenseman from Moscow was used on the Power Play, and he would secure 91 of his 160 Points with Edmonton in that role.