Igor Larionov was one of Hockey's best players in the 1980s, but he was not a member of the NHL.  This was because he was from the Soviet Union, and they were not permitted to play in North America.  Larionov finally went across the world in 1989, playing for Vancouver, the Swiss League, and San Jose before he was traded to Detroit before the 1995-96 season.

Igor Larionov was one of the top players for the Soviet Union in the 1980’s and was the Centre for their top line; the famed “KLM Line”, alongside Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov. They were the dominant force in International Hockey that decade, but Larionov longed to test his skills in the National Hockey League. He was an outspoken critic of the Soviet hockey regime and due to the necessity of funds for the Soviet Sports bureau, a deal was brokered where Igor and many of his talented “comrades” would get to play in the NHL.