Topic: Sergei Gonchar

Sergei Viktorovich Gonchar (Russian: Сергей Викторович Гончар; born April 13, 1974) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2009.

Sergei Gonchar began his professional career in 1991 with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the Russian Superleague (RSL). He also played two seasons for Dynamo Moscow.

Gonchar was the first round pick, 14th overall, of the Washington Capitals in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He began his North American career in 1994, suiting up in two playoff games for the Capitals' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Portland Pirates. He continued with Portland in 1994–95, before making his NHL debut, with the Capitals, on February 7, 1995 against the Buffalo Sabres. He would appear in 31 games total during the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season. The following year, in his first full-length campaign in the NHL, Gonchar would tally 41 points, showing his potential as an effective offensive defenceman.