'The thank you will go both ways': Zubov reflects on time in Dallas

For a guy who spent most of his time in Moscow and New York, Sergei Zubov was very uncertain coming to Texas in 1996.
The skilled defenseman struggled in his time in Pittsburgh for one season, so heading to the great frontier was an uncertain adventure that wasn't completely welcomed at the time.

"I didn't know anything at all, really. I had no clue what the city was about or the team," Zubov said as he remembered a time more than two decades ago. "First impressions were country road, traffic light, gas station and maybe some fields with cows. That's funny now, but that's how I saw it."
On Friday, Zubov will have his No. 56 retired and raised to the rafters, a symbol of his place in the history of the Stars organization and in the state of Texas.
"It's been great to see all of the numbers retired, and he's going to be pretty special," said Dan Stuchal, the team's Senior Vice President of Marketing.
Stuchal moved with the team from Minnesota and was working in hockey operations at the time. He was asked by GM Bob Gainey and Assistant GM Doug Armstrong to help Zubov assimilate to Texas.
"Bob and Doug both made it clear to me that we wanted to do everything we could to make him feel at home," Stuchal said. "We knew it was going to be a big step for him, so we wanted to do everything we could to make him feel at home because he's a big part of our future. We really wanted to roll out the red carpet."
Zubov said he had his reservations. He helped the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup in in 1994. He was part of a big trade to Pittsburgh, and the Penguins lost in the Eastern Conference Final to Florida. That sparked some changes, and the Penguins traded Zubov to Dallas for Kevin Hatcher.
While the trade was seen as a steal for Dallas, Zubov was going to the Western Conference and to a team that finished 22nd in the league at 26-42-14.
"I wanted to go to a team that could win right now and compete for a Stanley Cup, and they didn't seem to have that feeling at the time," Zubov said. "It just was a lot to take, and I really wasn't sure."
Zubov said he couldn't commit to the Stars at the time and missed two weeks of training camp. But once he got there, he saw the improvements the team was making. Gainey had already acquired Joe Nieuwendyk and Darryl Sydor. Plus, he'd handed the coaching reins to Ken Hitchcock.
Zubov quickly struck up chemistry with several players, including Mike Modano.

"They had skill and they had potential to be a very good team, so I was excited," said Zubov. "I had fun when you play with guys like Modano or Newy or Sid. You can make plays. We did that. We got to know each other and feed off each other. It took a little time, but it worked. You look at the results, and it was pretty good."
The balance between Zubov and Hitchcock was something that had to grow. The identity of the Stars was as a defensive team, and Zubov was more of an offensive player, so there were growing pains. Defenseman Craig Ludwig said the team had to start to understand just what was special about Zubov.
"I do remember one time where we're in the middle of a game and Hitch is ranting and raving, so Zubie takes one step over center ice, fires the puck into the corner and yells to the bench, `Like that? Is that what you want?'," Ludwig said with a chuckle. "You could tell there was some work to do."
But Hitchcock and assistant coach Rick Wilson soon saw that Zubov's creativity was at another level, and that they had exceptions for his play.
"I think what they decided is that for every 10 times he tried something, nine times it was going to work out," Ludwig said. "On that last time, we might have to cover for him, but it was more than worth it. He just added a whole different element to our team."

Zubov said that when the wins started coming, he was happy.
"We got pretty good, no?" he said. "It felt good, and everything seemed to fall into place."
Dallas began a run of five straight division championships, as well as two trips to the Stanley Cup Final and one Stanley Cup championship. Zubov was at the center of a lot of it, but he also knew he was part of a good team, and that was the key.
"We had a lot of skill, and that was fun," he said. "Plus, we won as a team and that was fun."
Off the ice, he also was having fun. He and wife Irina welcomed their second child, daughter Anastasia, and the family found a real home in Texas.
"I know he loved his neighborhood in Coppell, and I still run into neighbors from back then and they say what a wonderful neighbor he was and just a great guy," Stuchal said. "He would be walking around with the dog or the kids, and they all commented what a great guy he was."
Zubov said driving around on Wednesday that his daughter was nostalgic.
"She said, `This is where I was born, I'm from Texas,'" he said.
Now, the family will get to watch as Zubov's number is retired. It'll be a special night that recalls a special time in their lives. Told that this is a great chance for the fans to say "thank you" to Zubov, he said he'll be emotional.
"The thank you will go both ways," he said. "This team, this town welcomed me, and they made everything possible for me. They made this a home for me, and I really appreciate that."
It's not something he ever would've imagined back in 1996.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.