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Top 100 Oilers: No. 88 — Igor Ulanov
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Photo credit: Jacob Lazare
Cam Lewis
Sep 1, 2025, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 2, 2025, 13:37 EDT
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Oilersnation is reviving the Top 100 Edmonton Oilers of All Time list, a project originally created by the late Robin Brownlee in 2015. Igor Ulanov comes in at No. 88 on our updated 2025 list. He was ranked No. 93 on Brownlee’s original list. 
Igor Ulanov is a player from a bygone era. Tough as nails, far from pretty, but effective nonetheless.
The Big Russian arrived in Edmonton with a heavy stick, a heavier shoulder, and zero fear of the hard areas. He gave the Oilers edge, shot blocking, and a willingness to step up on anyone who cut across the middle.
Though Ulanov played for a handful of teams during his 14 seasons in the NHL, his best years were with the Oilers. Far from the most skilled player on any roster, he became a favorite in Edmonton, where fans always love players who make life hell for the opponent.

Notable

The Winnipeg Jets grabbed Ulanov in the 10th round of the 1991 NHL Draft, part of the early ’90s wave of Russians crossing to the NHL. The big left-shot defenceman wasted no time making his mark. In his first seasons, he racked up heavy penalty minutes and a reputation for stepping up on anyone cutting through the middle.
The tour was long and rugged, with stops in Winnipeg, Washington, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Edmonton, New York, and Florida, adding up to 739 NHL games with 27 goals, 135 assists, 162 points, and 1,151 penalty minutes. He finished his career back home in Russia, including time with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and Dynamo Minsk.
Ulanov’s career-high in penalty minutes came during the 1993-94 season when he racked up 165 playing on an awful Jets team that went 24-51-9. He was only fourth on the team in PIMs that season. Tie Domi led the way with 347, Keith Tkachuk was second with 255, and Kris King was third with 205. His career-high in scoring came in 2000-01 with the Oilers. Ulanov picked up 23 points in 67 games on a squad that fell in the first round of the playoffs.

The Story

The Oilers wanted bite on the blueline for the 1999-2000 stretch run, and Ulanov fit the bill. Local papers framed him as grit with risk, a big hitter who loved the step-up and lived with the odd-man rush the other way. In his first full season in Edmonton, he ate tough minutes, piled up blocks and hits, and became a low-event specialist coaches would trust late in games.
He left for New York in 2001-02, bounced to Florida that same season, and then circled back. On his second tour in 2003-04 and again in 2005-06, the fit was the same, with Ulanov bringing blunt-force defence and no hesitation to answer the bell. Over 160 games with the Oilers, the Big Russian played honest, sandpaper hockey that matched the city’s taste and gave a young group some steel.

What Brownlee said…

There is little statistical justification, advanced or otherwise, for having Igor Ulanov on this list of Top 100 Oilers, so those of you who lean heavily on such details can take a gulp of Sprite and roll your eyes. I’m putting him in the No. 93 slot because I don’t want him showing up at my door asking why I left him off. I’d be happy, however, to send him your way.
I’ve told this story before, but it captures the essence of Ulanov in a nutshell. We were on the road in Columbus in November 2000 when Ulanov took a slapshot in the throat. It knocked him out of the game. He was badly bruised, but it could have been much, much worse.
Two nights later at Madison Square Garden, after insisting he was able to play against the New York Rangers, Ulanov took a slapper in the face. Spurting blood, Ulanov insisted on staying on the bench because he wanted to wait until the intermission to get repairs. He was forced by officials to go to the medical room, where it took about 30 stitches to close him up.
Later on the plane, with his face having swelled to freakish proportions, I asked him what the hell he was thinking by resisting immediate treatment. Ulanov sneered: “What? It’s blood on my face. My leg is not broken.”
Tell Ulanov he doesn’t belong on the list? Not me.

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