Team Modern Era selects...
D Sandis Ozolinsh
Sandis Ozoliņš (pronounced
/sɑn.dɪs oʊzoʊ.lɪntʃ/, born
August 3,
1972 in
Riga,
U.S.S.R.), also known as
Sandis Ozolinsh, is a Latvian
ice hockey player, currently an
unrestricted free agent. He is a 7-time
NHL All-Star,
Norris trophy finalist, the all-time highest scoring Latvian in the
NHL and the second highest paid sportsman in Latvian history after
NBA Basketball player
Andris Biedrins.
Ozolinsh was one of 3 finalists for the
Norris Trophy (the NHL award given to the best defencemen in the NHL) in the
1996–97 season. He is also a 7-time
NHL All-Star.
When on the
Colorado Avalanche, he won his one and only
Stanley Cup (
1996). He was a part of Anaheim's Cinderella run to the Finals in
2003. In December 2005, Ozolinsh missed a practice skate and failed to go on a short road trip with the team. Shortly after, he voluntarily entered the NHL's
substance abuse program, and was placed indefinitely on the disabled list.
He was traded from the Ducks to the
New York Rangers for a third-round draft pick (which the Rangers had obtained earlier in a trade with the
San Jose Sharks) at the
March 9,
2006 trade deadline. On
December 18,
2006, on the heels of a 6–1 loss to New Jersey, the Rangers placed Ozolinsh on waivers. After clearing waivers, Ozolinsh was assigned to the
Hartford Wolf Pack of the
AHL, but a short while later he was put on injured reserve instead.
Ozolinsh is also the owner of
Vilki OP/LaRocca of the Riga Open Championship. Ozolinsh also owns other Latvian sports ventures, including Latvia's first 18-hole
golf course,
Ozo Golf Club.
He signed a one-year contract with the Sharks on November 2, 2007 and scored 3 goals and gave 13 assists in 38 games.