Oleg Vladimirovich Kvasha (; born July 26, 1978) is a Russian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Florida Panthers, New York Islanders and the Phoenix Coyotes. Oleg was renowned for his blonde flowing locks fluttering from under his helmet as he sped up and down the ice Playing career As a youth, Kvasha played in the 1992 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Moscow. Kvasha was chosen in the third round, 65th overall, by the Florida Panthers in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Panthers in the 1998–99 season, appearing in 68 games as a rookie for 12 goals and 25 points. After completing his second season with the Panthers, on June 24, 2000, Kvasha was dealt by Florida to the New York Islanders with winger Mark Parrish for goaltender Roberto Luongo and center Olli Jokinen. After playing with the Islanders for five seasons, Kvasha was traded during the 2005–06 campaign, along with a conditional fifth round draft pick to the Phoenix Coyotes for a third round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft on March 9, 2006. Following his seventh season in the NHL, split between the Islanders and Coyotes, Kvasha ended his North American career in returning to his native Russia, agreeing to terms with HC Vityaz of the then Russian Superleague. Kvasha played a further 9 years in the Kontinental Hockey League, appearing with Traktor Chelyabinsk, Atlant Moscow Oblast, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, CSKA Moscow, Avangard Omsk, HC Spartak Moscow and Barys Astana before retiring after his 20th professional season in 2014–15. International play Kvasha has represented his native Russia in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he won a bronze medal. Career statistics Regular season and playoffs International References External links 1978 births Living people Atlant Moscow Oblast players Avangard Omsk players Barys Nur-Sultan players Beast of New Haven players HC CSKA Moscow players Florida Panthers draft picks Florida Panthers players Ice hockey players at the 2002 Winter Olympics Medalists at the 2002 Winter Olympics Metallurg Magnitogorsk players HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk players New York Islanders players Olympic bronze medalists for Russia Olympic ice hockey players of Russia Olympic medalists in ice hockey Phoenix Coyotes players Russian ice hockey centres Severstal Cherepovets players HC Spartak Moscow players Ice hockey people from Moscow Traktor Chelyabinsk