Николай Цулыгин

Позиция - защитник
Дата рождения - 29 мая 1975 года
Место рождения - г.Уфа, Россия
Рост - 191 см
Вес - 95 кг
Драфт - выбран 30-м в 1993 году командой "Анахеем Майти Дакс"

В 1992-95 играл за "Салават Юлаев" и ЦСКА - 114 игр, 7 голов, 20 передач. Бронзовый призёр чемпионата мира среди юниоров (до 20 лет) 1994 года (7 матчей, 1+2). 

Начиная с сезона 1995-96 гг в основном выступал во вторых лигах Америки - ИХЛ и АХЛ.

В 1998-99 гг вернулся в Россию. Играл снова за "Салават Юлаев", затем за "Ак Барс", "Северсталь", "Металлург" Мг, "Нефтехимик", московское "Динамо". Чемпион России 2005 года. В 2005-07 гг опять защищал цвета "Салавата", в 2006-07 гг в "Сибири", в 2007-08 гг в "Торпедо" Нижний Новгород. 

Свои лучшие показатели зарегистрировал в 2003-04 гг в составе "Нефтехимика" - 29 очков (8+21) и плюс +10 в 56 поединках чемпионата России включая плэй-офф.   

26 мая 1994 года. 
Ducks' draftee Tsulygin gets summer job NHL: The 6-4 defenseman from Russia, who will work out under the team's supervision, has a `great desire' to make the roster. // Orange County Register

With a little less fanfare than for Barbra Streisand at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, the Mighty Ducks introduced Nikolai Tsulygin, their 1993 second-round draft pick to the media Wednesday.

Tsulygin, who will turn 19 on Sunday, arrived in the United States two days ago.

"It is very nice," Tsulygin, who speaks virtually no English, said through interpreter Ilya Moliver. "I like being in California."

Tsulygin, who has not yet signed a contract with the Ducks, is here for the summer to work out under the supervision of the Ducks. The Ducks hope to get the 6-4, 209-pound defenseman signed and into training camp in September.

"I have great desire to play in the NHL, but I don't know if I'm ready yet," he said. "I will go to training camp and see how it goes. I am confident, but I don't know yet."

Ducks' assistant general manager Pierre Gauthier concurs.

"He could be here or in San Diego. He might even end up back in Russia," Gauthier said. "He's playing for a good team (Salavat Yulavev) in a league that's as good as the American or International leagues, so the NHL won't be a big step for him.

"The main thing will be adjusting to the lifestyle, language and culture for he and his wife (Elvira)."

Gauthier said that was the reason to have him - and potentially last year's No. 3 pick Valeri Karpov - here this summer and in camp in the fall.

While in New York on Monday, Moliver took Tsulygin and his wife to the New Jersey-New York Rangers Stanley Cup playoff game.

"I was very impressed," Tsulygin said. "The way they play is not unlike the way they play in Europe, especially with Russians and Czechs playing. It is something in the middle."

Tsulygin was impressed with the Ducks' facilities, especially the arena in which he may someday play.

"I have only seen here (Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim) and Madison Square Garden," he said. "There is no comparison to where I played in Russia. I like here much better." 

24 января 1997 года. 
Oksiuta, Tsulygin Get Their Shot: Home Edition // Los Angeles Times 

The Ducks were without wingers Warren Rychel and Joe Sacco on Thursday because of minor injuries, creating an opening for rarely used winger Roman Oksiuta and rookie defenseman Nikolai Tsulygin.

Rychel was suffering from back spasms, and Sacco aggravated strained muscles on his left side during Wednesday's victory against New Jersey. He originally was hurt last week against Calgary. The status of both is considered day to day.

Oksiuta, who has clashed with Coach Ron Wilson over playing time and work habits, played for only the fifth time in the last 26 games. Tsulygin played for the first time in 12. 

9 марта 1997 года. 
Return of Karpa, Baumgartner lifts defense Rookie defensemen Salei and Tsulygin are shipped back to minors.// The Orange County Register.

It didn't require a deal for the Ducks lineup to become stronger _ both in toughness and experience _ over the past two days.

Two physical players, David Karpa and Ken Baumgartner, have come off the injured reserve list _ Karpa on Friday and Baumgartner on Saturday.

That news, combined with the strong play of rookie Dan Trebil, resulted in trips to the minors for struggling rookie defensemen Ruslan Salei and Nikolai Tsulygin.

Karpa, one of the Ducks' best defensemen in their own end, returned to the lineup Friday against the New York Rangers after missing 13 games with a fractured bone in his right hand.

Baumgartner, who has missed the past 11 games with a fractured right hand suffered five days after Karpa's injury on Feb. 4, is available to play in tonight's road game against the Colorado Avalanche.

The defense corps shapes up with Trebil paired with veteran Bobby Dollas, veteran Dmitri Mironov with rookie Darren Van Impe, and Jason Marshall with Karpa.

Baumgartner, who was switched from left wing to defense in January when the Ducks were desperate for experience on the blue line, likely will be put back at wing. His role at that position has been filled by rookie Peter LeBoutillier, who has done a good job in his limited playing time.

Ducks coach Ron Wilson will have more decisions when veteran defenseman J.J. Daigneault is able to return March 21, when his 10-game suspension is over.

At that point, Van Impe might become the odd man out.

But these are all good problems for the Ducks. Only a month ago, Wilson was forced to play both Salei, 22, and Tsulygin, 21.

The pair struggled this season. Salei had a rating of minus-8. Tsulygin was a minus-5. "It's like they were playing to survive, not to develop," Ducks assistant coach Walt Kyle said.

Salei, who played 30 games with one point and 37 penalty minutes, was assigned to the Las Vegas Thunder of the International Hockey League.

Earlier this season, Salei, the Ducks' No. 1 pick (ninth overall) in the 1996 draft, had a 12-game stint with Baltimore of the American Hockey League. He returned more poised, but still could use more seasoning in the minors.

Tsulygin, who has been a healthy scratch for 37 games, including the last 13, was reassigned to Baltimore. The Ducks would have liked to have sent him to the minors to further his development earlier, but weren't able to because of the injuries.