KLM Line
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The KLM-Line is the name given to the first lineup players of the USSR national ice hockey team and the Russian club CSKA in the 1980s. It included forwards Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov. The trio was named after the first letters of the offensive players' last names. In Russia it is widely considered to be the best offensive lineup ever.[1][2]
In the 1990s, Larionov (and Fetisov) became part of another famous ice hockey lineup, the Russian Five, with the Detroit Red Wings.
It was a long tradition in the Soviet Union to discover and promote such ranks over the years. In the 1940s and 1950s, there were Yevgeni Babich, Vsevolod Bobrov and Viktor Shuvalov. In the 1960s, there were Konstantin Loktev, Alexander Almetov and Veniamin Alexandrov; Boris Mayorov, Vyacheslav Starshinov and Yevgeni Mayorov; Vladimir Vikulov, Viktor Polupanov and Anatoli Firsov. In the 1970s, there were Boris Mikhailov, Valeri Kharlamov and Vladimir Petrov, who were then included in the KLM series 'that dominated the Soviet and international scene during the 1980s'.
The Russian national coach Viktor Tikhonov first discovered the talented skater and left-handed shooter Sergei Makarov.[3] Tikhonov then brought him to HC CSKA Moscow.
Vladimir Krutov, a very stocky and powerful left wing, was discovered by Valeri Kharlamov. Krutov had been educated and trained at CSKA and was a great support for the army club at the time.
Voskresensk-born Igor Larionov, the later center of the series was discovered by Nikolay Epshtein while playing for Khimik Voskresensk.