Editing Roman Lyashenko (section)

==Playing career==
Lyashenko spent three seasons playing with [[Lokomotiv Yaroslavl|Torpedo Yaroslavl]] in his home country of Russia. In 130 games, he recorded 22 [[goal (ice hockey)|goals]] and 22 [[assist (ice hockey)|assists]] for 44 points.<ref name=hockeydb>{{cite web|title=Roman Lyashenko|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=36950|publisher=Hockeydb.com|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref> While playing with Yaroslavl, he was selected in the second round (52nd overall) of the [[1997 NHL Entry Draft]] by the [[Dallas Stars]].<ref name=nhlprofile>{{cite web|title=Roman Lyashenko|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8466186|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref> Leading up to the draft, scouts described him as a defensive forward with good character and leadership skills.<ref name=draftprofile>{{cite web|title=SLAM! 1997 NHL Draft Prospect Profiles: Roman Lyashenko|url=http://www.canoe.ca/DraftProfiles/lyashenko.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115114958/http://www.canoe.ca/DraftProfiles/lyashenko.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref> He was considered an atypical Russian prospect due to his attention to defensive play. One source had him ranked as a first round prospect.<ref name=97draft>{{cite news|title=1997 Entry Draft: The Top 20|last=Duhatschek|first=Eric|work=Calgary Herald|date=1997-06-21|page=E5}}</ref> 
He signed with the Stars in July 1999.<ref name=contract>{{cite news|title=Billington dealt to Caps|work=Toronto Star|date=1999-07-17|page=1}}</ref>

Lyashenko made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars during the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]], seeing action in 58 games, while recording six goals and six assists. He also spent time with the Stars' [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]] (IHL) affiliate [[Michigan K-Wings]], notching five points in nine games.<ref name=hockeydb /> During his rookie season in the NHL, Lyashenko played center on the Stars second line, earning praise from coach [[Ken Hitchcock]], "His game has risen beyond his years. He's 20 years old in age only. He looks like a real good fit for us."<ref name=2ndline>{{cite news|title=NHL Notebook: Sheppard a Panther; Florida signs veteran winger to one-year deal|work=The Windsor Star|date=1999-11-16|page=D3}}</ref> The Stars went to the [[Stanley Cup Finals]] that season, but lost to the [[New Jersey Devils]]. In the Stars' first round playoff series against the [[Edmonton Oilers]], Lyashenko scored the winning goal in the first game of the series.<ref name=gwg>{{cite news|title=New face produces familiar result: Stars' rookie gets Cup defence started in style|work=Calgary Herald|last=Brownlee|first=Robin|date=2000-04-13|page=D1}}</ref> During the 2000 Western Conference final against the [[Colorado Avalanche]], Lyashenko scored the series clinching goal in game seven.<ref name=gwg2>{{cite web|title=AHL matinee goes today|work=New Brunswick Telegraph Journal|date=2001-11-13|last=Kennedy|first=Aaron}}</ref> Lyashenko played in 16 playoff games for the Stars.<ref name=hockeydb /> During the playoffs in his rookie season, Hitchcock was happy with Lyashenko's play, saying, "He's an exceptional defensive player -- his offensive skills have improved as the season's gone on."<ref name=gwg />

During the [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–2001 season]], Lyashenko again split time between the Stars and the [[Utah Grizzlies]], who were the Stars' new IHL affiliate. At the end of the season, Lyashenko had played 60 games with the Stars and recorded nine points. At the IHL level, he played in six games and had one assist.<ref name=hockeydb /> Lyashenko was popular with his teammates in Dallas, at one point his teammates lobbied Hitchcock to get him more playing time.<ref name=asg />

On March 12, 2002, Lyashenko and [[Martin Ručinský]] were traded to the [[New York Rangers]] for [[Manny Malhotra]] and [[Barrett Heisten]].<ref name=malhotra>{{cite web|title=Manny Malhotra|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1617 | publisher=TSN|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref> During the [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–2002 season]], Lyashenko played for four different teams, the Stars and Rangers at the NHL level as well as the IHL's Grizzlies, and the [[Hartford Wolfpack]] of the [[American Hockey League]] (AHL).<ref name=hockeydb /> In his last season of professional hockey, Lyashenko played two games with the Rangers, and 71 with the Wolfpack. He put up the best numbers of his career in North America, with 23 goals and 35 assists.<ref name=hockeydb /> He played in the 2003 AHL All-Star Game, despite having asked for a release midway through the season to return to Russia. The request was denied by the Rangers, but his agent, Todd Diamond, said there were other teams interested in the forward's services; "Several teams were interested in him because they knew he wasn't a fourth-line guy."<ref name=asg>{{cite web|title=Questions over suicides linger|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2003-09-18-suicides_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=2003-09-18|access-date=2011-01-06|last=Graves|first=Gary}}</ref>