German Rubtsov

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| alt =

| image =

| caption =

| image_size = 230px

| team = Spartak Moscow

| league = KHL

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league = VHL

| former_teams = HC Vityaz
Philadelphia Flyers
HC Sochi

| position = Centre

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lb = 190

| shoots = Left

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|6|27}}

| birth_place = Chekhov, Russia

| draft = 22nd overall

| draft_team = Philadelphia Flyers

| draft_year = 2016

| career_start = 2016

| career_end =

}}

German Alexandrovich Rubtsov ({{langx|ru|Герман Александрович Рубцов}}; born 27 June 1998) is a Russian professional ice hockey player. He is currently under contract with HC Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, 22nd overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite web| url = http://www.csnphilly.com/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-draft-russia-u-18-c-german-rubtsov-no-22-after-swapping-pair-picks-jets | title = Flyers draft u18 German Rubtsov after swapping pair of picks | publisher = CSN Philly | date = 2016-06-24 | accessdate = 2016-06-25}}

Playing career

He played with Vityaz junior team, Russkie Vityazi, before competing in the 2015–16 season for Team Russia U18 of the Junior Hockey League (MHL).{{cite web| url = http://www.broadstreethockey.com/2016/6/28/12051838/german-rubtsov-russian-doping-scandal-khl-contract-flyers | title = Whats the deal with Flyers draft pick German Rubtsov | publisher = broadstreethockey.com | date = 2016-06-28 | accessdate = 2016-06-28}}

He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Flyers on 2 March 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.csnphilly.com/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-sign-first-round-pick-german-rubtsov-entry-level-contract |title=Flyers sign first-round pick German Rubtsov to entry-level contract |publisher=CSNPhilly.com |first=Tim |last=Panaccio |date=2 March 2017 |accessdate=2 March 2017}}

= Philadelphia Flyers =

During the 2019–20 season, Rubtsov made his NHL debut with the Flyers on 1 November 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.inquirer.com/flyers/flyers-german-rubtsov-nhl-debut-claude-giroux-ivan-provorov-20191101.html |title=German Rubstov becomes fourth Flyers player to make his NHL debut this season |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |first=Sam |last=Carchidi |date=1 November 2019 |accessdate=1 November 2019}} He appeared in four games with the Flyers, going scoreless, before returning to the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Rubtsov collected just 2 goals and 13 points in 42 regular season games with the Phantoms before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rubtsov was initially named to Flyers Return to Play squad to participate in training camp in preparation for the playoffs. He was left off the final roster and on 23 August 2020, he was loaned to Russian club, HC Sochi of the KHL, until the commencement of the delayed 2020–21 North American season.{{cite web| url =https://mobile.twitter.com/NHLFlyers/status/1297603947780362242 | title = Flyers loan German Rubtsov to HC Sochi | publisher = Philadelphia Flyers | date = 23 August 2020 | accessdate = 23 August 2020}} Rubtsov continued with HC Sochi and was later determined to remain with the club for the duration of the campaign, finishing with 3 goals and 11 points through 46 regular season games.

With a year still remaining on his entry-level contract with the Flyers, in the off-season Rubtsov's KHL rights were traded from Sochi to SKA Saint Petersburg on 17 August 2021.{{cite web| url = https://www.vhlru.ru/lenta/401083/ | title = Nikita Zorkin who played with SKA-Neva moves to Sochi | publisher = Supreme Hockey League | date = 17 August 2021 | accessdate = 17 August 2021 | language = Russian}}

= Florida Panthers =

On 19 March 2022, Rubtsov was involved in a trade that sent him along with Claude Giroux, Connor Bunnaman, and a draft pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Owen Tippett and some draft picks.{{cite web |title=Panthers acquire Giroux from Flyers for package centred around Tippett |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/claude-giroux-traded-by-flyers-to-panthers-for-owen-tippett/sn-amp/ |website=Sportsnet |accessdate=19 March 2022 |language=en |date=19 March 2022}} Rubtsov only had four NHL games played with the Flyers before the trade.

At the end of the season, Rubstov was not offered a qualifying offer by the Panthers to retain his exclusive playing rights, thereby releasing him to free agency.{{cite web |first= Colby | last=Guy |title=Florida Panthers do not extend qualifying offer to Jonas Johansson |url=https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-do-not-extend-a-qualifying-offer-to-jonas-johansson/ |website=Florida Hockey Now |accessdate=13 July 2022 |language=en |date=11 July 2022}}

=Return to Russia=

Un-signed in North America, Rubtsov opted to return to his homeland to continue his career, signing a one-year, two-way contract with KHL outfit, HC Spartak Moscow, on 24 August 2022.{{cite web| url = https://spartak.ru/news/events/german-rubtsov-prodolzhit-kareru-v-spartake/ | title = German Rubtsov will continue his career with Spartak | publisher = HC Spartak Moscow | date = 24 August 2022 | accessdate = 24 August 2022 | language = Russian}}