Sergey Bautin started his hockey career with Dynamo Moskva in 1990, playing there until 1992. With Dynamo Moskva Bautin won the Soviet title in 1991 and CIS title in 1992. In 1992 Bautin joined the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL, playing there until 1994, when he joined the Detroit Red Wings and from 1995-96 he played for the San Jose Sharks. Bautin then played two seasons with Luleå HF in Sweden and two seasons with Ak Bars Kazan, before finishing his career playing one season each with Nürnberg Ice Tigers (Germany), New Oji Seishi Tomakomai (Japan), Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Moskva Krylya Sovetov. Internationally Bautin never played for the Soviet team, but won gold with the Unified Team at the 1992 Winter Olympics and was on the Russian World Championships teams in 1992, 1997 and 1999.