Former NHL player Rodion Amirov, a former first-round pick of the Maple Leafs, died on Monday at the young age of 21, the team officially said.

Brendan Shanahan, Maple Leafs president and alternate governor, in a statement, said, “The entire Maple Leafs organization is devastated by this tragic loss. Over the duration of his courageous battle, Rodion’s positivity inspired everyone around him, and he made lasting impressions with our team and fans in his brief visits to Toronto. It’s incredibly sad to see a young man with so much promise taken from us so soon. We offer our deepest condolences to Rodion’s family and friends as we mourn this loss together.”

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Cause of death-

As per media reports, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year and died because of it.

Age-

Rodion Amirov was born on October 2, 2001. He was 21 years old when he died.

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Career-

Talented Russian professional ice hockey forward Rodion Ruslanovich Amirov is most known for his time spent with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The Toronto Maple Leafs selected him with the 15th overall choice in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft as a result of his impressive journey.

Amirov began his hockey career with the Salavat Yulaev Ufa development program before moving on to Tolpar Ufa and the farm squad of the Supreme Hockey League, Toros Neftekamsk. Later, in the 2019–20 season, he made his KHL debut with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

Amirov and the Toronto Maple Leafs, who selected him in the draft, came to terms on a three-year entry-level deal on April 15, 2021. He then promptly relocated to North America and was given a contract with the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ AHL franchise, for the balance of the 2020–21 campaign.

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Kyle Dubas, the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, however, delivered a depressing statement on February 23, 2022. He disclosed that Amirov had a brain tumor and was currently receiving therapy.