Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov passes away from brain tumour at age 21

Rodion Amirov, who the Toronto Maple Leafs selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft, has passed away after a two-year battle with a brain tumour. He was 21.

Dan Milstein, Amirov’s agent with Gold Star Hockey, shared the news of Amirov’s passing on Monday afternoon.

“It is we great sadness that we announce the passing of Rodion Amirov,” Milstein wrote. “Two years ago, Rodion was diagnosed with a brain tumour. From the moment he received the news, he refused to speak in the negative, determined to enjoy every day, facing it with the same positive attitude he showed during his hockey career. We will always remember his courage, his desire, his will, his smile, all of the great things about him.

“We’d like to thank his doctors, who took great care of him,” Milstein continued. “We’d like to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs and his KHL – Salavat Yulayev Ufa team. Both did everything possible to help in any way, do whatever was necessary for Rodion and the Amirov family. And we’d like to thank hockey fans all over the world who sent notes of encouragement and best wishes over the past two years. They meant so much to the Amirov family.”

Maple Leafs president and alternate governor Brendan Shanahan also issued a statement on Monday afternoon.

“The entire Maple Leafs organization is devastated by this tragic loss,” Shanahan wrote. “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.”

The Maple Leafs drafted Amirov with the No. 15 overall pick in 2020. The six-foot winger scored nine goals and 13 points in 39 KHL games with Salavat Yulaev Ufa during the 2020–21 season. Amirov signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs on April 15, 2021.

Midway through the 2021–22 campaign, then-Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas announced that Amirov had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. At the time, Amirov was undergoing treatment at a facility in Germany and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Amirov spent some time in Toronto at the start of the 2022–23 season, participating in training exercises at team facilities and being introduced to loud applause at the team’s home opener at Scotiabank Arena. He returned to Russia in November 2022 to undergo additional treatments.

Here at The Leafs Nation, all of our thoughts are with Rodion Amirov’s family and loved ones at this exceptionally difficult time.