Rodion Amirov

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Rodion Amirov

| image=Rodion Amirov.jpg

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|2001|10|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Salavat, Russia

| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|08|14|2001|10|2|df=y}}

| death_place = Munich, Germany

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 168

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| league = NHL

| team =

| played_for = Salavat Yulaev Ufa

| draft = 15th overall

| draft_year = 2020

| draft_team = Toronto Maple Leafs

| career_start = 2019

| career_end = 2021

}}

Rodion Ruslanovich Amirov ({{langx|ru|link=no|Родион Русланович Амиров}}; {{langx|ba|Родион Руслан улы Әмиров|Rodion Ruslan ulı Ämirov}}; 2 October 2001 – 14 August 2023) was a Russian professional ice hockey forward who played with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was drafted in the first round, 15th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite web|url=https://en.khl.ru/news/2019/08/28/455337.html|website=en.khl.ru|title=National team's hero and KHL rookie. Rodion Amirov's success story : News : Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)|access-date=8 October 2019}}

Playing career

Amirov played youth hockey within the system of his hometown club, Salavat Yulaev Ufa. He appeared for their Junior Hockey League (Russia) (MHL) affiliate, Tolpar Ufa, and their Supreme Hockey League (VHL) affiliate Toros Neftekamsk, before making his debut with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the top-level Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) during the 2019–20 season. In October 2020, Amirov was selected 15th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the pandemic-delayed 2020 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite web |title=Maple Leafs take Rodion Amirov with 15th overall pick |url=https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2026644 |website=theScore.com |publisher=the Score |access-date=January 4, 2024}}

As a 19-year-old in his second KHL season, Amirov appeared in a career-high 39 games for Salavat Yulaev during the 2020–21 season. His nine goals and 13 points ranked third among under-20 skaters in the league. In nine playoff games, however, he did not record a point.{{cite web |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/518585/rodion-amirov |title=Rodion Amirov |website=eliteprospects.net |access-date=14 August 2023}}

On 15 April 2021, Amirov agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Leafs. He moved to Toronto for the spring and worked with the Leafs' development staff, but did not appear in any games for the Leafs or their minor league affiliates. While in Toronto, he lived with fellow Russian Leafs prospect Semyon Der-Arguchintsev{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-sign-rodion-amirov/c-323672640 | title = Maple Leafs sign Rodion Amirov to Entry Level contract | publisher = Toronto Maple Leafs | date = 15 April 2021 | accessdate = 15 April 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Kloke |first1=Joshua |title=The curious case of Rodion Amirov: Why isn’t the Maple Leafs prospect playing more in Russia? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3007617/2021/12/11/the-curious-case-of-rodion-amirov-why-isnt-the-maple-leafs-prospect-playing-more-in-russia/ |website=theathletic.com |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=January 4, 2024 |date=December 11, 2021}}

Amirov returned to Russia for the 2021–22 season. From 29 September to 6 December 2021, he did not play any KHL games due to a shoulder injury. He recorded an assist in his return to the Ufa lineup, despite playing barely more than one minute. He did not play at all in the next two games.{{cite web |last1=Parsons Sr. |first1=Jim |title=Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Rubins, Seney, Amirov, Dahlstrom & Holl |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/maple-leafs-rubins-seney-amirov-dahlstrom-holl/ |website=thehockeywriters.com |publisher=The Hockey Writers |access-date=4 January 2024 |date=13 December 2021}} In 10 KHL games that season, he totaled one goal and three points.

Illness and death

On 22 February 2022, Amirov's agent, Dan Milstein, announced on Twitter that Amirov had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and was undergoing treatment. The announcement shared that Amirov was receiving treatment in Germany and was skating and working out regularly. Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas confirmed the report the next day.{{cite web |last1=Neufeld |first1=Abby |title=20-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs prospect diagnosed with brain tumour |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/20-year-old-toronto-maple-leafs-prospect-diagnosed-with-brain-tumour-1.5792390 |work=CTV News Toronto |date=23 February 2022 |access-date=23 February 2022}}

In the fall of 2022, Amirov received chemotherapy in Toronto, and attended the Maple Leafs' season opener against the Washington Capitals, where he was announced as an honorary member of the roster. Afterward, Amirov returned to his family home in Ufa to continue treatment. At this point, his treatment left him unable to train;{{Cite web |title=Maple Leafs prospect Amirov returns home to continue treatments for brain tumour |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/maple-leafs-prospect-amirov-returns-home-to-continue-treatments-for-brain-tumour/ |access-date=14 August 2023 |website=Sportsnet.ca |language=en}} according to his father Ruslan, the doctors had deemed the cancer inoperable, and Rodion was given between three and six months to live.{{cite web |last1=McGran |first1=Kevin |title=Father of late Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov has a message for fans |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/father-of-late-maple-leafs-prospect-rodion-amirov-has-a-message-for-fans/article_90a3bcae-e888-5ce6-88f7-34d3b0c8fd70.html |website=Toronto Star |access-date=29 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629162347/https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/father-of-late-maple-leafs-prospect-rodion-amirov-has-a-message-for-fans/article_90a3bcae-e888-5ce6-88f7-34d3b0c8fd70.html |archive-date=29 June 2024 |date=13 September 2023}}

For the last eight months of his life, Amirov was rendered blind from the cancer, as it had spread to his optic nerve.{{cite web |last1=Hornby |first1=Lance |title=Rodion Amirov's father relays emotional message of thanks after Leafs prospect's death |url=https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/amirov-father-relays-emotional-message-of-thanks |website=Toronto Sun |access-date=29 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420212428/https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/amirov-father-relays-emotional-message-of-thanks |archive-date=20 April 2024 |date=12 September 2023}} Despite his vision loss and his time away from hockey, Amirov signed a one-year contract extension with Salavat Yulaev on 10 May 2023.{{cite web| url = https://hcsalavat.ru/news/salavat-yulaev-prodlil-kontrakt-s-rodionom-amirovym/ | title = Salavat extends contract with Rodion Amirov | publisher = Salavat Yulaev Ufa | date = 10 May 2023 | accessdate = 10 May 2023 | language = Russian}} Amirov died on 14 August 2023, in Munich, Germany, where he was receiving treatment. His death was announced that day, by Milstein via Twitter.{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-prospect-rodion-amirov-dies-at-age-21-1.1995891 |title=Leafs prospect Amirov dead at 21 |publisher=TSN |date=14 August 2023 |access-date=14 August 2023}}{{cite news |title=Former Maple Leafs first-round pick Rodion Amirov passes away at 21 |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/former-maple-leafs-first-round-pick-rodion-amirov-passes-away-at-21/ |access-date=14 August 2023 |publisher=Sportsnet |date=14 August 2023}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2017–18

| Tolpar Ufa

| MHL

| 12

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 2

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2018–19

| Tolpar Ufa

| MHL

| 31

| 13

| 26

| 14

| 8

| 4

| 2

| 6

| 2

2019–20

| Tolpar Ufa

| MHL

| 17

| 10

| 12

| 22

| 31

| 5

| 1

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2019–20

| Salavat Yulaev Ufa

| KHL

| 21

| 0

| 2

| 4

| —

2019–20

| Toros Neftekamsk

| VHL

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 0

| 6

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2020–21

| Salavat Yulaev Ufa

| KHL

| 39

| 9

| 4

| 13

| 6

| 9

| 0

| 6

2020–21

| Toros Neftekamsk

| VHL

| 3

| 1

| 2

| 0

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2020–21

| Tolpa Ufa

| MHL

| —

| 5

| 0

| 3

| 0

2021–22

| Salavat Yulaev Ufa

| KHL

| 10

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 0

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2021–22

| Toros Neftekamsk

| VHL

| 3

| 0

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | KHL totals

! 70

! 10

! 8

! 18

! 10

! 9

! 0

! 6

=International=

{{MedalCountry|{{ihj|RUS}}}}

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"
ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM
2018 \| Russia \| HG18 \| {{bronze3}} \| 5	0	2	2	0
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2018 \| Russia \| WJAC \| {{silver2}} \| 6	2	1	3	0
2019 \| Russia \| U18 \| {{silver2}} \| 7	6	3	9	2
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2021 \| Russia \| WJC \| 4th \| 7	2	4	6	4
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" \| Junior totals ! 25 !! 10 !! 10 !! 20 !! 6

Awards and honours

class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref
colspan="3"\|International
World U18 Championship – Media All-Star Team \| 2019 \| {{cite web \|last=Aykroyd \|first=Lucas \|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/wm18/news/10572/caufield-named-mvp \|title=Caufield named MVP \|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation \|date=28 April 2019 \|access-date=14 August 2023}}

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

! Ref

colspan="3"|International

World U18 Championship – Media All-Star Team

| 2019

| {{cite web |last=Aykroyd |first=Lucas |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/wm18/news/10572/caufield-named-mvp |title=Caufield named MVP |publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation |date=28 April 2019 |access-date=14 August 2023}}

References

External links

{{Ice hockey stats |elite=518585}}

{{succession box | before = Rasmus Sandin | title = Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick | years = 2020 | after = Easton Cowan}}

Category:2001 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:Deaths from brain cancer in Germany

Category:NHL first-round draft picks

Category:People from Salavat

Category:Russian ice hockey left wingers

Category:Salavat Yulaev Ufa players

Category:Tolpar Ufa players

Category:Toros Neftekamsk players

Category:Toronto Maple Leafs draft picks

Category:Sportspeople from Bashkortostan

Category:21st-century Russian sportsmen

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"
ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM
2018 \| Russia \| HG18 \| {{bronze3}} \| 5	0	2	2	0
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2018 \| Russia \| WJAC \| {{silver2}} \| 6	2	1	3	0
2019 \| Russia \| U18 \| {{silver2}} \| 7	6	3	9	2
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2021 \| Russia \| WJC \| 4th \| 7	2	4	6	4
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" \| Junior totals ! 25 !! 10 !! 10 !! 20 !! 6