Maple Leafs in shock at sudden death of Sergei Berezin

Article content

Sergei Berezin, the Russian winger who dazzled for the Maple Leafs in the 1990s and played for four other NHL teams, has died suddenly at age 52.

Article content

The league’s Alumni Association posted Wednesday evening, saying it was “heartbroken” by the news. The release described Berezin as happy in retirement in Florida, coaching minor hockey, playing tennis and spending time with his family. Past Instagram photos of his loved ones were plentiful.

Toronto selected the speedy winger late in the 1994 draft as access to Russian players began to increase. He debuted in 1996-97 with 25 goals and tried to learn a better, more physical three-zone game to complement his natural scoring touch. Under new coach Pat Quinn, he enjoyed his best season in 1998-99, 37 goals and 12 playoff points as the Leafs advanced to the conference final.

In 2001, Berezin was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for Mikael Renberg, playing each of the next four seasons with different clubs, the Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens. Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals. He then had a short stint in the KHL with CSKA Moscow after first coming to Toronto’s attention with a 31-goal year for Khimik in ’93-94, then two years in Germany with the Cologne Sharks. In 357 games with the Leafs, he had 126 goals and 94 assists.

Article content

Article content

SECOND PICK IS POPULAR, TOO

There is little drama regarding Friday night’s No. 1 pick in the draft with San Jose ready to welcome North Vancouver’s Macklin Celebrini.

Then the pressure shifts to the Chicago Blackhawks, last year’s big winners with Connor Bedard first overall and now owning any non-Celebrini selection. A few mock drafts have them taking KHL scoring winger Ivan Demidov to complement Bedard. But while he’s ranked ahead of defenceman Artyom Levshunov of Michigan State, the Hawks might succumb to the temptation of a blueliner with the physical stature to play sooner in the NHL.

Levshunov or Demidov likely fall no further than third to Anaheim. Chicago GM Kyle Davidson has multiple picks in the first three rounds but apparently isn’t interested in trading No. 2. Drafting 23rd without many picks in their cupboard after, the Leafs are in similar mode, hoping to gain more selections through trades.

Article content

“We’re always having those discussions, the more bullets you have the better situation you’re in,” Wes Clark, Toronto’s director of amateur scouting, told media in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.

HOME HARDWARE?

Thursday is NHL regular season awards night in Las Vegas with its two major individual trophies, the Hart and Lindsay, being handed out at The Fontainebleu and the chance a player for a Canadian team gets both.

The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on the Hart, the players are polled on the Lindsay. Both have leading point man Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay lightning and Colorado’s multi-threat Nathan MacKinnon as finalists, though the rank and file picked NHL regular-season goal leader Auston Matthews of Toronto, while writers went with Connor McDavid of the Oilers.

Article content

Two goalies who play home games in Canada are up for the Vezina as voted by general managers, Connor Hellebucyk (Winnipeg) and Thatcher Demko (Vancouver) against eventual Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky. The PHWA’s pick for Norris Trophy as top defenceman is an all-Western Conference affair, Cale Makar (Colorado) Roman Josi (Nashville) and Quinn Hughes (Vancouver), while we’re about to see if Bedard’s injury-shortened season was enough to secure the Calder as rookie of the year against Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey’s Luke Hughes.

FUTURE GLOOMIER IN DESERT

If an NHL team is to return to the Phoenix area, it won’t be with Alex Meruelo in charge, the Associated Press reports.

After the nuts and bolts of the club moved to a very receptive Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 2024-25 season, there was hope Meruelo could finally get a viable arena construction plan in place for a future franchise. But four days ago, the Arizona State Land Department announced cancellation of an auction for 110 acres north of the city, the latest setback in several projects to get a shovel in the ground.

Article content

The AP said Meruelo’s son, Alex Jr., told remaining Coyotes staff of his decision to pack it in earlier this week.

A CLEAR CHALLENGE

Some rule changes are coming next season, the league announced Wednesday, one dealing with those crushing delay of game penalties teams take for pucks that clear the glass.

A coach’s challenge now will be permitted to wash out such a penalty, but only to determine it deflected off a player, stick, glass or boards. It does not apply to a judgment call on how the puck left the defensive zone, such as a batted puck or if it was shot out from the defensive zone. A failed challenge still means a two-minute minor.

Another wrinkle clarifies the language of the rule preventing line changes for a team that knocks the net off its pegs, to include ‘goaltenders’ among ‘skaters’… And following an icing, the offensive centre will also now receive one warning (as does the defensive player) for a face-off violation. Officials will also issue more warnings for a minor penalty to players who constantly sit on the boards.

Article content

ICE CHIPS

The first six players on each team’s roster for the Four Nations Face-Off will be unveiled Friday before the first round of the draft … The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported Wednesday that a Vancouver trade with Chicago is in the works, revolving around sending Ilya Mikheyev and pending UFA Sam Lafferty to Chicago for pick. Mikheyev must waive a no-trade clause … Popular Canucks’ centre Teddy Blueger re-signed with the club Wednesday for two years at $1.8 million US … The Anaheim Ducks are going to all-orange sweaters and pants next season.

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby 

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

Article content