Former Toronto Maple Leafs Forward Dies at 52

Sergei Berezin, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and four other NHL teams in a career spanning seven seasons, died suddenly at age 52. The NHL Alumni Association made the announcement Wednesday via its Twitter/X account:

The NHL Alumni Association did not announce a cause of death, but asked “that you please respect Sergei’s family’s privacy during this terrible time.”

Berezin played six seasons in Europe — four in his native Russia, two in Germany — from 1990-96. After a 49-goal season with the DEL’s Cologne Sharks in 1995-96, he was drafted in the 10th round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1996. Only five other players drafted in the 10th round that year reached the NHL; the draft (which coincidentally begins today) would be capped at seven rounds in 2005.

Over the next five seasons in Toronto, Berezin would tally 126 goals and 94 assists, with only 34 penalty minutes in 357 games. As a rookie in 1995-96, he would score 25 goals (and draw just one minor penalty) in 73 games. That earned him a place on the NHL’s All-Rookie team, one of three forwards along with Jim Campbell and Jarome Iginla.

In 1998-99, Berezin scored a career-best 37 goals for the Leafs, helping them qualify for the postseason. In 17 games Berezin had six goals and six assists as the Leafs marched to the Eastern Conference Finals. Toronto has advanced to only one Conference Finals round in 25 years since.

After a 22-goal campaign in 2000-01, Berezin was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for Mikael Renberg. Berezin would play only 41 games in Phoenix that year before he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Brian Savage and a third-round draft pick. Berezin played 35 games for the Habs, including six in a playoff series win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Traded again after the season, this time to the Chicago Blackhawks, Berezin found himself playing for his fourth team in less than two years when the 2002-03 season began. Berezin played 66 games for the Blackhawks, scoring 18 goals, before yet another trade sent him to the Washington Capitals in March 2003. Berezin played only nine regular season games with the Caps and six more in the playoffs.

That would mark the end of Berezin’s NHL career. He signed with CSKA Moscow after the season, bringing him back to his native Russia for his final professional season at age 32.

“In his retirement, he enjoyed coaching minor hockey, playing tennis, and most importantly, spending time with his family,” the NHL Alumni Association wrote on Twitter/X.