Maple Leafs reflect on ’emotional’ tribute to late prospect Rodion Amirov
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The tribute to Rodion Amirov on Thursday, as one might expect, gave the Maple Leafs pause for thought.
“It was very emotional for me on the bench,” winger Mitch Marner said. “I got to know him quite well. He was an awesome kid and had a very bright future in this organization and in the hockey world.”
Amirov, at the age of 21, passed away last August after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour early in 2022. His parents and sisters are guests of the Leafs this week and were at practice on Friday after they attended the game against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
“It’s tough,” fellow Russian and Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov said. “I want to just say thank you for his parents (to) come with his sisters. I think it’s really important for us, for our organization to see his parents after he has passed away.
“He was a really nice guy. I know his problem, everybody know his problem. One month before he passed away, I called him and he said ‘Man, everything is good, I feel better.’ Probably the most positive guy I’ve ever seen in my life.”
When the Leafs drafted Amirov 15th overall in 2020, Marner and Morgan Rielly announced the selection, with Marner revealing the pick and Rielly holding a No. 20 Amirov sweater.
“I was fortunate enough to be the one to announce his name,” Marner said. “I tried to keep in touch with him much as possible. For the crowd to give that reaction (on Thursday) and love (the family) deserves was pretty special.