Toronto Maple Leafs and Rodion Amirov’s KHL Club Extend Loan

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Rodion Amirov with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft.

Rodion instantly became one of the Leafs top prospects, but in February 2022, the team announced that Amirov has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and would not finish the 2021-22 season.

This week they announced that the loan agreement between the Leafs and Amirov’s KHL team would continue with hopes that he may be able to suit up at some point in the upcoming season.

I would say that is very good news.

Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Recovering

During his draft year, Amirov played in all three levels of the KHL system for Salavat Yulaev Ufa. At the VHL level with Toros Neftekamsk, Amirov recorded three points in five games. He also recorded four points in six playoff games. For Toplor Ufa in the MHL, he recorded ten goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 17 games. He also recorded two points in five playoff games for them. Lastly, Amirov recorded two points in 21 games for Salavat Yulaev Ufa at the KHL level.

After he got drafted, Amirov spent most of the 2020-21 season playing for Salavat Yulaev Ufa at the KHL level as a 19-year-old. He recorded nine goals and four assists for 13 points in 39 games. Internationally, Amirov recorded six points in seven games for Russia at the 2020 World Junior Championship. The young Toronto Maple Leafs prospect was starting to show improvements in his game.

Once his 2020-21 season was complete, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Amirov to a three-year entry-level deal.

On April 2nd, 2022, Elliotte Friedman reported that Amirov had completed six weeks of chemotherapy and would start another round in May. During his therapy, Amirov was on the ice three times a week at a rink the Maple Leafs rented out for him in Dusseldorf, Germany. He also spent time in the gym five days a week.

Fast forward to last week, on July 27th, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Salavat Yulaev Ufa announced that both sides agreed to extend Amirov’s loan from Toronto. The 20-year-old continues to train and work with Salavat coaches. Amirov is hopeful that he will be able to play at some point during the 2022-23 season, but he understands that his health must come first.

https://twitter.com/HockeyNewsHub/status/1552379836831830016

In a statement released by Amirov on July 27th, he thanks the Toronto Maple Leafs for his treatment in Germany and for the support he receives from Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Amirov states that his recovery is going great, and he is now taking courses prescribed by his doctors.

I think every fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs hopes Amirov’s recovery continues in the right direction, and we look forward to seeing him play again soon. Time will tell if it will be this season or not.