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Toronto Maple Leafs: Rodion Amirov Has Number Retired by KHL Team

By David Corcoran

Russia's Rodion Amirov celebrates a goal during the Ice Hockey Karjala Tournament as part of the Euro Hockey Tour (EHT) season match between Sweden and Russia in Helsinki, Finland, on November 7, 2020. (Photo by Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo by VESA MOILANEN/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)
Russia's Rodion Amirov celebrates a goal during the Ice Hockey Karjala Tournament as part of the Euro Hockey Tour (EHT) season match between Sweden and Russia in Helsinki, Finland, on November 7, 2020. (Photo by Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo by VESA MOILANEN/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images) /
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This past summer, the Toronto Maple Leafs family was hit with devastating news when  prospect Rodion Amirov succumbed to his battle with cancer.

The KHL posted Monday morning via X (Twitter) that Amirov’s Russian hockey team Salavat Yulayev Ufa had retired the Toronto Maple Leafs forwards number.  His #27 will no longer be worn by anyone in their organization.

The Leafs drafted Amirov in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the draft pick that they had acquired for Kasperi Kapanen.

Amirov had dominated the Russian youth program as he averaged nearly a goal per game for Salavat Yulaev Ufa U17 during the 2017-18 season.

Rodion Amirov Was a Top Prospect for the Toronto Maple Leafs

In the year leading up to draft, Amirov moved quickly through the Russian hockey leagues starting in their Junior league where he recorded 22 points in 17 games, then had a brief stay in Russia’s Supreme Hockey League (VHL) but was promoted after recording three points in five games.

The Leafs first round pick jumped into the KHL suiting up for 21 games that season for Salavat Yulayev Ufa.

After being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Amirov would return to Russia playing full time with Salavat Yulayev Ufa and despite still being a teenager finished sixth on his team in goals scored.

Amirov also represented his country at the 2021 World Junior Championships registering six points in seven games, unfortunately his team would lose in the Bronze Medal Game to Finland.

Ten months after being drafted by the Leafs, Amirov signed his entry level contract with the club in April 2021.

Amirov was loaned by to the KHL to play for Salavat Yulayev Ufa for the 2021-22 season.  After recording three points through ten games, Amirov sustained an injury, which, during the treatment for his injury, doctors found the problem, that led them to diagnosing him with brain cancer.

In February 2022, his cancer became public when former General Manager Kyle Dubas made the announcement through the Maple Leafs media portion of the team’s website.

This past summer,  Amirov passed away on August 14.

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Amirov’s agent Dan Milstein stated after he passed away that he continually spoke in the positive and that he intended to enjoy everyday.  Cancer is a horrible disease and it takes a true hero like Rodion Amirov to show people that you need to live each day with joy.

Our condolences to his family.

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