NHL Atlantic

Former Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick Rodion Amirov has died at the age of 21.

Amirov's agent, Dan Milstein, announced his death Monday and said he was diagnosed with a brain tumor "two years ago." The Maple Leafs released a statement saying they are "devastated by this tragic loss."

"From the moment he received the news, he refused to speak in the negative, determined to enjoy every day, facing it with the same positive attitude he showed during his hockey career," Milstein said. "We will always remember his courage, his desire, his will, his smile, all of the great things about him."

A native of Russia, Amirov starred for Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL before Toronto selected him 15th overall in the 2020 NHL draft. His nine goals and 13 points ranked third among under-20 skaters in the KHL during the 2020-21 season, according to the Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs announced on April 15, 2021, that they signed Amirov to a three-year, entry-level contract and he would be moving to Canada to join the team's Toronto Marlies AHL affiliate. Less than a year later, Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas announced on Feb. 23, 2022, that the left wing prospect was diagnosed with cancer. Later that year, Amirov returned home to Russia to continue undergoing treatment.

"We'd like to thank his doctors, who took great care of him. We'd like to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs and his KHL - Salavat Yulayev Ufa team. Both did everything possible to help in any way, do whatever was necessary for Rodion and the Amirov family," Milstein added. "And we'd like to thank hockey fans all over the world who sent notes of encouragement and best wishes over the past two years. They meant so much to the Amirov family."

Boston Bruins star David Krejčí announced Monday he's retiring from the NHL after 16 seasons.

"When I was drafted in 2004, I had no idea that I would be working with incredible and driven people who would lead us to three Stanley Cup Finals, and winning the ultimate goal in 2011," he said.

"I have made so many great friendships throughout the organization. You have always been there for me whenever I needed something and I will always be here for you."

Krejčí's decision doesn't come as a surprise.

Bruins president Cam Neely told reporters in June the team was working under the idea neither Krejčí nor Patrice Bergeron would return to the ice for the 2023-24 season. Bergeron then announced his retirement a month later.

With the two franchise legends now gone, almost the entirety of the Stanley Cup-winning squad from 2011 is no longer in Boston.

Krejčí walks away with the fifth-most appearances in Bruins history (1,032). He's also fifth in assists (555) and ninth in points (786), and his 57.5 offensive point shares are ninth all time for the franchise, per Hockey Reference.

Krejčí also delivered in the postseason. He led the team in points during the 2011 and 2013 playoffs and remained a key contributor (four goals and 12 assists) when Boston was back in the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

The general inevitability about Krejčí's retirement allowed Neely and general manager Don Sweeney to plan accordingly. The Bruins signed James van Riemsdyk, Morgan Geekie and Milan Lucic to fortify their forward lines.

But the front office might have hoped Krejčí would have a change of heart once Tyler Bertuzzi signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. A lot of talent and experience went out the door this offseason.

After collecting 135 points a year ago, taking a step backward will be unavoidable for the Bruins, and some of their Eastern Conference rivals may have passed them by.

Detroit Red Wings forward Daniel Sprong has been accused of assaulting former IndyCar driver Zachary Claman Demelo.

Demelo, 25, alleged in an Instagram story that Sprong assaulted him at a night club during IndyCar's Grand Prix weekend in Detroit, which ran from June 2 through June 4.

Recounting the experience, Demelo said Sprong grabbed his neck and pinned him against a wall before the two were separated. Sprong then allegedly sucker-punched him in the face after the former IndyCar driver believed the altercation was over.

Demelo said he required "brutal" dental work after the encounter and is still dealing with concussion symptoms.

"I just wanted to bring attention to this situation as no one has the right to act this way especially an athlete of Daniel's caliber," Demelo wrote in the post. "We must hold our self to the highest of standards and for him to do this is beyond disappointing. Due to legal reasons I can't say more at this time."

Sprong, who spent the 2022-23 season with the Seattle Kraken, signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Red Wings this offseason. Neither Sprong nor the Red Wings have commented on the alleged altercation.

The 26-year-old was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2015 NHL draft and has bounced around the league since making his debut with the franchise during the 2015-16 campaign.

Sprong has also played for the Anaheim Ducks and Washington Capitals. He has tallied 67 goals and 49 assists for 116 points in 268 games across his seven-year career.

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron is hanging up his skates.

The 38-year-old announced his retirement from the NHL after 19 seasons in Boston on Tuesday.

Bergeron released a lengthy statement in which he thanked the Bruins, their fans and the many people who had a hand in his long and successful career. In part, he wrote:

"For the last 20 years I have been able to live my dream every day. I have had the honor of playing in front of the best fans in the world wearing the Bruins uniform and representing my country at the highest levels of international play. I have given the game everything that I have physically and emotionally, and the game has given me back more than I could have ever imagined.

"It is with a full heart and a lot of gratitude that today I am announcing my retirement as a professional hockey player."

The announcement comes as something of a surprise, as Bergeron appeared to have enough gas left for at least one more season.

However, there was some speculation about his future in Boston, as he only returned to the Bruins on a one-year deal for the 2022-23 campaign and took time after the season to determine his fate.

Before Bergeron put pen to paper on his contract for last season, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said he had spoken with Bergeron about a contract extension and that the length of his remaining time with the Bruins would be his call.

The Bruins selected Bergeron in the second round of the 2003 draft, and he has gone on to become one of the greatest players in franchise history. He tallied 427 goals and 613 assists for 1,040 points in 1,294 games.

He also had 50 goals and 78 assists for 128 points in 170 career playoff games, and was a key part of the Bruins' Stanley Cup-winning team in 2011.

Bergeron was still one of the most consistent players in the NHL as recently as last season, when he tallied 27 goals and 31 assists for 58 points in 78 games. It was his 10th straight season with at least 20 goals.

In addition to winning a Stanley Cup in 2011, Bergeron is a six-time Selke Trophy winner, given annually to the NH:'s best defensive forward. He also won the 2012-13 King Clancy Trophy and 2020-21 Mark Messier Leadership Award.

The Bruins named Bergeron their captain on Jan. 7, 2021, after the franchise let Zdeno Chara walk in free agency. He ranks third in Bruins history in games played, goals and points, and fourth in assists.

The Detroit Red Wings acquired Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Dominik Kubalik, defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a conditional first-round draft pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick.

The contract is worth $7.875 million per year, which will make DeBrincat the Red Wings' highest-paid player after captain Dylan Larkin.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman first reported the trade, with NHL Network's David Pagnotta initially reporting details of the contract.

DeBrincat recorded 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) for the Ottawa Senators last season. That marks an offensive dip from his 41-goal 2021-22 campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Red Wings could be hoping he will bounce back on Larkin's wing.

DeBrincat is entering his seventh NHL campaign. He spent five seasons with the Blackhawks before he was traded to the Senators last summer.

The Red Wings will say goodbye to Kubalik, who spent most of last season on Larkin's line in the absence (due to injury, and then to his trade to the Boston Bruins) of Tyler Bertuzzi. Kubalik's production and ice time, especially on the power play, declined in the latter half of the campaign.

Also packaged in the trade is Sebrango, who split last season between the AHL and ECHL, in addition to a fourth-round pick and a conditional first-rounder in the 2024 draft.

Thanks to the Bertuzzi trade, Detroit currently holds two first-round picks (its own and Boston's) next year. Under the conditions of the DeBrincat deal, the Red Wings can choose to send the lesser of these two picks to Ottawa next year, with one condition. If the Bruins end up with a top-10 pick, they keep it, and the Red Wings wait until 2025 to complete the trade.

The loss of a 2024 or 2025 first-rounder is worth it for the Red Wings if the acquisition of DeBrincat helps get this team over the postseason hump.

Despite a promising first half of the 2022-23 season that had Detroit sitting in a playoff spot by February, the Red Wings ended up missing a seventh consecutive postseason in part due to the team's lack of top-25 NHL scorers.

Larkin came the closest he ever has to that mark last season, putting up a career-high 79 points (32 goals, 47 assists, and good for 34th in the league).

The Red Wings have committed to building around Larkin, whose eight-year contract kicks in next season. They need to find him a linemate who can help him climb the list of the NHL's top scorers. DeBrincat, who helped his former Chicago linemate Patrick Kane rack up 92 points in 2021-22, could be that winger.

After helping the Boston Bruins win the most regular-season games in NHL history last year, Tyler Bertuzzi is headed to the rival Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bertuzzi signed a one-year contract with Toronto, the team announced Sunday. The winger will make $5.5 million, TSN's Chris Johnston reported, marking the highest annual salary of his career.

Bertuzzi was a successful trade deadline acquisition for the Presidents' Trophy-winning Bruins last season, scoring four goals and 12 assists in 21 games on the team's third line. Prior to his stint in Boston, the winger recorded 88 goals and 114 assists in 305 games with the Detroit Red Wings, who drafted him in 2013.

Bertuzzi, who recorded his first career 30-goal season in 2021-22, was held to eight in 50 games last campaign thanks to brutal injury luck.

The winger made just nine appearances for Detroit between October and January 2022. After hurting his hand on a blocked shot in the second game of the season, Bertuzzi missed nine contests. He returned, played seven games, and then suffered another hand injury, this one requiring surgery and sidelining him for months.

When healthy, Bertuzzi spent most of his time in Detroit on the Red Wings' top line, flanking Dylan Larkin with Lucas Raymond on the other wing. The trio was offensively successful enough to help earn Larkin an All-Star nomination, but at times got exposed for their defensive weaknesses.

Once traded to a deeper Bruins roster, Bertuzzi thrived in his newly sheltered position, heating up offensively as he settled into his new third-line role. Including the first round of the playoffs, Bertuzzi recorded 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in his last 11 games of the campaign.

Toronto's deal for Bertuzzi is a vote of confidence that the 28-year-old will be able to continue producing at a similarly blistering pace in 2023-24. He is now the team's highest-paid player behind Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Having dedicated over $40 million, or over 48 percent of the salary cap, to the team's top four forwards, the Maple Leafs have limited wiggle room left under the cap. They will hope Bertuzzi puts up another 30-goal season, or close to it, as the team looks to fill out the rest of the roster with cheaper contracts.