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The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has drafted and developed a number of youngsters currently playing in the NHL (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander), but the club under former GM Kyle Dubas replenished their prospect pool to provide the Leafs with young prospects. It will now be up to new GM Brad Treliving to continue that work.
As we did last year, we will rank the club’s top prospects over the upcoming weeks based on their progress in either the NCAA, CHL, Europe, ECHL, or AHL and their potential to make the Leafs roster and make a contribution in the future.
Players are eligible for the list if they have not played more than 40 NHL games and are 25 years old or younger:
#40 - Rodion Amirov – LW (Ufa Salavat – KHL, Did Not Play)
NOTE – Amirov is being included on the prospect list in the hope that he can resume his hockey career, but there has been no news regarding his status since last November, when it was reported by his representative that he was undergoing more treatment for his brain tumor.
The Toronto Maple Leafs turned clearing cap space into a future asset prior to the 2020 NHL Draft, as GM Kyle Dubas was able to get a first-round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the deal for winger Kasperi Kapanen and with the 15th pick overall, the Leafs selected winger Rodion Amirov.
In his draft year, Amirov played for Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior in the Czech Republic, the Canada/Russia Super Series, the Spengler Cup and in 21 KHL games for hometown Salavat Yulaev Ufa, and after being selected impressed internationally at the Karjala Cup and scored six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in seven games at the 2021 World Junior in Edmonton.
The Hockey Prospect.com. Black Book described Amirov as a skilled, two-way winger who plays a finesse style of game.
After scoring 13 points (9 goals, 4 assists) in 39 games for Ufa and an excellent showing for Team Russia at the 2021 World Junior, the Leafs signed Amirov to a three-year entry-level contract.
Amirov was in and out of the lineup in the preseason after having suffered a head injury and had lingering symptoms that eventually revealed the tumor. The 21-year-old underwent chemotherapy treatment in Germany, and last year the Russian outlet Sport-Express reported that he hopes to return to the ice in the fall, but that did not come to pass.
"Usually people just give up with a diagnosis like that," Amirov said in an interview last year translated by SI’s David Alter. "I was going to church, seeing my friends and relatives, everyone helped me. I couldn't give up. I got support.
When I didn't want to train my parents forced me to and I'm very grateful for it and the doctor also recommended to train and not to stop. Psychologically, it was more difficult than physically. But I'm a believer, I'm religious and believe in God and the faith helped me out not to fall. To be positive all the time and to have a positive outlook on everything."
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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