Some sad news to pass along from the NHL and the world of hockey. Russian defenceman Dmitri Filimonov, a draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets who spent his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators, has passed away at just 51 years of age.
Sport-express.ru does not list a cause of death for the former USSR national team player. It only says he "died suddenly."
Filimonov was taken in the second round (49th overall) in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He remained in Russia, playing for HC Dynamo Moscow, until his rights were traded to the Ottawa Senators. In 30 games with the team in the 1993-94 season, Filimonov scored 1 goal and had 4 assists.
Filimonov also played parts of two season in the AHL with the Prince Edward Island Senators before spending a season in the Finnish Elite League. In 1997, he returned to Russia where he played with Perm Molot of the Russian Super League, which eventually became the KHL. Filimonov retired in 2006.
Filimonov represented the Soviet national team at the 1991 Canada Cup, which marked the last time the tournament was played. It was also the final major senior event in which a team representing the USSR was entered. The Soviet Union was dissolved later that year.
POLL | ||
1 AOUT | 36 ANSWERS Former NHL defenceman Dmitri Filimonov passes away at young age Do you recall seeing Dmitri Filimonov play in the NHL, AHL, or Canada Cup? | ||
Yes | 4 | 11.1 % |
No | 29 | 80.6 % |
Not sure | 3 | 8.3 % |
List of polls |