Maple Leafs 1st-Round Prospect Diagnosed With Brain Tumor

In some gut-wrenching news, the Toronto Maple Leafs and prospect Rodion Amirov have announced the 2020 first-round pick has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The Leafs and Amirov's agent released a statement on Wednesday as Amirov is staying positive throughout this horrible time:

Sad news. #Leafs GM Kyle Dubas shares in a statement that first-round pick Rodion Amirov has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. pic.twitter.com/0MdwbapMwE
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 23, 2022

Official statement re: Rodion Amirov’s health. #WeAreGoldStar! pic.twitter.com/9XcqRzpUxd
— Dan Milstein-Hockey (@HockeyAgent1) February 23, 2022

Amirov was the Maple Leafs first round selection after a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins which sent Kasperi Kapanen and others to Pittsburgh. He had this to say via Sportsnet:

I want to stay positive, and I want people to think positively about me. There are many other people that have their own sicknesses or illnesses. I want to show by example that I can give people hope

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet went on to mention Amirov will be in contact with the likes of Brian Boyle from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Oskar Lindblom from the Philadelphia Flyers who have both battled through their own medical issues and are still able to play the game they love. We send nothing but health and happiness to the Maple Leafs prospect.