Prospect Cherepanov Passes Away at 19 Alexei Cherepanov, the New York Rangers' first pick (No. 17) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, has died after suffering an apparent heart attack Monday during a game with Avangard Omsk, his club in the Kontinental Hockey League. The 19-year-old Cherepanov had 8 goals and 13 points in 15 games this season, his third with Omsk. Cherepanov had scored the game's first goal in what ended as a 5-4 loss for Omsk against Vityav Chekhov. "We are extremely saddened by the tragic passing of Alexei," said Rangers General Manager Glen Sather. "On behalf of the New York Rangers organization, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family. Alexei was an intelligent, energetic young man, with tremendous talent and an extremely bright future." The Rangers had been hoping to bring Cherepanov to New York for the club's prospect evaluation camp or training camp, but with the lack of a formal transfer agreement between the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation, Cherepanov remained in Russia, with the Rangers hoping to bring him over for the 2009-10 season. "It (the Russian league) is not as physical as our hockey over here, but it's very skilled," Gordie Clark, the Rangers' director of player personnel, told NHL.com this summer. "It's a fast-moving, very skilled league, and he manages to continue scoring points in it." Cherepanov was the top-ranked European skater heading into his draft year, and backed up his credentials with 29 points in 47 games with Omsk when it played in the Russian Super League. He had more points in his first year in the RSL than Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk, and his 18 goals in 2006-07 broke Pavel Bure's RSL rookie scoring record. "He was close to a complete package," said Goran Stubb, NHL Director of European Scouting. "Very fast skater. He was a goal scorer and a passer. "I think he could have been a big spectator favorite because he was that kind of player. Sometimes you could hardly notice him, but on one shift, he could do unbeliveable things with the puck -- passing, shooting, skating, extremely skillful. A finesse player with a capital 'F.'" That he slipped to No. 17 in the draft was a major surprise, one the Rangers were extremely thankful for. "There are going to be a lot of teams that say, 'Geez, I can't believe he was still there,' " Clark told the New York Daily News after the team picked Cherepanov." But we had him going way, way before this. The guy has got an incredible pair of hands and head on him." Cherepanov represented Russia at numerous international tournaments. He was named the best forward at the 2007 World Junior Championships after he finished with a tournament-high 5 goals, and his 8 points led the Russian team in scoring and to the silver medal. He had 3 goals and 6 points in six games at the 2008 WJC as Russia won the bronze. "He was a great kid," Cherepanov's agent, Jay Grossman told TSN. "He had a great smile and was an outstanding player with a great future on and off the ice. It's both shocking and devastating news for all of us." Source: NHL.com RIP Cherepanov It's sad to see these young stars pass away :tear:
OMFG!! WTF!!! LEAFS??? ppl were leaving then leafs scored!!! tie game...... and overtime shootout..... DECIDES TO PUT JOSEPH IN NET?? WTF!!!!!!! and the first goal was unbelievable i can't believe i saw that live right there ... it was just stupidddd
leafs are suppose to lose and not get points not lose and still get a point...we are not "tanking" properly -lol
Martin Brodeur - 2 SO already and only play 6 games - He will break the NHL SO record this year. Sad to see a young prospect past away the way he did - RIP Cherepanov.
leafs tickets r hard to get lol....leafs r like the most value team with liek the most expensive tickets in the league anwyasy who saw yesterday's game leafs vs devils....brodeur got iced lol
Leafs are fun to watch cause they actually play defense this year i like see blocking shots and tough hockey! but we won't get a high pick if we keep getting wins and points! <_<
I just donated my money to my work hockey pool - Martin Brodeur out for 4 months. Leafs are playing very well - fast pace and are playing at 100%, good to see - if they keep this up - Leaf may actually make the playoff.
wish the best to Mats.. you guys are getting a really classy player and still has a few good seasons left in him...but not sure if he'll win it with the Canucks i guess being in Toronto so long he couldn't leave Canada...if he really wanted to win it all the best choice would of been to sign with Rangers.
Sorry Montreal, i think Boston has it in them this year. I am surprised at how good the Sharks has become though, Thornton should go to the all-star game but he is not even in the top 3 for center.
I heard that montreal interested in getting Vinny Lecavalier - this will definitely increase they chance in winning lord stanley....
Don't even give an ounce of hope to that rumour. Bob Gainey will fail again to attract a star player to Montreal. Let's see, Montreal was interested in Mats Sundin, Brendan Shanahan, Daniel Briere, Jason Arnott, etc. How many ended up here? None, but they successfully acquired Samsonov, Niniima, Laraque... Furthermore, now they're sliding steeply out of the playoff spot.
