Sergei Berezin

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Sergei Yevgenyevich Berezin (November 5, 1971 – June 26, 2024) was a Russian ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL from 1996 to 2003. Born in Voskresensk, he began his pro career with Khimik Voskresensk in Russia, where he had 41 points in 40 games in 1993–94. He was drafted 256th overall in 1994 by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Berezin also played in Germany for Kölner Haie, where he totaled 137 points in 88 games. In the NHL, his first season (1996–97) earned him a spot on the All-Rookie Team, and his best year came in 1998–99 with 37 goals and 59 points. He stayed with the Maple Leafs until 2001, when he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for Mikael Renberg. The Coyotes later traded him to the Montreal Canadiens, where he scored the franchise’s 10,000th home goal. He was moved to the Chicago Blackhawks in the following season, and at the 2003 trade deadline he went to the Washington Capitals. Berezin retired from the NHL in 2003 and finished his career with one season back in Russia with CSKA Moscow.

Over his NHL career, he played 502 games and scored 286 points. After retiring, he lived in Florida. Berezin died suddenly on June 26, 2024, in Windermere, Florida, at age 52.