Denis Tsygurov

Denis Gennadievich Tsygurov (Russian: Денис Геннадьевич Цыгуров; February 26, 1971 – January 10, 2015) was a Russian professional ice hockey player. Tsygurov was drafted in the second round, 38th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft following two seasons with HC Lada Togliatti of the Russian Hockey Super League. Tsygurov came to North America the following year and played in 24 games with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League and four games for the Sabres during the 1993–94 season. He was the son of Gennady Tsygurov, who was an ice hockey defenceman and coach in Russia; his elder brother, Dmitri Tsygurov [it] also played at a high level.

Denis Tsygurov
Born	(1971-02-26)February 26, 1971 Chelyabinsk, Soviet Union
Died	January 10, 2015(2015-01-10) (aged 43) Moscow, Russia
Height	6 ft 05 in (196 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Buffalo Sabres Los Angeles Kings
National team	Russia
NHL draft	38th overall, 1993 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	1989–2001

Tsygurov returned to the Sabres during the 1994–95 season for four games before being involved in a blockbuster six-player deal with the Los Angeles Kings. Tsygurov was sent to the Kings along with future Hockey Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr and defenceman Philippe Boucher for defencemen Alexei Zhitnik and Charlie Huddy and goaltender Robb Stauber. Tsygurov went on to play in 39 games for the Kings over the next two seasons, amassing six points.

Following the 1995–96 season, Tsygurov returned to Europe, where, except for a brief stint with the Long Beach Ice Dogs in 1997–98, he spent the last five years of his pro career. Tsygurov's European stops included HC Opava in the Czech Extraliga, Kärpät in Finland's SM-liiga, CSK VVS Samara of the lower Russian league Vysshaya Liga, and HC Lada Togliatti and HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the Russian Hockey Super League.

On January 10, 2015, Tsygurov died at the age of 43. ^[1]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1988–89	Traktor Chelyabinsk	Soviet		8	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Metallurg Chelyabinsk	USSR-2		24	2	3	5	16		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Traktor Chelyabinsk	USSR		27	0	1	1	18		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Traktor Chelyabinsk	USSR		28	0	0	0	12		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Lada Togliatti	USSR		29	3	2	5	6		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Lada Togliatti	RUS		37	7	13	20	29		10	1	1	2	6
1993–94	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		8	0	0	0	8		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Rochester Americans	AHL		24	1	10	11	10		1	0	1	1	0
1994–95	Lada Togliatti	RUS		10	3	7	10	6		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		4	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		21	0	0	0	11		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		18	1	5	6	22		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Phoenix Roadrunners	IHL		17	1	3	4	10		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Lada Togliatti	RUS		3	0	0	0	4		2	1	0	1	2
1996–97	Lada Togliatti	RUS		8	2	1	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	HC Slezan Opava	CZE		17	1	4	5	50		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	HC Karlovy Vary	CZE-2		19	6	12	18	—		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Long Beach Ice Dogs	IHL		15	1	4	5	8		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Kärpät	FIN-2		15	2	7	9	106		7	0	4	4	6
1998–99	Lada Togliatti	RUS		20	0	2	2	22		7	3	0	3	6
1998–99	Lada Togliatti-2	RUS-4		2	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Lada Togliatti	RUS		13	3	4	7	24		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	CSK VVC Samara	RUS		2	1	0	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk	RUS		17	0	2	2	10		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Avangard Omsk	RUS		9	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				51	1	5	6	45		—	—	—	—	—
USSR/RUS totals				212	19	32	51	141		19	5	1	6	14