Sergei Berezin

Sergei Yevgenyevich Berezin (; November 5, 1971 – June 26, 2024) was a Russian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1996–97 through 2002–03. Berezin, who played left wing in the NHL, was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the tenth round (#256 overall) of the 1994 NHL entry draft. He played with the Leafs until being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2001. At the end of the season he was flipped to the Montreal Canadiens where he scored their 10,000th goal on home ice. In the offseason he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks before being sent to the Washington Capitals in a trade deadline day deal. He retired from the NHL and returned to Russia to play a final season before ending his career completely.

Playing career

From 1990–1994 Berezin played in Russia for Khimik Voskresensk where, in 1993–1994, he picked up 41 points in 40 games. He was selected in the 1994 NHL entry draft in the 10th round, 256th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. After being selected, Berezin played in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for the Kölner Haie (Cologne Sharks) where he registered 137 total points in 88 games played. His best NHL season was in 1998–99 when he scored 37 goals and 59 points. He was considered speedy and great in the offensive zone but not great defensively. He was known for losing his helmet during play, once losing his helmet on every single shift in a November 1996 game.

Over the next two seasons, Berezin would play for four different NHL franchises. In the 2001–02 season Berezin was traded by the Coyotes to the Montreal Canadiens for Brian Savage and a third round draft pick. While playing in a home game for the Canadiens, Berezin scored the franchise's 10,000th home goal. He ended the season with 11 goals and 26 points in 70 games. In the off-season Montreal traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks for a fourth round draft choice. He retired from the NHL in 2003 and returned to Russia to play a single season with CSKA Moscow.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1989–90 SKA MVO Kalinin USSR II 8 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1990–91 Khimik Voskresensk USSR 30 6 2 8 4 — — — — — 1991–92 Khimik Voskresensk CIS 36 7 5 12 12 7 0 0 0 2 1992–93 Khimik Voskresensk IHL 38 9 3 12 12 2 1 0 1 0 1993–94 Khimik Voskresensk IHL 40 31 10 41 16 3 2 0 2 2 1994–95 Kölner Haie DEL 43 38 19 57 10 18 17 8 25 8 1995–96 Kölner Haie DEL 45 49 31 80 8 14 13 9 22 10 1996–97 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 73 25 16 41 2 — — — — — 1997–98 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 68 16 15 31 10 — — — — — 1998–99 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 76 37 22 59 12 17 6 6 12 4 1999–2000 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 61 26 13 39 2 12 4 4 8 0 2000–01 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 79 22 28 50 8 11 2 5 7 2 2001–02 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 41 7 9 16 4 — — — — — 2001–02 Montreal Canadiens NHL 29 4 6 10 4 6 1 1 2 0 2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 66 18 13 31 8 — — — — — 2002–03 Washington Capitals NHL 9 5 4 9 4 6 0 1 1 0 2003–04 CSKA Moscow RSL 16 1 3 4 14 — — — — — IHL totals 78 40 13 53 28 5 3 0 3 2 DEL totals 88 87 50 137 18 32 30 17 47 18 NHL totals 502 160 126 286 54 52 13 17 30 6

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1991 Soviet Union WJC 7 3 1 4 6 1994 Russia OG 4th 8 3 2 5 2 1994 Russia WC 5th 6 2 1 3 2 1995 Russia WC 5th 6 7 1 8 4 1996 Russia WC 4th 8 4 5 9 2 1996 Russia WCH SF 2 1 0 1 0 1998 Russia WC 5th 6 6 2 8 2 Senior totals 36 23 11 34 12