Alexei Murygin's death at 39 has left former head coach Bob Hartley and the wider hockey world in mourning.
Amur Khabarovsk announced the passing of its former goaltender on July 31. Murygin had faced a serious illness after first being diagnosed with tonsil cancer in 2019.
The Russian netminder spent more than a decade building a respected career in the KHL. He appeared in 306 games, earned 113 wins and recorded 28 shutouts.
Murygin played for Amur, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Avangard Omsk, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Neftekhimik and Kunlun Red Star.
His strongest season came with Lokomotiv in 2015-16. Murygin posted 13 shutouts during the regular season, setting a KHL record at the time.
He also went 302 minutes and 11 seconds without allowing a goal, a remarkable stretch in the crease that was later surpassed by Timur Bilyalov.
Alexei Murygin built a lasting Montreal connection
Murygin never played in the NHL, but his path crossed with several familiar names from the Montreal Canadiens.
During the 2018-19 season, he shared the Avangard locker room with David Desharnais and Alexei Emelin. Bob Hartley was behind the bench for that group.
That connection gave Montreal fans another reason to recognize Murygin's name. Reports also linked the goaltender to possible NHL interest during his career, though a move to North America never materialized.
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His story carried far more weight than statistics. Murygin worked his way back toward professional hockey after his diagnosis, showing the same composure and determination that defined his play in the crease.
He later moved into coaching, passing his experience to younger goaltenders after his playing career ended. His influence stretched beyond saves, shutouts and nights spent protecting a lead.
The KHL expressed condolences to Murygin's family and loved ones. Across Russian hockey, former teammates and supporters have remembered a dependable goaltender and a deeply respected locker-room presence.
Murygin's career never reached Montreal, but his connections to Hartley, Desharnais and Emelin created a link Canadiens fans won't overlook. Hockey has lost a goaltender whose resolve reached well beyond the blue paint.
Should Alexei Murygin's career be honoured by the KHL before puck drop this season?
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