Vladimir Krutov, one of the Soviet Union’s all-time great ice hockey players and part of the national team’s formidable KLM Line, has died.
He was 52.
The Russian Hockey Federation said Krutov died Wednesday.
It did not give a cause of death, but the ITAR-Tass news agency said he had been taken to a hospital several days earlier for stomach bleeding.
From the Canucks.com website.
Quote:
It is with sadness that the Vancouver Canucks learned today of the passing of Former Canuck Vladimir Krutov.
Krutov appeared in his only season in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, becoming one of the first Soviet-born players to play in the NHL. He registered 34 points (11-23-34) in 61 games in the 1989.90 campaign. The Vancouver Canucks sends our deepest condolences to the Krutov family.
