Indeed, the former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Konstantin Koltsov, has unfortunately passed away last night at the age of 42. For now, few details have been released regarding the cause of his death, but according to the official statement shared by the Belarusian hockey federation, Koltsov died suddenly.
Despite being drafted 18th overall in 1999, the forward only played three seasons with the American team, accumulating 12 goals and 26 assists (38 points) in 144 NHL games. He spent the majority of his career in the KHL, officially retiring from professional hockey in the 2015-2016 season.
For those who follow tennis, Konstantin Koltsov was the spouse of Aryna Sabalenka, who recently won the Australian Open and is currently ranked second in the WTA.
We wish to send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the Pittsburgh Penguins organization during these difficult times.
