KHL team deny reports ex-Canadiens D Alexei Emelin requires liver transplant
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KHL team Avangard Omsk has denied reports that former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin requires a liver transplant.
The team released a statement on Wednesday saying Emelin is in stable condition and undergoing examination in a Moscow hospital.
KHL's Avangard Omsk says Alexei Emelin has been transported from Kazan to Moscow, he's in stable condition after collapsing the day after a playoff game and examinations are continuing.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) April 7, 2021
Update 3: Refuting the reports about a liver transplant. pic.twitter.com/iqnIsVH3db
— Szymon Szemberg (@Sz1909_Szemberg) April 7, 2021
Several Russian media outlets reported on Tuesday that Emelin required a transplant after being diagnosed with acute liver failure.
After being diagnosed with acute liver failure on Tuesday, Alexei Yemelin, 34, is now being prepared for a liver transplant surgery. As reported by @sportexpress and other Russian sports media. We wish the @hcavangardomsk captain & former @PredsNHL @CanadiensMTL swift recovery. https://t.co/Px4srk9lmG
— Szymon Szemberg (@Sz1909_Szemberg) April 7, 2021
Emelin reportedly felt unwell after Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final of the KHL’s Gagarin Cup against Ak Bars Kazan and was taken to a local hospital with a high temperature, after which he was transferred to Moscow. Emelin was injured during the game, but would later return to the ice.
— Ivan Shitik (@Damassk) April 6, 2021
Avangard general manager Aleksei Volkov denied the reports on Tuesday before the team made an official statement.
“I don’t know his official diagnosis; I haven’t spoken to doctors. I just know that there is no diagnosis so far. This might have been caused by an injury, or by something else. I know that he is in critical condition and doctors apply maximum efforts to stabilize his health,” Volkov said.
Drafted 84th overall in 2004 by Montreal, the hard-nosed defenseman played 456 games in the NHL and all but one season with the Canadiens, having finished his NHL career with the Nashville Predators in 2017-18. During that time he amassed 72 points, while playing top-four minutes for the Canadiens during their playoff runs in 2014 and 2015.
He has spent the last three seasons playing for Avangard Omsk, two of those as the team’s captain.
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