Former Penguins Winger, KHL Coach Dies at 42

Former Pittsburgh Penguins winger and KHL star Konstantin Koltsov died on Monday at the age of 42, according to a statement from his Russian club, Salavat Yulaev. Koltsov was an assistant coach for the team.

UPDATE: The AP reports the death has been ruled a suicide.

A tweet from Belarus Hockey on Monday night reported he was in Miami.

Koltsov played with the Penguins from 2003 to 2006 during their Generation X campaign and was one of the fastest players in the NHL. He registered 38 points and scored 12 goals in 144 NHL games. He last played professionally in 2015-16 for Minsk Dynamo of the KHL.

“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, passed away,” read the club’s statement. “He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues, fans. Konstantin Evgenievich (has) forever written himself in the history of our club. May he rest in peace.”

The Penguins also released a statement on X, extending “their deepest condolences to the family and friends.”

Koltsov also represented Belarus at the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010 and was dating the world’s former No. 1 ranked women’s tennis player, Aryna Sabalenka. He had three sons with his first wife, Julia.