Former NHL defenseman and Olympic gold medalist dead at 55 years old

Several Russian outlets have reported that former USSR star and Olympic gold medalist Sergei Bautin has died suddenly at just 55 years old.

The tough nosed defenseman was a member of USSR's 1992 Olympic gold medal winning team and played 132 career NHL games split between the Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings.

After winning gold in Albertville, France in '92 Bautin drew the interest of teams across the NHL and was selected 17th overall by the Jets in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. While he failed to make a big impact in the NHL, he does represent a bit of a change in the way that the hockey world was trending back in the early 1990s being one of the first players to arrive in the NHL without having to defect from the Soviet Union. A trailblazer indeed and someone who will forever be remembered in Russian hockey history.