ICYMI: Former Penguins defenseman Zalapski dead at 49

Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zarley Zalapski passed away yesterday at the young age of 49 years-old.. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Zalapski was selected 4th overall by the Penguins in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft and played in 175 games combined over the next three seasons while putting up 45 or more points in two of those campaigns.

He was eventually traded to the Hartford Whalers at the 1991 NHL trade deadline in a move that would bolster the Penguins’ team and deliver them back to back Stanley Cup championships. Zalapski was a key piece in a lopsided trade that saw him sent to the Whalers along with John Cullen and Jeff Parker for Ron Francis, Grant Jennings and Ulf Sameulsson.

A knee surgery in 1999 effectively derailed Zalapski’s NHL career in the late 90s but he would go on to play in Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland the end his pro hockey career.