EHM The Blue Line

Derek Boogaard, who played 22 games for the Rangers this season and was known as one of the toughest fighters in the NHL, was found dead Friday in Minneapolis at the age of 28.

The Minneapolis medical examiner's office said Friday night that foul play was not suspected, but that an autopsy was pending.

Boogaard maintained a residence in Minneapolis after playing the first five seasons of his NHL .career with the Minnesota Wild, across the river in St. Paul. He remained popular in the Twin Cities even after signing a four-year contract last summer to join the Rangers.

The 6-7, 265-pound left wing had his debut season with the Blueshirts cut short when he suffered a concussion in a fight with Ottawa's Matt Carkner on Dec. 9. Boogaard had a very difficult time recovering from the concussion, as it took nearly three months before he was able to resume skating. When the Rangers made the playoffs, Boogaard was sent home to Minnesota to work on his conditioning.

There is no doubt that in the coming days, questions will be asked about any possible link between Boogaard's head injuries and his early, sudden death. Friday night, though, the hockey world was simply in shock.

"Derek was an extremely kind and caring individual," Rangers president and GM Glen Sather said in a statement. "He was a very thoughtful person, who will be dearly missed by all those who knew him. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and teammates during this difficult time."

Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto was the first of Boogaard's teammates to react on Twitter, writing, "Boogy, you will be missed! Condolences to the Boogaard family. The world lost an amazing friend and teammate!"

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that Boogaard's brothers Aaron and Ryan were in town visiting. Presumably, they were the ones who found Derek in his apartment.

Boogaard may have been best known for starting a hockey fighting camp with Aaron in the summer of 2007 in Saskatchewan, generating interest beyond the realm of sports. He also was famous for a lack of scoring - Boogaard arrived in New York without a goal since his rookie season before snapping his 234-game drought on Nov. 9 at the Garden against the Washington Capitals.

In both Minnesota and New York, Boogaard worked with the charity Defending the Blue Line to donate tickets to military families through his Boogaard's Booguardians program.

YZG wrote:Did they specify whether it was deliberate or not? Did he ingest too much of his medicine and drink in a suicide attempt, or did he just happen to take his medicine as prescribed, but ignored the part that said he shouldn't drink?

- YZG