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ATLANTA -- Atlanta Thrashers forward Dan Snyder died Sunday night, six days after he was involved in a horrific car crash with teammate Dany Heatley.
Snyder was 25.
Snyder died at Grady Hospital from massive brain injuries without ever regaining consciousness, the team said.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dan Snyder. Dan was a teammate and friend to all of us. We feel a tremendous amount of pain as an organization and extend our deepest sympathies to his family," the Thrashers said.
Police said Heatley was driving his Ferrari at about 80 mph on a narrow two-lane road last Monday night when he lost control, spun off the road and smashed into a brick and wrought iron fence.
The car split in half. The players were thrown into the road.
Heatley already was facing several charges, including a felony.
"The charges will be upgraded. It hasn't occurred yet," Sgt. John Quigley, an Atlanta Police Department spokesman said Sunday night. "I expect them to be upgraded in the near future."
Fulton County medical examiners will determine the official cause of death Monday, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Quigley said investigators will meet with the District Attorney's office Monday morning.
"It would likely be vehicular homicide first degree," he said.
That charge carries a prison sentence of three to 15 years. A plea bargain to the lesser charge of second-degree vehicular homicide, a misdemeanor, is also possible.
Snyder underwent surgery for a skull fracture but never emerged from his coma.
Snyder, a center who had 10 goals and four assists in 36 games for Atlanta last season, had surgery on his ankle in September before the start of training camp. He was expected to start the season on the injured list.
Reached on his cell phone on Sunday night, Thrashers general manager Don Waddell was choked with emotion, the AJC reported.
"It's a tragic loss," Waddell said. "He was a tremendous individual, not only as a hockey player but more importantly as an individual."
Snyder signed with the Thrashers as a free agent in 1999 after playing four seasons of junior hockey for Owen Sound in the Ontario Hockey League.
He spent most of his first three professional seasons in the minor leagues, helping Orlando win the International Hockey League title in 2000-01 and playing on the Chicago Wolves' American Hockey League championship team in 2001-02. He also played 35 games for Chicago last season, getting 11 goals and 12 assists.
"Dan Snyder was committed to his family, to his profession, to his team and to his community, and the news of his passing fills all of us with an overwhelming sense of sorrow," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
"The NHL extends its deepest sympathies to his parents, who have lost a cherished son, to siblings who have lost a loving brother and to players who have lost a devoted teammate. Our prayers go out to his entire family."
In addition to Heatley's legal problems, he also sustained serious injuries in the crash.
He underwent surgery Saturday for a broken jaw, and an MRI found that he tore two ligaments in his right knee. He will require more surgery in about a week for the knee injury, certainly threatening any return to the ice this season.
Heatley is the gap-toothed leader of the Thrashers, a 22-year-old with both toughness and great skill with the puck. Last season, he scored a team-record 41 goals and was MVP of the All-Star Game.
The Thrashers would only say that Heatley is out indefinitely, but it's clear general manager Don Waddell was planning for the season without his best player. He traded for Carolina Hurricanes goalie Jani Hurme on Friday with an eye toward acquiring help up front.
Atlanta also claimed left wing Serge Aubin from Colorado and left wing Ronald Petrovicky from the New York Rangers in the waiver draft Friday.
Waddell said it's not known whether Heatley will miss the entire season.
"Until doctors go in and see the extent of the tear, it's impossible to give an accurate recovery timetable," he said.
Heatley, who posted a $50,000 bond, already faced felony charge of serious injury by vehicle and three misdemeanor charges. Police are awaiting test results to determine whether Heatley was drinking on the night of the wreck.
Information from The Associated Press and SportsTicker was used in this report.
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