Hagman had been suffering from a long-term illness but the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

He passed away at a hospital in Espoo in his native Finland on Tuesday (October 11).

Hagman became the first competitor from his country to play in the NHL when he was snapped up by the Boston Bruins in 1975 following a stint with Helsinki-based club HIFK.

The Finnish star reached the final of the NHL Stanley Cup - the ultimate prize in the competition - in 1977 but his side lost out to defending champions the Montreal Canadiens.

During his time with Boston, he also represented Finland at the 1976 Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck, where his team finished just outside of the medals in fourth place.

He departed the United States at the end of the 1977 season as he was sold to the Quebec Nordiques, before he opted to return home for another spell in Finland.

Hagman was not away from the NHL for long, however, as he was signed by the Edmonton Oilers in 1980.

Following the end of his time with the Oilers, he played for various European teams for another decade before retiring in 1992.

Hagman, inducted into the Finland Hall of Fame in 1995, played at four World Championships between 1975 and 1983 as well as three Canada Cups.

"I wasn’t supposed to come to Edmonton when I did, I thought I was too young but one day I met Matti in front of the fire station where he was working," former teammate and Finland legend Jan Kurri told the Edmonton Journal.

"Matti was a fireman [also a hockey player] and I decided to come over right then because Matti was.”

Hagman’s son, Niklas, has also enjoyed a successful career in the sport, winning silver and bronze medals at the Olympics and gold at the 1999 World Junior Championship.