TORONTO - Like many people in life, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikita Soshnikov was faced with a choice. Little did he know how significant one small, simple decision he'd make as a child would end up being.
"I was five or six years old. I was finishing kindergarten and my father asked me if I want to take part in sports," Soshnikov said, as translated by theScore. "My choice was either boxing or hockey."
Boxing may seem like an odd alternative, but it's fairly common where Soshnikov grew up. Soshnikov's hometown, Nizhny Tagil, is one of Russia's industrial epicenters. Unfortunately, it's also known for high crime. Eight prisons surround the city.
For many in Nizhny Tagil, boxing may have been the wiser choice, merely for its self-defense benefits. But Soshnikov wasn't interested.
"Right away I liked to play," Soshnikov said. "I never had a thought to stop playing hockey and it started to improve. At age 14, I went to Moscow to go play."
Soshnikov played his junior hockey in Moscow before being drafted into the KHL by Atlant Moscow Oblast. He quickly impressed with his speed and his ability to get to the net.
In 2014-15, it was becoming clear that Soshnikov's career was headed for new heights.
Becoming a Maple Leaf
The Maple Leafs were in the driver's seat to land Soshnikov thanks to the hiring of Evgeny Namestnikov as a Russian scout. Namestnikov, a former NHLer and father of current Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov, had hands-on experience with Soshnikov - he'd served as Atlant Moscow's assistant coach.
Once Toronto's interest became apparent, Soshnikov saw more ice time.
"He told me people are watching me and they'd put me on the first line at the end of the season for 20 games," Soshnikov said. "(Namestnikov) said not to stop and continue playing and to gain momentum and then you'll go across the ocean to show yourself there."
Soshnikov finished 2014-15 with 14 goals and 32 points in 57 games. Toronto was impressed with what it saw, signing Soshnikov less than a month after his season ended.
Getting the call
With 21 games remaining on the Maple Leafs' schedule, Toronto called up Soshnikov from the AHL on Feb. 29, along with three other high-profile prospects, who represent the future for the rebuilding, last-place club. Although much of the hype has been focused on William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen, it's been Soshnikov who has dazzled so far.
"He just looks like a hockey player to me," said Toronto head coach Mike Babcock. "He catches guys from behind, he forechecks, every team is mad at him every night, I like that a lot. I play him against the best players every night, that's pretty good for me."
Soshnikov had 18 goals and 28 points in 50 games with the Toronto Marlies. Through five NHL games, Soshnikov's scored twice and added an assist. Both goals have been highlight-reel material. He is unapologetic for his celebrations, backing them up with his physical play.
Love for the game
Living in Nizhny Tagil, watching NHL games was a challenge for Soshnikov. But it was important for him to find out what was happening with his favorite players.
"When I was small, I was waking up at three in the morning to watch reports about (Alexei) Yashin and (Pavel) Datsyuk. I tried to follow up on every Russian who played in the NHL," he said. "Teemu Selanne I really liked, a lot. Datsyuk was my favorite player."
Yashin and Selanne are long retired, but Soshnikov will likely fulfill a dream Sunday, when the Maple Leafs visit the Detroit Red Wings, and he takes the ice opposite his favorite player, the "Magic Man." It's the perfect setting, Joe Louis Arena, a building named after a former world heavyweight championship boxer.
One-month-old Beatrice was rushed from Montreal Canadiens' open practice in February to the hospital by mom Valerie Meloche after a puck tossed by star defenseman P.K. Subban accidentally struck her in the head.
The baby girl and her family got the chance to meet Subban on Tuesday night after the team's victory over the Dallas Stars:
March 9, 2016 – VANCOUVER, BC – The Canucks for Kids Fund has made a significant donation of $1 million to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation to support the creation of a Canucks-themed playroom in the new Teck Acute Care Centre (Teck ACC) opening ...
The hearing falls under Rule 46.2, which would judge Nurse to be the aggressor in a fight with Polak after the Shark had leveled a hit on Oilers forward Matt Hendricks a couple minutes earlier.
Nurse was assessed a five-minute major for fighting and a roughing minor at the time of the incident.
With little over a month remaining in the regular season, the Washington Capitals are without question the team to beat, while the Toronto Maple Leafs seem well on their way to a last-place finish.
Everything in between is anyone's guess.
Here's a look at this week's power rankings.
1. Washington Capitals ▲ (Last week: 2)
A win over the Ducks in Anaheim and a 14-point lead in the Presidents' Trophy race lifts the Capitals back into the top spot.
Since the inception of that award prior to the 1985-86 season, only eight of the 29 winners have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. Anything short of an appearance in the final will be a disappointment for Washington.
2. Anaheim Ducks ▼ (Last week: 1)
The shootout loss to Washington dropped the Ducks' record to 17-1-2 over their past 20 games. The patience displayed by general manager Bob Murray during an October to forget is to be commended.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (Last week: 3)
Despite a loss to Boston on Tuesday, the Lightning remain in first place in the Atlantic Division after going 8-1-1 in their past 10 games. The possible return of Jonathan Drouin to the lineup could be a win-win for both parties, as Steve Yzerman's squad looks to make good in their quest for the Stanley Cup while the young forward seeks to prove his whining about playing time was justified.
4. New York Islanders ▲ (Last week: 8)
An 8-1-1 run and a third-ranked plus-27 goal differential propels the Islanders up the rankings this week. It wasn't too long ago that this team was down in the depths of the NHL standings, and now the hockey world seems to be taking their success for granted.
5. New York Rangers ▲ (Last week: 6)
Over the past week, the Rangers followed up losses to Pittsburgh and the Islanders with wins over Washington and Buffalo, demonstrating the kind of resilience that should serve them well in the playoffs.
Any team that takes seven of eight points from a stretch of games against Washington, Chicago, Florida, and Tampa Bay deserves a big jump in the rankings. After a 1-0 overtime win over the Lightning on Tuesday, the Bruins' 83 points are good for a share of the Atlantic Division lead.
On top of that, Boston has scored more goals than any team other than Dallas and Washington, and their plus-24 goal differential is good for sixth.
Nobody saw this coming.
7. Chicago Blackhawks ▼ (Last week: 5)
Patrick Kane has already set a new career high with 89 points, but it's Corey Crawford who deserves the love in Chicago these days. On pace for 45 wins with a save percentage of .929, he'd be a lock for the Vezina Trophy were it not for the play of Braden Holtby in Washington.
8. Nashville Predators ▲ (Last week: 10)
The Predators are on a serious roll:
Predators win again, extend their franchise-record point streak to 13 games (9-0-4). They are 14-3-4 since Jan. 21, second-best in NHL.
On Tuesday, Ryan Johansen scored his first goal in over a month; he must have really been jonesing for that one.
9. Los Angeles Kings ▲ (Last week: 13)
The Kings' past two losses have come at the hands of the Ducks, and their reign atop the Pacific Division appears to be coming to an end.
10. St. Louis Blues ▼ (Last week: 4)
The Blues sit within three points of Dallas for the Central Division lead, but their minus-six goal differential is the worst among all current Western Conference playoff teams.
11. Dallas Stars (Last week: 11)
The Stars lead the league in scoring with 218 goals for, but a 25th-ranked team save percentage (.902) is very much cause for concern. To have any chance of playoff success, Dallas simply can't be Lehtonen this many goals.
12. San Jose Sharks ▼ (Last week: 7)
James Reimer posted a shutout over Edmonton for his first win as a Shark. San Jose has moved to within two points of Los Angeles in the Pacific, but their past six games - of which they have won five - have come against Canadian teams, so tap the brakes on the optimism here.
13. Florida Panthers ▼ (Last week: 9)
It was a big week for Jaromir Jagr, who rose to third on the NHL's all-time points list. Three straight losses for Florida, however, dropped the Panthers to third in the Atlantic.
A recent 7-2-1 run has greatly increased the Flyers' chances of qualifying for the playoffs, something that seemed like a pipe dream as the calendar turned to 2016. Much of the credit goes to the 22-year-old defenseman, who sits behind only Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Brent Burns, and John Klingberg in average points per game among defensemen.
15. Pittsburgh Penguins ▲ (Last week: 16)
With a loss Tuesday to the Islanders, the Penguins are officially incapable of doing anything twice in a row as of late.
Say this for the Penguins. They have been pretty consistent over the past month (an L now goes in the next box) pic.twitter.com/mrYqrUKGqv
Devan Dubnyk was pulled from his last start after posting a .900 save percentage in 10 appearances in February. With the Wild trying to fight off Colorado for the final wild card spot out West, it's a very bad time for the 2015 Vezina Finalist to regress.
17. Colorado Avalanche ▲ (Last week: 19)
Patrick Roy said it's time for Semyon Varlamov to step up his game, and he did just that by making 37 saves in win over Arizona on Monday. The Avalanche will need more of the same in order to overtake the Wild for a playoff berth.
18. Detroit Red Wings ▼ (Last week: 12)
A 3-5-2 stretch over the past 10 games has the Red Wings sitting only two points ahead of Philadelphia for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with one more game played. As it stands, they're the only team in a playoff spot with a negative goal differential (minus-10).
19. Carolina Hurricanes ▲ (Last week: 19)
Jeff Skinner, who's on pace for his third 30-goal season, sure has a flair for dramatics when playing Ottawa.
7 tying goals have been scored in final 0:10 of regulation in 2015-16. @NHLCanes' Jeff Skinner has 2 (both vs OTT): pic.twitter.com/G9SMapG2Ws
Mike Hoffman sits in a tie for 12th among all NHL players with 30 points during five-on-five play this season, but was recently benched by head coach Dace Cameron and placed on the fourth line after being placed back in the lineup.
Bold strategy, Senators. Let's see if it pays off.
21. Montreal Canadiens ▲ (Last week: 22)
It only took head coach Michel Therrien five months to figure it out, but it seems as though the Canadiens would be best served by leaving Alex Galchenyuk at the center position.
Galchenyuk back at C for 2 games: 4 goals, 1 assist.
Columbus has gone 28-24-8 under head coach John Tortorella, greatly diminishing the Blue Jackets' chances of drafting Auston Matthews come June.
What a waste of an 0-8-0 start to the season.
23. New Jersey Devils (Last week: 23)
Trading away leading scorer Lee Stempniak prior to the deadline and an injury to star goalie Cory Schneider seems to have killed whatever faint hope existed in New Jersey.
24. Buffalo Sabres (Last week: 24)
The trio of Evander Kane, Jack Eichel, and Sam Reinhart is pretty hot right now, but we'll forgive you if 9-15-23 is confused for something else.
Alex Tanguay became the first player in franchise history (including the Winnipeg Jets era) to record three or more points in his first game with the club. That performance came in a win over Florida, and helped the Coyotes snap a seven-game losing streak. They promptly lost their next game.
26. Vancouver Canucks ▲ (Last week: 28)
Team president Trevor Linden seems to have more faith in his club than possibly any living person.
"Have faith, watching these young guys is going to be fun. We're going to look back on this time warmly" - Linden's final message #Canucks
The Jets have turned back to Ondrej Pavelec as their starting goalie in eight of the past 12 games, a sure sign that they've given up on this season.
28. Calgary Flames ▼ (Last week: 27)
The Flames have gone 2-9-2 over their past 13 games, and Sidney Crosbycalled out his Penguins after being one of the two teams to fall to Calgary in that span.
Last-place Toronto is six points below Edmonton, with a league-worst minus-39 goal differential, and recently blew a two-goal lead to Buffalo on home ice en route to a shootout loss.
All according to plan for the rebuilding Maple Leafs.
The heads of all three branches of the Canadian Hockey League will meet Wednesday, with the role of fighting in junior hockey set to be on the agenda.
CHL president Dave Branch - who also serves as commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League - added fighting to the agenda for a meeting with Western Hockey League commissioner Ron Robison and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioner Gilles Courteau after a column by James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail made waves in hockey circles over the past few days.
"I want to hear what Ron and Gilles have to say," Branch told Bob McKenzie of TSN. "It's a good discussion to have, to see where we agree or disagree, what challenges are involved. It's always better if (the three leagues that comprise the CHL) have the same rules but it's not necessarily essential either. That's why I put it on the agenda."
While fighting is down 16 percent in the OHL this season, and has decreased in each of the past six seasons, but the call to ban fighting altogether in junior hockey appears to be rising.
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jarred Tinordi has been suspended 20 games, without pay, for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, the league has announced.
The suspension carries a mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment, as per the collective bargaining agreement.
Jarred Tinordi is only the 4th player to be suspended under the NHL’s PED rules. Shawn Horcoff, Zenon Konopka, Sean Hill the others.
Tinordi released the following statement through the NHL Players' Association:
I am extremely disappointed that I failed a test under the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. I did not knowingly take a banned substance. I understand, however, that I am responsible for what enters my body as a professional athlete and I accept the suspension. I will work hard towards my return to the ice and will learn from this frustrating setback.
Coyotes general manager Don Maloney expressed his support for the decision, and for Tinordi.
"Late (Tuesday) afternoon, we were made aware of the situation regarding Jarred Tinordi," Maloney said in a statement. "The Arizona Coyotes organization fully supports the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. We will also continue to support Jarred throughout this process. We will have no further comment at this time."
Tinordi appeared in seven games for the Coyotes after being acquired from Montreal in the John Scott trade, failing to record a point with his new club.
