Los Angeles Kings' Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) and Edmonton Oilers' Sam Gagner battle for position during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Edmonton February 2, 2011. REUTERS/Dan Riedlhuber (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Los Angeles Kings' Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) and Edmonton Oilers' Tom Gilbert collide during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Edmonton February 2, 2011. REUTERS/Dan Riedlhuber (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk (R) makes a save on a shot by Los Angeles Kings' Alexei Ponikarovsky of Ukraine as Oilers' Ryan Whitney (rear L) defends during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Los Angeles December 23, 2010. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Montreal Canadiens P.K. Subban knocks Pittsburgh Penguins Alexei Ponikarovsky to the ice during the first period in Game 3 of their NHL Eastern Conference semi-final hockey series in Montreal, May 4, 2010. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Montreal Canadiens P.K. Subban (R) knocks Pittsburgh Penguins Alexei Ponikarovsky to the ice during the first period in Game 3 of their NHL Eastern Conference semi-final hockey series in Montreal, May 4, 2010. REUTERS/Shaun Best (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Pittsburgh Penguins' Jordan Staal (2nd L) celebrates his goal on the Montreal Canadiens with Alex Goligoski (3), Alexei Ponikarovsky (23) and Chris Kunitz during the first period in Game 1 of their NHL Eastern Conference semi-final hockey series in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 30, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Cohn (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Ottawa Senators' goalie Pascal Leclaire, Anton Volchenkov (C) and Pittsburgh Penguins' Alexei Ponikarovsky follow the puck during the third period of Game 4 of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final hockey game in Ottawa April 20, 2010. REUTERS/Blair Gable (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Pittsburgh Penguins' Jordan Staal (L) celebrates his goal with teammates Chris Kunitz (14) and Alexei Ponikarovsky during the third period of game four of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final hockey game in Ottawa April 20, 2010. REUTERS/Blair Gable (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Pittsburgh Penguins' Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) celebrates his goal with teammates Evgeni Malkin (2nd L), Sergei Gonchar and Jay McKee (R) during the first period of Game 3 of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa April 18, 2010. REUTERS/Blair Gable (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Pittsburgh Penguins Ruslan Fedotenko (26), Alexei Ponikarovsky (23) and Ottawa Senators Matt Carkner (39) try to control the puck in the third period of Game 1 of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final hockey game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania April 14, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Cohn (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Ottawa Senators Matt Carkner (39) knocks Pittsburgh Penguins Alexei Ponikarovsky off his feet in the first period of Game 1 of their NHL Eastern Conference quarter-final hockey game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania April 14, 2010. REUTERS/ Jason Cohn (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

(L to R) Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby, Pascal Dupuis and Alexei Ponikarovsky celebrate Dupuis' goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period of their NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 27, 2010. REUTERS/David DeNoma (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Pittsburgh Penguins' Alexei Ponikarovsky (C) celebrates his second-period goal with teammates Kris Letang (L) and Sidney Crosby during their NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins in Boston, Massachusetts March 18, 2010. REUTERS/Gretchen Ertl (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Alexei Ponikarovsky (C) knocks down New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) after he stopped his shot in the first period of their NHL hockey game in Newark, New Jersey, March 12, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) tries to knock down the puck after a save by New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) in the first period of their NHL hockey game in Newark, New Jersey, March 12, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky (R) celebrates his first period goal against the Ottawa Senators in their NHL hockey game in Toronto, February 6, 2010. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate goal by Alexei Ponikarovsky in the first period of their NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Toronto, February 6, 2010. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky gets shoved into the boards by New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac (19) in the first period of their NHL hockey game in Newark, New Jersey, February 5, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf (3) shoves New Jersey Devils left wing Zach Parise on top of Maple Leafs left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky (23) as they chase the puck in the first period of their NHL hockey game in Newark, New Jersey, February 5, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs' Phil Kessel celebrates his goal with teammates Matt Stajan (2nd L), Alexei Ponikarovsky (2nd R), and Ian White (R) behind Vancouver Canucks' Pavol Demitra (L) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto January 30, 2010. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky (R) celebrates his goal on the Nashville Predators with center Matt Stajan (L) in the first period of their NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tennessee, January 18, 2010. REUTERS/M. J. Masotti Jr. (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky loses control of the puck behind Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (L) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto January 9, 2010. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky deflects the puck in front of Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller during third period NHL hockey action in Buffalo, New York, January 8, 2010. REUTERS/Gary Wiepert (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) battles for control with the Philadelphia Flyers center Blair Betts (11) during the second period of NHL ice hockey action in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 6, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers with teammate Nikolai Kulemin (R) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto January 5, 2010. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto January 5, 2010. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Calgary Flames defencemen Adam Pardy knocks Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky to the ice during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Calgary, January 2, 2010. REUTERS/Todd Korol (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Edmonton Oilers' goalie Jeff Deslauriers (L), Denis Grebeshkov (back) and Steve Staios check Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Edmonton December 30, 2009. REUTERS/Dan Riedlhuber (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) and Edmonton Oilers' Lubomir Visnovsky battle for position during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Edmonton December 30, 2009. REUTERS/Dan Riedlhuber (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak (R) makes a save as defenseman Hal Gill checks Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto December 26, 2009. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

New York Islanders center Frans Nielsen hits the ice in front of Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky (23) in the first period of their NHL hockey game in Uniondale, New York, December 23, 2009. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky is hit into the boards by Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Jim Vandermeer (R) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto December 16, 2009. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Vesa Toskala (L) makes a save on Washington Capitals Mike Knuble (C), as Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky (R) looks on, in the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto, December 12, 2009. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill (CANADA - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky celebrates his second goal against the Atlanta Thrashers during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto December 7, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Cassese (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) and Nikolai Kulemin (R) of Russia celebrate after their team defeated the Washington Capitals during the shootout of their NHL hockey game in Toronto, November 21, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA) 

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson directs his team as Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) and Jamal Mayers (R) look on against the Washington Capitals during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto, November 21, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

The Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) battles the Carolina Hurricanes' Andrew Alberts for the puck during the second half of their NHL hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina November 19, 2009. REUTERS/Ellen Ozier (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Manny Legace (L) and teammate Tim Gleason battle the Toronto Maple Leafs' Matt Stajan (2nd L) and teammate Alexei Ponikarovsky during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina November 19, 2009. REUTERS/Ellen Ozier (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Calgary Flames forward Dustin Boyd (C) celebrates his goal in front of Toronto Maple Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) and Francois Beauchemin (R) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto November 14, 2009. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Calgary Flames forward Dustin Boyd (C) celebrates his goal in front of Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) and Francois Beauchemin (R) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto November 14, 2009. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikolai Kulemin (C) celebrates a goal by teammate Alexei Ponikarovsky in front of Minnesota Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom (R) and Greg Zanon during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto November 10, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Cassese (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky (C) celebrates his goal with teammates Nikolai Kulemin (L) and Ian White in front of Minnesota Wild forward Chuck Kobasew (R) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto November 10, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Cassese (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

The Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) battles the Carolina Hurricanes' Joe Corvo for the puck during the first half of their NHL hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina November 6, 2009. REUTERS/Ellen Ozier (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs' Lee Stempniak (R) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with teammates Mikhail Grabovski (84), Alexei Ponikarovsky (23) and Tomas Kaberle (15) during second period of NHL hockey action in Montreal October 31, 2009. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) jumps to screen Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller on a goal by Toronto defenseman Ian White (not pictured) during first period NHL hockey action in Buffalo, New York, October 30, 2009. REUTERS/Gary Wiepert (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky sits alone on the end of the bench following his team`s loss to the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto October 13, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Cassese (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Montreal Canadiens Ryan O'Byrne checks Toronto Maple Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) as Canadiens Matt D'Agostini (R) works the puck during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto, October 1, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs (from L) Alexei Ponikarovsky celebrates his goal with team mates Michael Komisarek, Mikhail Grabovski, and Tomas Kaberle against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto, October 1, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky (R) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with team-mate Mikhail Grabovski during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto October 1, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky is helped off the ice by trainer Andy Playter (L) after being hit by a stick against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period of their NHL preseason hockey game in Toronto September 26, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky (C) scores a goal on Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery (R) as Braydon Coburn (L) looks on during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto, September 19, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky (23) tangles with Philadelphia Flyers Oskars Bartulis as a fight breaks out during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto September 19, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (Canada SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky (C) fails to score past Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Johan Backlund as defenceman Ryan Parent (R) tries to muscle him out of the way in the second period of their NHL pre-season exhibition hockey game in London, Ontario, September 17, 2009. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs Alexei Ponikarovsky (R) comes down on Montreal Canadiens' Josh Gorges (L) along the boards during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto, April 4, 2009. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky watches a shot go wide past Philadelphia Flyers goalie Martin Biron (L) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto April 1, 2009. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Philadelphia Flyers forward Mike Richards (C) is hit by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn (L) and Alexei Ponikarovsky (R) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto April 1, 2009. REUTERS/ Mike Cassese (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky celebrates with team mates after scoring against the Boston Bruins in the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto March 28, 2009. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Montreal Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak looks on as Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a goal by Alexei Ponikarovsky (23) during the second period of NHL hockey action in Montreal, March 21, 2009. REUTERS/Shaun Best (CANADA SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson looks on from behind the bench as players Matt Stajan (L), Boyd Devereaux (C) and Alexei Ponikarovsky (R) react during the final seconds of the third period against the Florida Panthers in NHL hockey action in Sunrise, Florida March 19, 2009. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY) 

Florida Panthers' Keith Ballard, Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky and Panthers' Jassen Cullimore (L-R) tangle during first period NHL hockey action in Sunrise, Florida March 19, 2009. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY)