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.

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.

AP Photo 2 months ago

Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky, right, of Ukraine, celebrates with teammates Mikhail Grabovski, center, of Germany, and Tomas Kaberle, left, of the Czech Republic, after scoring his team's opening goal of the season as Montreal Canadiens' Mike Cammalleri, left, skates by durin...

AP Photo 2 months ago

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, left, makes a save on Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky, right, during the third period in a preseason NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. , on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Buffalo won 3-2.

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.

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.

Getty Images 8 months ago

TORONTO - APRIL 8: Alexei Ponikarovsky #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks for a rebound as goalie Ryan Miller #30 and Adam Mair #22 of the Buffalo Sabres defend during a NHL game at the Air Canada Centre April 8, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario.

Getty Images 8 months ago

TORONTO - APRIL 8: Alexei Ponikarovsky #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends against Tim Connolly #19 of the Buffalo Sabres during their NHL game at the Air Canada Centre April 8, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario.

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.

AP Photo 8 months ago

Toronto Maple Leafs' Luke Schenn, left, checks Philadelphia Flyers' Mike Richards, center, as Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky, right, closes in during the first period of an NHL game in Toronto on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Getty Images 8 months ago

BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 27: Toni Lydman #5 of the Buffalo Sabres is checked off the puck by Alexei Ponikarovsky #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 27, 2009 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York.

Getty Images 8 months ago

BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 27: Toni Lydman #5 of the Buffalo Sabres tries to get puck control from Alexei Ponikarovsky #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs as Tim Connolly #19 of the Sabres and Nikolai Kulemin #41 of the Leafs trail the play on March 27, 2009 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York.

AP Photo 8 months ago

Toronto Maple Leafs' Nikolai Kulemin (41) is congratulated by teammates Alexei Ponikarovsky, right, and Mikhail Grabovski, bottom, after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, March 21, 2009.

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.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski (R) celebrates his second goal of the game with teammate Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) in front of Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto, March 14, 2009.

New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur makes a save behind Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky (R) during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto March 3, 2009.

AP Photo 9 months ago

New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, left, makes a save off Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

AP Photo 9 months ago

Buffalo Sabres wing Clarke MacArthur takes the puck between Toronto Maple Leafs' Ian White, right, and Alexei Ponikarovsky during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky (C) celebrates his goal with teammate Nik Antropov (R) behind Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto February 14, 2009.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky (C) celebrates his goal with teammate Nik Antropov (R) behind Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and Sidney Crosby (L) during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto February 14, 2009.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nik Antropov (2nd L) celebrates his goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang (R, top) with teammates Alexei Ponikarovsky (L) and Matt Stajan (14) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto February 14, 2009.

AP Photo 9 months ago

Toronto Maple Leafs' Ian White, right front, Nik Antropov, second from left, of Kazakhstan, and Alexei Ponikarovsky, right, of Ukraine, celebrate Matt Stajan's goal during third-period NHL hockey action as they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 in Toronto on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.

Getty Images 10 months ago

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Alexei Ponikarovsky #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs checks Marek Malik #22 of the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 12, 2009 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Maple Leafs 6-4.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexei Ponikarovsky (R) celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers with teammate Jeff Finger during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto, February 3, 2009.

AP Photo 10 months ago

Toronto Maple Leafs' Alexei Ponikarovsky , left, battles for the puck with Florida Panthers' Radek Dvorak (14) and as Panther's Jay Bouwmeester skates in during the first period of an NHL game in Toronto on Tuesday, FEb. 3, 2009.