(Courtesy: KHL) The Toronto Maple Leafs’ newest signing raised quite a few eyebrows at both sides of the Atlantic. 21-year-old Nikita Soshnikov signed a 3-year entry-level contract with the organization last week, and will come to town next season. Soshnikov has 93 KHL games under his belt (all with Atlant), 17 goals and 38 points….
Mikhail Grabovski hasn’t signed with any KHL team yet, despite numerous reports that suggested he’d play for either Dinamo Minsk or Barys Astana or even CSKA. The Maple Leafs forward was as surprised to learn about his transatlantic vocation as anybody. "I have no idea where did this Sport-Express reporter get information about me signing…
Earlier this morning (or afternoon if live on the other side of Atlantic ocean) top Russian newspaper Sport-Express reported that Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski is about to sign a lockout contract with Dinamo Minsk. However, two respectful Belorussian media outlets suggest the deal is far from being over and they have quotes to back it…
With September the 15th approaching fast, NHL players can’t help but start looking at their respective plan Bs. For some of them, like Nikolai Kulemin, finding a new place with a fat paycheque won’t be a problem. The Leafs winger was born in Magnitogorsk, Russia and began his pro career with the local Metallurg. His…
Leo Komarov has been in Toronto the last couple of weeks for Maple Leafs prospect camp. Our own Andrey Osadchenko was able to catch up with him and discussed a little with Leo about his playing style (more on that can be read here), the rumours that Komarov is planning to return to the KHL,…
Once Nail Yakupov’s arch-rival for being considered the 2012 top prospect, Mikhail Grigorenko now finds himself dropping out of top-10 in almost every mock draft he’s unfortunate enough to take a look at. While some complain about his work ethic, others bring up the rumor about his alleged age-forging issue.
There were only so few articles in Canadian media written about the Leafs signing Leo Komarov. Most of them didn’t even go deep enough to explain what type of a player Komarov is as they were limited to general information – 25-year-old Finnish energetic winger, born in Estonia, 5’11, 198lbs, 11 goals and 24 points…
After talking to Nail Yakupov, the Nation Network’s Andrey Osadchenko had a chance to sit down with his agent (and Hockey Hall of Famer) Igor Larionov. Larionov represents not only Yakupov, but another player – Alex Galchenyuk – in contention for a top-five spot at this year’s NHL Entry Draft.
During the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup, Leafs Nation’s Andrey Osadchenko was able to catch up with Leafs prospect Greg McKegg of the London Knights. McKegg was selected in the 3rd round of the 2010 draft as a member of the Erie Otters. He was traded to London in the middle of the 2012 season and…
Having won 11 Calder Cup playoff games out of 13 the Toronto Marlies moved to their final series of the season where their opponent is going to be the Norfolk Admirals, who have a 11-3 record in the playoffs. Norfolk has topped the AHL in the regular season with 113 points (55-18-1-2), while the Marlies were…
Unlike the NHL post-season, the AHL Western Conference hasn’t brought a lot of surprises to the table so far. The teams who made it to the Calder Cup semifinals finished fittingly first and second in the regular season – the Oklahoma City Barons and Toronto Marlies. They split the regular season series and even the…
The Toronto Maple Leafs season is long over, but defenseman Jake Gardiner is still playing hockey, helping the Toronto Marlies as they vie for the AHL Championship. Nations’ reporter Andrey Osadcheko spoke recently with Gardiner about the Marlie’s Game Two victory, and what it’s like to be in the AHL post-season.
