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Maple Leafs Newcomers and Hopeful Additions |
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Nikita Soshnikov:
When the 2015/16 season began Nikita Soshnikov began his North American journey with the Toronto Marlies and picked up right where he left off after a solid season in the KHL playing for Moscow’s Oblant Atlant. Burrying 18 goals in 50 games with the Marlies, Soshnikov has shown he has some offensive flair to go along with his hard-nosed game. The left winger was born in Nizhny Tagil, Russia and is 22 years of age and is just shy of six feet in height.
Since being called up to the Leafs, he’s scored two impressive goals, sniping top cheese with a couple rockets and his emotions kicked in both times and he celebrated the goals with true hockey passion. This is a Russian player I like; he has an element to his game where he has ‘try hard syndrome’; something former Maple Leaf player Gary Roberts possessed.
I’m not exaggerating here either; Nikita buried two goals in his first four games and dished out 16 hits. The kid has some jump in his step and isn’t afraid to mix it up, his energy is contagious on the ice and it will be much more evident over time if he continues to play this style of hockey.
Sparks on Soshnikov: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody just go, go, go go, go, he’s one of those guys who just doesn’t really have an off switch.”
If your goaltending is giving you praise as a forward, you know you are working hard on the ice. Nikita seems to be driven on both ends of the ice which will go over extremely well with the Leafs management, and especially coach Babcock. Soshnikov seems to be in the mix on a number of offensive chances, firing numerous shots on net each game and laying the body irritating the opponent.
English may not be Soshnikov’s strong suit, as he’s unable to speak it, but he can understand it when it’s spoken to him. Who better to the rescue than Uncle Leo Komarov to help translate? The two lived together during training camp, so have had some time to get to know each other making the transition much easier for the young winger. His future is certainly brightening each game that he plays in the blue and white, I’d say he’s already penciled into the starting lineup next season.
Zach Hyman:
Hyman was drafted back in 2010 by the Florida Panthers and actually played for the Hamilton Red Wings in the (OJHL) Ontario Junior Hockey League. Hyman then took his game to the University of Michigan for four years and really came on strong in his final year where he scored 22 goals and had 32 assists in 37 games playing in the Big-10. Hyman joined the Marlies this year dipping his toes into his first AHL season and has some impressive speed and stats to follow suit. Zach scored 13 goals and assisted 20 times, but has been another solid piece to the winning puzzle on the Leafs farm team.
Growing up Hyman’s favorite NHL players were Doug Gilmour and later Mats Sundin. Zach played with Red Wings rookie Dylan Larkin when he was playing hockey in Michigan. Both players have made their NHL debuts this season, of course Larkin being much younger.
Just the other night Hyman scored his first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres. You could see on his face the pure excitement and joy of scoring that first goal that he worked so hard for so long to attain. A great feeling it is scoring your first goal, and he’s the fourth Maple Leafs player to do so this season.
Hyman said “It was something I dreamed of since I was little”. “It’s not just my journey. It’s my family’s journey also. They’re with me every step of the way”.
This just shows you how much is invested into each prospect in the NHL. The amount of time and energy and money these players and their parents have put into hockey. It really is something special having all of these young guns step up into the big show and make their dreams come true.
Nikita Zaitsev:
A long shot? I don’t know about that…
Zaitsev has played in the KHL for the last three seasons and is a solid offensive defenseman. He’s 24 years of age and just may be looking to play for the Leafs in the 2016/17 season. Zaitsev is a gifted skater who already has NHL size coming in at 6’2” 200 pounds. He will be a free agent at years end and has already met with the Leafs president Brendan Shanahan in Toronto last June. It seemed that Zaitsev was quite impressed with what Toronto had to offer and all indications show that he has some interest in joining the Toronto Maple Leafs if things continue to go in the right direction for both parties.
His agent Igor Eronko has tweeted that Zaitsev has shown some interest in joining the Maple Leafs. To the point last June where there was talks he was going to join Toronto for the 2015/16 season. As it turns out Zaitsev and his agent denied the reports that he was going to join Toronto that season, but mentioned “Says plan is the same: one more year in the #KHL #Leafs”. To me, it shows both the Leafs and Zaitsev were close, but perhaps finishing his contract in the KHL was the right thing to do, especially since the Leafs situation this season being such a debacle.
Other teams have shown interest in Zaitsev, so it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds, but keep an eye out for the possible addition of the right handed Russian defenseman.
Jimmy Vesey:
Nashville drafted Vesey back in 2012 in the third round, and since then he has spent four years at Harvard playing University hockey (ECAC). Each season he has improved his total output and his overall game has come a long way reducing his penalty minutes and increasing his two-way game. Last season Vesey scored a whopping 32 goals in 37 games, and tacked on 26 assists. Those are some quality numbers, and he is right on track this year for another outstanding season, with 21 goals in 28 games and another 20 helpers.
There is something to be said about a hockey player at Harvard. His smarts with the books will surely carry over to the ice. At 6’1” Jimmy weighs in just less than 200 pounds and his natural position is a left winger. Last season Vesey was one of the top three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, along with Jack Eichel.
So what’s the link with the Leafs?
Toronto employs Jim Vesey Sr. who is an amateur scout for the Leafs. On top of that, Toronto drafted his younger brother Nolan in the 2014 draft. So why not keep it one big happy family? The Leafs do have a decent prospect pool going right now, but there is always room for improvement. August 15th is a date the Leafs need to highlight on the calendar, because if Vesey isn’t resigned with the Predators, he will become a UFA and can pick his preferred destination.
Thanks for reading!
Blogger •Atlantic Division Writer • 
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