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The Toronto Maple Leafs made a roster move on Tuesday, sending center Frederik Gauthier back to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and recalled winger Nikita Soshnikov.
The 24-year-old winger was second in team scoring with the Leafs AHL affiliate (5 goals and 7 assists in 14 games) and is a favorite of Leafs coach Mike Babcock because of his work ethic and tenacity, but the move was necessitated by a clause in his entry-level contract that allows him to return to the KHL if he is not on an NHL roster by November 15.
Soshnikov skated at the MasterCard Centre in Etobicoke, ON on Tuesday, but it is unknown whether the speedy winger will see action any time soon.
The Leafs are getting to a place where they have limited options with players they presumably value and want to keep in the organization. Soshnikov is in a similar position as Josh Leivo. If he plays three NHL games, he would have to clear waivers for Toronto to send him down to the AHL (assuming he agreed not to go back to Russia).
Leivo has been an extra forward due to the same waiver consideration. The 24-year-old was protected in the expansion draft last summer, but has played just 18 NHL games over the last two seasons. The big winger got into the lineup with Auston Matthews out injured, but that may be an even bigger challenge with Soshnikov a better fit as a fourth line checker.
Auston Matthews skated for about an hour today (with cameos by Bozak, Soshnikov) ... this is how it looked: https://t.co/tMq4OaiNpX
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 14, 2017
It was a day off for most of the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, but Soshnikov, William Nylander, Tyler Bozak and Auston Matthews, who did not participated in Monday’s practice, took to the ice on Tuesday and were put through their paces.
Matthews is expected to take part in a full practice at the Mastercard Centre on Wednesday, which would be the next step in the Calder Trophy winner returning to the Leafs lineup on Thursday, when they face the New Jersey Devils at Air Canada Centre.
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