Alexei Ponikarovsky

Alexei Ponikarovsky is a Ukrainian left winger on the Los Angeles Kings.

Ponikarovsky was drafted by Toronto in 1998 after playing for Dynamo Moscow for 2 years. In 2006-07, he set then-career highs with 21 goals and 45 points. He signed with Toronto through 2010, and had a great season in 2008-09, scoring 23 goals, 38 assists and 61 points while playing most of the season on the top line. He had 41 points for the Leafs in 2009-10, but was traded to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline in hopes he would find good chemistry on the Pens' 2nd line with Evgeni Malkin. It never really happened, and he was allowed to walk as a UFA at the end of the season. He signed with Los Angeles during the 2010 offseason.