Islanders terminating Nikita Soshnikov’s contract, what went wrong?

Nikita Soshnikov is on his way home.

After trying to make an NHL comeback, Nikita Soshnikov will return to his native Russia and likely return to the KHL, where he played the previous five seasons.

The Islanders signed Soshnikov to a one-year, league-minimum contract on September 2. Omsk AvangardIn the 2021-22 season, Soshnikov had four goals and 11 assists in 22 games before five goals and three assists in 13 playoff games.

Soshnikov entered Islanders training camp with NHL experience, having played 70 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs over three years (2015-2018) under current New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello, recording seven goals and seven assists. In 2017-2019, Soshnikov was part of the St. Louis Blues organization and collected only a goal and an assist in 17 games.

But after a five-year absence, Soshnikov wanted to return to the NHL, and given his relationship with Lamoriello, the Islanders gave him a shot.

Soshnikov was considered a speedy player, his biggest asset, and the Islanders lacked that skill enough. But his speed didn’t outweigh his play on both sides of the puck, and the Islanders were quick to move him down the depth chart.

Soshnikov was scoreless on four shots with one split in three games (30:00 TOI) with New York, but that split came at a cost in a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning as his turnover led to the eventual game-winner at. second period buzzer.

Quick recap: Islanders allow comeback-breaking Bolts goal late in second, lose 5-3

However, he did score during the preseason.

Soshnikov out pic.twitter.com/2TtPgNzb0D

– New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 27, 2022

Islanders head coach Lane Lambert gave Soshnikov another shot, playing him on Mat Barzal’s wing against the New York Rangers at MSG on November 8, a 4-3 win. But that experiment didn’t last after the first period when Lambert changed his line.

Soshnikov was waived by New York on Nov. 15 and played three games with Bridgeport (AHL) before missing 10 games with a “non-COVID illness.”

During this time, rumors swirled that he wanted to return home to Russia and the KHL, and that the Islanders would place him on waivers due to the termination of his contract. NNI Hockey Now reached out to Bridgeport, who said he is still with the team, but this ending was predictable based on what happened.

And on Sunday afternoon came the news, and on Monday both sides will move on.