Soshnikov could head to KHL if not called up soon

Nikita Soshnikov has an option to get off the crowded Toronto Marlies roster and play at home to improve his profile for getting called up.

The Russian winger who showed promise the past couple of years before getting marginalized by injuries and the general Leaf youth movement, has a contract clause that allows him to join any KHL club on loan if he’s not on the NHL roster by Nov. 14. Soshnikov played 56 Leaf games last season with nine points, but didn’t make the team out of camp with Josh Leivo the extra forward and almost no injuries creating any openings. Soshnikov has nine points in 11 games so far with the Marlies, placing him third on the farm team.

Not that the former winger with Atlant in the KHL would jump next Tuesday at first chance.

“We are not entertaining any offers from the KHL at this time,” agent Dan Milstein told the in an e-mail Wednesday morning.

Coming up on restricted free agency next season, if Soshnikov did go home to the KHL he’d be subject to recall by the Leafs during any loan period. But he is also three NHL games away from 70 and being waiver eligible, meaning if the Leafs were to play him three more times at any stage, they could not send him back down without having him clear.

Boudreau on the Marlies

Wild coach Bruce Boudreau was in fine form Wednesday after spending the previous night visiting family and dropping by a reunion of his junior Marlies. A gathering of the 1955 Memorial Cup champions and ex-Leaf Boudreau’s ’75 team, was held at the home of “ultimate Leafs fan” Mike Wilson. The ’75 team were the last to win the Memorial Cup before the Marlies moved away in the ’90s.