Sklanichenko Signs with Toronto Marlies AHL

Nikolai Sklanichenko has been signed to an AHL contract by the Toronto Marlies -- the top minor league affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nikolai was invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Camp earlier in July in Collingwood, Ontario.

This is Nikolai's first professional contract in North America and the first time he will be returning to Canadian hockey since playing in the GMHL.

Nikolai spent part of the 2009/10 season and the entire 2010/11 season in the GMHL with the now defunct Bobcaygeon Bucks franchise.

At the age of 16 Nikolai had his rookie junior season in the GMHL, receiving limited playing time with Bobcaygeon. The next season Skladnichenko returned to Bobcaygeon at the age of 17 to have a 50 point (25g, 25a) season for the Bucks. At the end of the season, Nikolai was drafted in the 2011 KHL Entry Draft, Round 4 #101 Overall to Bayrs Astana.

After graduating from the GMHL, Nikolai made the Russian Major Junior league (MHL) where he has spent parts of the last three seasons.

Skladnichenko has also managed to spend time in the Russian KHL playing 38 professional games.

Nikolai's junior career has been highlighted by a selection to the Russian World Junior U20 Team in 2014 while also participating in the Subway Super Series for his home country in 2013.

Nikolai is the third GMHL alumni invited to a NHL Camp -- the previous being Nikita Jevpalovs (San Jose Sharks) & Darren Archibald (Vancouver Canucks).