It's just that he is at the mercy of U.S. Immigration. Ponikarovsky can't legally play with the Penguins against the Rangers tonight in New York.
Because he is shifting from a Canadian employer to a United States employer, he requires a P-1 work visa. The paperwork process should be aided by the fact that the native Ukrainian also has become a Canadian citizen.
«Hopefully, it's going to be done by Friday morning, so I can fly to Pittsburgh and practice that day," he said. «Now I have to do my scouting. I'm going to watch the game —- but I wouldn't mind to get right into it.»
AP: «He's a good, hardworking winger who drives to the net hard, he has good size, he's a good player," Penguins forward Ruslan Fedotenko said. «I feel like he's a good addition for us.»
Fedotenko, 31, and Ponikarovsky, 29, both grew up in Kiev, Ukraine, and likely will play together on Evgeni Malkin's line.
«Poni could be a guy that fits with that line," Penguins general manager Ray Shero said. «They (Fedotenko and Ponikarovsky) have known each other since they were 5 years old.»
Ось що хочу сказати з цього приводу...