Playing career

Ponikarovsky began his career with the Dynamo Moscow organization, playing with the team's affiliates, Dynamo-2 and Dynamo Jr., from 1995 to 1999 campaigns, seeing a little action with the main club during the 1998-99 season before becoming a regular fixture on the team during the 1999-2000 season when Dynamo won the Russian Superleague championship.

In 1997-98, Ponikarovsky played 24 games for Dynamo in the First Division of the Russian Hockey League, collecting three points. He then played 13 games for Krylya Sovetov of the Russian Elite League in 1998-99 and played three playoff games for Dynamo.

In 1999-2000, Ponikarovsky played 19 games for Dynamo of the Russian Elite League and played 29 games for THK Tver in the First Division of the Russian Hockey League, collecting 22 points (eight goals and 14 assists).

In the 2005-06 season, Ponikarovsky put up career-highs in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes. He saw added responsibility and was given more ice-time, often with former Dynamo Moscow teammate Nik Antropov or Mats Sundin, and became one of the team's regular penalty-killers. Ponikarovsky finished the season with four shorthanded goals and one assist. His four shorthanded goals tied ten players, including teammate Matt Stajan, for eighth in the League.

On December 16, 2006, Ponikarovsky notched a career-high five points in Toronto's 9-2 victory of the New York Rangers, scoring two goals and assisting on three others. He is commonly referred to by his teammates as "The Poni Express," "The Ukraine Train" or simply "Poni." On May 10, 2007, the Maple Leafs re-signed Ponikarovsky to a three-year, $6.315 million contract extension.

On March 2, 2010, Ponikarovsky was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Luca Caputi and Martin Škoula. Following the trade, he remained optimistic he would resume contract talks with Toronto in the off-season. In his debut game with the Penguins on March 6, 2010, against the Dallas Stars, he scored his first goal with his new team.

On July 27, 2010, Ponikarovsky signed with the Los Angeles Kings, receiving a signing bonus of $200,000 and a one-year contract for $3 million.

On July 1, 2011, Ponikarovsky signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes reportedly worth $1.5 million.

On January 20, 2012, Ponikarovsky was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenceman Joe Sova and a fourth-round pick in 2012. In 33 games, he scored 18 points before helping the Devils to the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, scoring an overtime game winner in game 3 of the semi-finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.

On July 1, 2012, Ponikarovsky signed as a free agent with the Winnipeg Jets on a one-year contract worth $1.8 million. After scoring only 2 goals in 12 games, Ponikarovsky was traded by the Jets back to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 4th round pick and a 7th round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft on February 13, 2013.

KHL

Due to the 2012 NHL lockout, Ponikarovsky signed a temporary contract with the Ukrainian Kontinental Hockey League club HC Donbass for the 2012-13 season. In Donetsk, he had posted 18 points in 32 games, after which he returned to start the shortened NHL season with the Jets.

Upon the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, with limited NHL interest in free agency, Ponikarovsky decided to return to the KHL, signing a two-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg on August 5, 2013, a move that reunited him with New Jersey Devils teammate, Ilya Kovalchuk, who also had just signed with SKA.

Off the ice

On June 7, 2007 Ponikarovsky became a Canadian citizen during a ceremony in Etobicoke, Ontario. Ponikarovsky lives in Miami with his wife Inna, daughter Jessica, and sons Alex and Maxim, while still owning a house in Toronto. He has favored wearing the number 23 as two of his grandparents were born on the 23rd, along with his wife. After signing with St. Petersburg, Ponikarovsky obtained additional Russian citizenship, as many Ukrainians in the KHL do.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998-99	Krylya Sovetov	RHL		13	2	1	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	Dynamo Moscow	RSL		—	—	—	—	—		3	0	0	0	2
1999-00	Dynamo Moscow	RSL		19	1	0	1	8		1	0	0	0	0
2000-01	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		22	1	3	4	14		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	St. John's Maple Leafs	AHL		49	12	24	36	44		4	0	0	0	4
2001-02	St. John's Maple Leafs	AHL		72	21	27	48	19		5	2	1	3	8
2001-02	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		8	2	0	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	St. John's Maple Leafs	AHL		63	24	22	46	68		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		13	0	3	3	11		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		73	9	19	28	44		13	1	3	4	8
2004-05	Khimik Moscow Oblast	RSL		19	1	5	6	16		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		81	21	17	38	68		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		71	21	24	45	63		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		66	18	17	35	36		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		82	23	38	61	38		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		61	19	22	41	44		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		16	2	7	9	17		11	1	4	5	4
2010-11	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		61	5	10	15	36		4	1	0	1	0
2011-12	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		49	7	8	15	26		—	—	—	—	—
2011-12	New Jersey Devils	NHL		33	7	11	18	8		24	1	8	9	12
2012-13	Donbass Donetsk	KHL		32	5	13	18	16		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		12	2	0	2	6		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	New Jersey Devils	NHL		30	2	5	7	8		—	—	—	—	—
2013-14	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL		51	6	9	15	38		10	1	1	2	4
2014-15	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL		32	2	6	8	24		9	1	0	1	4
2015-16	SKA Saint Petersburg	KHL		40	3	1	4	30		3	0	0	0	0
NHL totals				678	139	184	323	419		52	4	15	19	28
KHL totals				155	16	29	45	108		22	2	1	3	8

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002	Ukraine	OG	10th		4	1	1	2	6
2013	Ukraine	OGQ	NQ		3	2	3	5	0
Senior totals					7	3	4	7	6

[ Source: Wikipedia ]