By Sam Laskaris /
So far, the Mike Zigomanis experiment would have to be considered a huge success.
But the 28-year-old centre does not believe he will be with the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies for much longer.
The Marlies signed Zigomanis to a Professional Try-Out (PTO) contract, lasting for a maximum 25 games, on Oct. 19.
Though he had played in just half of the Marlies' first 10 regular season games, Zigomanis was making a huge impact.
In fact, the Toronto-native was tied with two others – Jiri Tlusty and Christian Hanson – for the team scoring lead. All three players had 10 points apiece.
Of the three, however, Zigomanis had the best points-per-game average. That's because Hanson had appeared in all 10 Marlies' games while Tlusty had suited up for eight of them.
Zigomanis though, was still looking for his first goal with the Marlies. His first 10 points with the club were all assists.
Zigomanis, a member of last year's Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins, was a free agent when he signed with the Marlies.
He did so with the hope of eventually moving up and playing with the Marlies' parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, this season.
But after his fifth game with the Marlies, it was relayed to Zigomanis through his agent that Maple Leafs' GM Brian Burke would not be offering him a spot in the NHL this season.
"I'm a little disappointed," Zigomanis said. "If I had only one point and was a minus-3 (in five games), I'd understand it."
Burke was in attendance as the Marlies defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-2 on Nov. 1. Zigomanis had three assists in that game.
"I guess that's not enough and he's a pretty good judge of talent," Zigomanis said of Burke.
As a result, Zigomanis is now holding out hope that another NHL club will be interested in his services.
But that might not happen, considering no other NHL squad had invited him to their training camp. Zigomanis though, said his days with the Marlies are probably numbered.
"I want to play in the NHL or in Europe," said Zigomanis, who with the Marlies is playing for a team in his home province for the first time since he played his fourth and final year of Junior with the Ontario Hockey League's Kingston Frontenacs during the 2000/01 season.
Last season, Zigomanis played 22 regular season games with the Penguins. He earned six points (2G, 4A) in those contests.
He didn't play another game after undergoing shoulder surgery this past January. Though he didn't dress for any matches, Zigomanis practiced with the Penguins throughout their lengthy playoff run. And the organization did provide him with a Stanley Cup championship ring.
Besides Pittsburgh, Zigomanis has also had NHL stints with the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues and Phoenix Coyotes.
He had originally been selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL Draft. But after he failed to come to terms with the Sabres, he was eligible to re-enter the draft two years later.
The Hurricanes then made him their second-round pick, 46th overall, at the 2001 draft.
Zigomanis has appeared in a total of 189 NHL contests and earned 39 points, including 21 goals.
He's also well acquainted with the AHL.
He's previously suited up for the Lowell Lock Monsters, Peoria Rivermen and San Antonio Rampage. |