Penguins sign Nikolai Knyzhov to PTO contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Thursday the signing of defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov to a professional tryout contract.

The Penguins have signed defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov to a professional tryout contract. pic.twitter.com/TxHEmU4HAh

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 22, 2024

The 26-year-old Knyzhov played 10 games with the San Jose Sharks last season, going scoreless and posting a 44.3 percent even-strength corsi while averaging 17:39 of ice time. Across four NHL seasons, Knyzhov has scored three goals and nine assists for 12 points in 81 regular-season games.

The Russian defender also played 40 games with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate last season, scoring three goals and 11 assists for 14 points.

Before turning professional in North America, Knyzhov spent three seasons in the Russian hockey system, splitting time between the Junior Hockey League (JHL), the All-Russian Hockey League (VHL) and Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He found success in the 2018-19 season with the VHL’s SKA-Neva St. Petersburg and the KHL’s SKA Saint Petersburgh.

Knyzhov’s game was good enough to catch the eye of NHL teams, and he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sharks in July 2019. He began the 2019-20 campaign with the Barracuda, and would be called up to play three games with the Sharks in March 2020.

Injuries have derailed Knyzhov’s career, missing the entire 2021-22 season, then tearing his achilles ahead of the 2022-23 season. He would only play 12 games with the Sharks in 2022-23, as well as 19 with the Barracuda.

Internationally, Knyzhov represented Russia at the 2018 World Junior Championships, where they finished in fifth place.

Last season, the Sharks went 19-54-9 with 47 points, the worst record in the entire league. They earned the No. 1 selection in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, taking Boston University Terriers’ center Macklin Celebrini.

The 18-year-old scored 32 goals and 32 assists for 64 points in 38 games with the Terriers, becoming the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as men’s college hockey’s most valuable player.