Brutal Injury Blow For Sharks

After a stunning rise up the San Jose Sharks' defense charts in 2021, defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov will once again miss a huge chunk of the upcoming season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during off-ice training this summer. 

#SJSharks defender Nikolai Knyzhov tore his right Achilles’ tendon and is out 6 months

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) August 13, 2022

Knyzhov had surgery on Aug. 10th, according to Sharks' GM Mike Grier and will be out for six months. That would take him out until about mid-February. 

The 24-year-old undrafted Russian already missed the entire 2021-22 season due to a sports hernia. Now it'll be quite some time before he's able to make his return.

It's another brutal blow for the Sharks' defender, after he'd become a fan favorite in the 2020-21 season, rising to the top or second defense pairing, while tallying 84 hits and 54 blocks over 56 games.

In April of this year, despite being on the sidelines the entire season, the Sharks signed Knyzhov to 1 year $850K Extension.

Photos: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports, Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports