Pittsburgh Penguins Release Nikolai Knyzhov from PTO

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have released defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov from his professional tryout (PTO) contract.

The Penguins have released defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov from his professional tryout contract.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 27, 2024

Knyzhov, 26, was invited to the Penguins' training camp last month after the left-shot defenseman mutually terminated his previous contract with the San Jose Sharks during the summer. Now, after being released from his PTO with the Penguins, he will look to find a new home elsewhere.

Knyzhov appeared in 10 games this past season with the Sharks, where he had one assist to go along with 13 hits and a minus-6 rating. The 6-foot-3 defenseman spent the majority of this past season with the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL, where he had three goals, 14 points, 24 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating.

In 81 career NHL games over four seasons, Knyzhov has three goals, nine assists, 12 points, 112 hits, and a minus-30 rating.

We will now need to wait and see what happens with Knyzhov from here. He should be able to get a contract for the season, whether that is in the AHL or with another club overseas. Time will tell what happens on that front.