PENSBURGH: Penguins roster drops to 51 players with PTO cut, leaves another defenseman out
The Penguins announced on Friday that they have released defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov from his professional tryout (PTO) contract. Knyzhov, signed just over a month ago, was the only player the team brought to training camp on a PTO. He did not appear in either of the Penguins’ preseason losses to the Buffalo Sabres.
Knyzhov previously played alongside Erik Karlsson during the 2020-21 season with San Jose, where he was originally signed by Penguins executive Doug Wilson, who was the Sharks’ general manager in 2019. In an interview with Justin Guerriero of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Knyzhov said Wilson had promised him “a fair look and a fair shot” during the PTO.
The 26-year-old undrafted defenseman, signed out of the KHL, spent most of last season in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda but was called up for 10 NHL games, averaging 17 minutes per game. Over four seasons with the Sharks, Knyzhov has made 81 NHL appearances, recording three goals and nine assists. His playing time was largely limited by injuries, including a torn Achilles in 2022.
He faced tough competition for a spot in the Penguins’ organization as a left-shot defenseman, competing against players like Marcus Pettersson, Ryan Shea, John Ludvig, Matt Grzelcyk, Ryan Graves, and Sebastian Aho. Now that his PTO has ended, Knyzhov is likely to seek a two-way contract elsewhere, hoping for a healthy 2024-25 season.
Following Knyzhov’s release, the Penguins’ roster has been reduced to 51 players after 14 were sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s training camp on Thursday. Previous cuts included forwards Raivis Ansons, Jack Beck, Atley Calvert, Mathieu De St. Phalle, Sam Houde, Gabe Klassen, Bennett MacArthur, and Logan Pietila; defensemen Isaac Belliveau, Scooter Brickey, Justin Lee, Mats Lindgren, and Philip Waugh; and goaltender Luke Richardson.
The Penguins will continue to make cuts as they aim to reduce the roster to the 23-man limit for the regular season.