Pittsburgh Penguins cut young defenseman after what could be his final PTO

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Axel Williams
September 27, 2024 (3:31 PM)

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Nikolai Knyzhov is a 26-year-old defenseman who has had some decent NHL experience so far especially as he has played with the San Jose Sharks, and most recently, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins had signed Knyzhov to a PTO in which he was going to be looking for a huge opportunity. With only 12 points in 81-career NHL Games, there is no doubt that there was a lot riding on his tryout. Unfortunately, the tryout has not ended well for the young d-man.

Today, it was announced by the Penguins that he would be cut from the organization. Knyzhov did not get to suit up for a preseason game which certainly adds to the disappointment around his release. Now, he will have to look elsewhere, although with training camp in full swing, spots are few and far between.

If you are a fan of the defenseman, you cannot help but feel gutted and disappointed for him. However, these things happen and he can bounce back. Furthermore, he has a history of playing overseas in the KHL with teams like SKA St. Petersburg. We're sure there are teams in the KHL who would love a young defenseman with NHL experience.

We wish Knyzhov nothing but the best, moving forward. If anything, this just proves how brutal the NHL can be sometimes.

Do you believe that Knyzhov will be able to get back into the NHL at some point? Let us know in the poll down below and stay tuned to Hockey Unplugged for the latest news and updates from around the hockey world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite player and teams.

Source: Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have released defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov from his professional tryout contract.