San Jose Sharks sign Nikolai Knyzhov to two-year contract extension

The San Jose Sharks have signed defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov to a two-year contract extension, the club announced Wednesday afternoon.

Knyzhov, 25, has one goal while averaging 16:21 in nine games with the Sharks this season. According to a report by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Knyzhov’s new deal carries a $1.25 million annual NHL cap hit.

After appearing in all 56 games with the Sharks in the 2020–21 season, Knyzhov suffered a string of lower-body injuries, including a torn Achilles tendon in his right leg, that kept him off the ice for all of 2021–22 and most of 2022–23. He finally made his season debut with the Sharks against the Winnipeg Jets on Mar. 6.

Knyzhov has also appeared in 13 games with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda this year, recording one assist. His current deal for the 2022–23 season carries an $850,000 NHL cap hit.

The Sharks originally signed Knyzhov in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of the SKA St. Petersburg system in Russia. The six-foot-two defenseman, who shoots left, made his NHL debut with the Sharks in 2019–20 before emerging as a regular the following year.

Through 68 career games over parts of three seasons with the Sharks, Knyzhov has collected three goals and 11 points while averaging 16:26 per night. He’s also amassed six points in 46 AHL contests.

The Sharks will return to action at 7:30 p.m. PT on Thursday night to take on the Vegas Golden Knights at the SAP Center in San Jose.