Quick Facts
PiscesBiography
Nikolai Knyzhov (born March 20, 1998) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for theSan Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Playing career
Knyzhov first played as a youth in his native Russia with hometown club, Energia Kemerovo, before moving to North America to play amateur junior hockey in Phoenix, Arizona with the Phoenix Firebirds and Jr. Coyotes. He was selected 41st overall in the 2015 CHL Import Draft by the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
He joined the Pats in the 2015–16 season, registering just 1 assist in 19 games, before leaving the team and opting to return the United States, playing with the Springfield Jr. Blues and Austin Bruins in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
During the 2016–17 season, Knyzhov left the Bruins to return to his native Russia, agreeing to play within the SKA Saint Petersburg junior program. In the 2017–18 season, Knyzhov made his professional debut with SKA-Neva in the Supreme Hockey League. He appeared in 33 games from the blueline, adding 2 goals and 6 points in the second tiered VHL.
Continuing with SKA-Neva in the 2018–19 season, Knyzhov as a defensive defenseman appeared in 46 games with 5 points. He was recalled by SKA Saint Petersburg and made his Kontinental Hockey League debut, in a 7–1 victory over Dinamo Riga on January 26, 2019. He was returned to SKA-Neva after three scoreless games, and made 11 playoff appearances.
On July 2, 2019, Knyzhov returned to North America after he was signed by the San Jose Sharks to a three-year, entry-level contract. After attending his first training camp with the Sharks, Knyzhov was assigned to begin the 2019–20 season with AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. After 33 games with the Barracuda, showing a sound defensive game, Knyzhov was recalled by the injury-hit Sharks on March 7, 2020. He made his NHL debut that night in a 2–1 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2014–15 | Phoenix Jr. Coyotes U16 | T1EHL | 24 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | Regina Pats | WHL | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Springfield Jr. Blues | NAHL | 17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Austin Bruins | NAHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | SKA-Serebryanye Lvy | MHL | 41 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | SKA-Serebryanye Lvy | MHL | 9 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | SKA-Neva | VHL | 33 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 | SKA-Varyagi | MHL | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | SKA-Neva | VHL | 46 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2018–19 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| KHL totals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Russia | WJC | 5th | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||