Penguins Sign Defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov to PTO

The Pittsburgh Penguins have added a player to their bevy of defensemen for training camp by signing Nikolai Knyzhov to a professional tryout, they announced Thursday.

Knyzhov, 26, who was not drafted, came over from his native Russia in 2019-20 to join the San Jose Sharks organization. He has played a total of 81 NHL games, with three goals, 14 points and a combined plus-minus of minus-30. He also has spent time in the American Hockey League and has dealt with injuries.

The left-handed shot brings size at 6 feet 3, 222 pounds. He was a teammate of Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson in San Jose and played for coach David Quinn, now a first-year Penguins assistant.

The Sharks put Knyzhov through waivers this summer, and the two sides agreed to terminate his contract.