Pittsburgh Penguins Organization Make A Trade With The Detroit Red Wings

According to multiple sources the Penguins have made a trade sending 26 year old defenseman Nikolai Knyzhov to the Detroit Red Wings AHL affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The trade will send Knyzhov to Grand Rapids in exchange for future considerations to give him a new opportunity to work his way toward the NHL.

Knyzhov came to the Penguins organization this season on a professional tryout contract and was expected to potentially fight for an NHL roster spot in Pittsburgh.

He arrived from San Jose where he had 81 games of experience over 5 seasons with the Sharks organization.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned for the Penguins or Knyzhov as he struggled to work his way into the AHL lineup playing just 14 games but still tallying an impressive 7 points in those contests.

With the Penguins looking to give some of their younger defensive prospects, particularly the newly signed Daniel Laatsch from Wisconsin, more ice time they needed to open up an AHL roster spot.

From the Penguin's side of things, Knyzhov was a player who was not being used in any significant role this season and was going to continue losing ice time.

With the Penguins out of a playoff race, the need for veteran defensemen who can play NHL minutes if needed lessens which brings Knyzhov's value down even more.

As a result Knzyhov now heads to the Red Wings organization where he will look to re-start his professional career and show he still has NHL potential.