Panthers 2018 First-Round Draft Pick Contract Starts in 2020-21
SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the Panthers have signed forward Grigori Denisenko to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning with the 2020-21 NHL season.
“We are thrilled to officially sign Grigori to an entry-level deal for the upcoming 2020-21 season,” said Tallon. “He is a highly skilled and hard-working young player who has a bright future in our organization. Although he will be ineligible to play games for us during the 2020 postseason, we look forward to having him challenge for a position on the Panthers roster next season.”
Denisenko, 20, appeared in 38 regular season games with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), producing 12 points (6-6-12). The 5-foot-11, 180-pound native of Novosibirsk, Russia, tallied one goal over six KHL playoff games.
Serving as captain of Team Russia, Denisenko posted a team-leading nine points (3-6-9) over seven games, earning a silver medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.
He will be eligible to join the Panthers in the 2020-21 season.
Through his career overseas, Denisenko registered 18 points (10-8-18) over 63 career regular season KHL games with Yaroslavl (2018-19 to 2019-20) and notched 47 points (19-28-47) over 63 career regular season games with Loko Yaroslavl (2016-17 to 2018-19) of Russia’s junior league (MHL) where he won two MHL championships (2017-18, 2018-19).
On the international stage, Denisenko has earned a silver medal (2020) and bronze medal (2019) with Russia at the IIHF World Junior Championship. He led the 2019 tournament with nine points (4-5-9) over seven games.
Denisenko was originally selected by Florida in the first round (15th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.
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-PANTHERS-
