Knyzhov’s Season Over: Boughner Describes Sharks’ Defenseman’s Ordeal

Nikolai Knyzhov’s year is over before it even began.

Bob Boughner announced today that the 23-year-old defenseman would miss the remainder of the season. The sophomore defenseman hasn’t played this year after a breakout rookie campaign.

The San Jose Sharks’ bench boss described Knyzhov’s injuries as sports hernia and groin and infection from surgery.

Nikolai Knyzhov also missed the World Championships last year because of a sports hernia. In August, he told San Jose Hockey Now that he was “feeling great” after surgery, but there was a setback shortly thereafter.

Knyzhov Talks Surgery Recovery, Junk Food Diet, Learning from Karlsson | SJHN+

Boughner described Knyzhov’s ordeal since training camp in graphic detail: “It was getting worse instead of better. He tried it with rehab, then surgery was planned [in October]. With surgery came some setbacks, some infections.

“The poor guy, he was on an IV for a couple months, trying to just clear the infection out of his system. That basically took all his progress and put it back to zero.

“You get bed-ridden, you can’t do anything. When you get up, you’re walking around with an IV bag.”

Boughner couldn’t give a timeline for when Knyzhov would start skating again, but he’s optimistic that the Russian defenseman will be ready for the beginning of next year.

“He’s finally gotten over it all. He’s rehabbing hard,” he said. “I think that the worst is behind him.”

Boughner couldn’t help but wonder how Nikolai Knyzhov, who was slated to start the season alongside Erik Karlsson as the San Jose Sharks’ no. 4 defenseman, could’ve helped the team out.

“That hurt us a lot. I really truly believe that,” he said. “[He was] basically penciled in as [Karlsson’s] partner, that really affected our team.”