Club agrees to 3-year contract with 2018 1st-rounder Denisenko

The Florida Panthers have agreed to terms with forward Grigori Denisenko on a threeyear, entry-level contract.

Denisenko, who most recently was a member of Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the Kontinental Hockey League, was selected by the Panthers in the first round (No. 15) of the 2018 draft. The 19-year-old generated 12 points (6-6-12) in 38 regularseason contests for Yaroslavl while also recording one goal over six KHL postseason games.

“Grigori is an exciting, dynamic and highly skilled young forward who has been a top player on the international stage and served as captain of Team Russia at the World Juniors,” Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Dale Tallon said in a news release. “We are thrilled for his bright future with the Panthers for years to come.”

Over his career in the KHL, Denisenko compiled 18 points (10-8-18) in 63 regular-season games. Before reaching the KHL, Denisenko was a star for Loko Yaroslavl of Russia’s junior league (MHL), where he tallied 47 points (19-28-47) over 63 regular-season performances.

On the international stage, he served as the captain for Team Russia and helped his squad earn silver medals at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Russian native recorded a team-high nine points (3-6-9) to fuel his team over the seven-game span.

In 2019, he led the IIHF World Junior Championship with nine points (4-5-9) as he helped Team Russia receive the bronze medal.