Just when it appeared they were probably done selecting in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins snuck in to snag one more player to complete their draft class.
The Penguins acquired the 160th overall pick from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick and used it to draft Russian goaltender Matvei Nikonovich. The Belarusian netminder posted impressive numbers last season in the MHL – Russia’s junior league – including a 20-14-4 record with a .939 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-against average in 38 games.
Advertisement
He stands at 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, and, according to Elite Prospects, he is known for his strong tracking ability as well as his power.
Nikonovich was one of 31 goaltenders selected in this year’s draft, which is an atypically high number. He was obviously what the Penguins deemed a “value pick” in the later rounds, where they’ve found some value before: top goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov – a fellow Russian – was a fourth-round selection (118th overall) in 2022, and he took a similar path as Nikonovich and had similar numbers in the MHL.
He completes the Penguins’ 2026 draft class, which also consisted of twin brothers Liam (22nd overall) and Markus Ruck (39th overall), defenseman Tomas Galvas (54th overall), left wing Pierce Mbuyi (86th overall), and defenseman Parker Von Richter (111th overall).
Family Reunion: Penguins Select Markus Ruck With 39th Pick, Get Both Twins
Family Reunion: Penguins Select Markus Ruck With 39th Pick, Get Both Twins It appears a family reunion is in order for the Ruck family in Pittsburgh.
Bookmark THN – Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Read the full article here