Slovak defenseman Samuel Kňažko, 22, has signed a two-year contract with HC Vítkovice Ridera, the Ostrava-based Czech Extraliga club announced on Wednesday.

“Samuel Kňažko is a young, modern type of defenseman with excellent skating, calmness in passing and offensive skills,” said Vítkovice head coach Václav Varaďa. “He’s a player with high potential, who has the ambition and ability to move our organization higher in terms of performance. We believe that with his style and character he will fit perfectly into our team.”

Kňažko was born in Trenčín, Slovakia and played for the famous Dukla club before transferring to TPS in Turku, Finland at 16. A year later, he was joined by fellow Slovak Juraj Slafkovský.

“It wasn’t easy for Samuel when he came,” TPS junior team coach Hermanni Vidman is quoted in the Vítkovice announcement. “He was 16 years old, he was the only one from Slovakia here, and he was alone. After Juraj arrived, they were in the same apartment together and could have fun together in their native language.”

Kňažko was selected in the third round, 78th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Midway through the 2021-22 season, he joined the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, and then turned pro the following season.

Kňažko played two NHL games for Columbus in the 2022-23 season, but otherwise he spent the past three seasons playing for the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL, where he recorded 52 points and 45 penalty minutes in 154 regular-season and playoff games.

Predicting Slovakia's 2026 Olympic roster By winning their group at the final round of qualifying this past weekend, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/latvia-denmark-slovakia-and-maybe-france-qualify-for-2026-olympics">Slovaks have qualified for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics</a> in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The Blue Jackets did not tender Kňažko a qualifying offer before the deadline this summer, so they no longer hold his NHL rights.

Internationally, Kňažko has represented Slovakia at two IIHF U-18 World Championships, two World Junior Championships and three senior-level World Championships. He won a silver medal as part of the Slovak team at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and was also part of the team that qualified for the 2026 Games in Milan, where he stands a good chance of again playing for Slovakia.

Vítkovice finished second in the regular season in 2022-23 but dropped to 12th out of 14 Extraliga teams last season. Kňažko joins a roster that includes a pair of ex-NHLers – French national team veteran defenseman Yohann Auvitu and Slovak national team center Marek Hrivík. It also includes 21-year-old Edmonton Oilers prospect Petr Hauser.

Photo © George Walker IV-Imagn Images: Slovakia defender Samuel Knazko (22) moves the puck against United States forward Matt Knies (67) in the men's ice hockey quarterfinal during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Ex-Ranger, Flame, Slovak National Team Captain Signs Multi-Year Deal With Czech Club Slovak center Marek Hrivík, 33, has signed a three-year contract with HC Vítkovice Ridera, <a href="https://www.hc-vitkovice.cz/article/13275-VITKOVICE-ziskaly-slovenskeho-reprezentanta-Marka-Hrivika">the Ostrava-based Czech Extraliga club announced on Friday</a>.