Denisenko was selected 15th overall by Florida in the 2018 NHL Draft
A fresh start is something that has reinvigorated the careers of many professional athletes, both old and young.
Former Florida Panthers first-round pick Grigori Denisenko is hoping that sentiment rings true for him in the next chapter of his young hockey journey.
The Vegas Golden Knights claimed Denisenko off waivers Saturday.
Florida had waived the 23-year-old as part of a group of training camp cuts on Friday and was hoping he would clear and report to the Panthers AHL affiliate in Charlotte.
Head Coach Paul Maurice explained the decision after the team’s practice.
“It was just (based off) his camp," Maurice said. "He was good. He wasn’t bad, he wasn’t great. He was coming off an injury, and I don’t have him in the Opening Night roster.”
Denisenko battled several injuries during his time with the Panthers and struggled to gain any footing or momentum while trying to ascend the team’s prospect ranks.
He played 56 games with the Charlotte Checkers last season, accumulating 12 goals and 36 points. It was a big step in the right direction for Denisenko after he had skated in just 63 total games during the two seasons prior, between the AHL and NHL.
He signed a two-year, one-way deal with Florida during the summer and the hope was that a strong camp would springboard Denisenko into a new chapter of his young career.
Now he joins the defending Stanley Cup Champions on a clean slate and surrounded by high-end talent.
