Denisenko agrees to three-year, entry-level contract with Panthers

Grigori Denisenko agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

"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 general manager Dale Tallon said. "We are thrilled for his bright future with the Panthers for years to come."

The 19-year-old was the No. 15 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He scored 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 38 games for Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League this season and 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 63 regular-season games the past two seasons in the KHL. He won the Russia junior league championship with Loko Yaroslavl in consecutive seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19).

Denisenko helped Russia finish second at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship with a team-leading nine points (three goals, six assists) in seven games. He scored nine points (four goals, five assists) to lead the 2019 WJC, when Russia finished third.