Samuel Kňažko

Samuel Kňažko (born 7 August 2002) is a Slovak professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for HC Vítkovice in the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

Playing career Kňažko was selected 78th overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

After his selection by the Blue Jackets, Kňažko was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with Blue Jackets on June 9, 2021.

Following three seasons within the Blue Jackets organization, Kňažko left as a free agent and returned to Europe in agreeing to a two-year contract with Czech club, HC Vítkovice of the ELH, on 16 July 2025.

International play

Kňažko served as Slovakia's captain in the 2021 and 2022 editions of the IIHF World Junior Championship.

He was selected to make his full IIHF international debut, participating for Slovakia in the 2021 IIHF World Championship.

Kňažko was selected for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2015–16 HK Dukla Trenčín SVK U18 4 1 2 3 0 — — — — — 2016–17 HK Dukla Trenčín SVK U18 43 7 16 23 8 8 0 3 3 4 2017–18 HK Dukla Trenčín SVK U18 24 4 18 22 10 5 0 5 5 6 2017–18 HK Dukla Trenčín SVK U20 21 4 6 10 8 17 1 5 6 4 2018–19 TPS FIN U18 5 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 2018–19 TPS FIN U20 49 2 15 17 8 — — — — — 2019–20 TPS FIN U20 48 7 21 28 6 3 1 0 1 0 2020–21 TPS FIN U20 23 5 10 15 22 2 0 2 2 2 2021–22 TPS FIN U20 15 4 10 14 4 — — — — — 2021–22 TPS Liiga 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2021–22 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL 27 5 15 20 12 25 1 5 6 2 2022–23 Cleveland Monsters AHL 50 1 20 21 17 — — — — — 2022–23 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2023–24 Cleveland Monsters AHL 44 2 10 12 12 2 0 1 1 2 2024–25 Cleveland Monsters AHL 55 4 12 16 14 3 0 2 2 0 2025–26 HC Vítkovice Ridera ELH 42 2 13 15 20 3 1 0 1 2 Liiga totals 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — NHL totals 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —

International