Sharks Acquire Leon Gawanke In Exchange For Artemi Kniazev

San Jose Sharks (

) General Manager Mike Grier announced today that the club has acquired prospect defenseman Leon Gawanke from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for defenseman Artemi Kniazev.

Gawanke, 24, appeared in 68 games for the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, recording 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists). Gawanke led all Moose defensemen in goals and points and ranked third in assists. He led AHL defensemen in power-play goals (seven), co-led in goals and his point total was tied-ninth most. From March 7 to April 15, the defenseman posted 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 18 games and ended the season on a four-game point streak (four goals, three assists).

Gawanke played in 207 AHL games across four seasons (2019-20 to 2022-23) with Manitoba, compiling 114 points (35 goals, 79 assists), 12 power-play goals and 98 penalty minutes. In the 2020-21 season, Gawanke appeared in six games for Eisbaren Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga - Germany's top professional league - logging two assists.

Internationally, Gawanke has represented Germany at the junior and senior levels, most recently competing alongside current Shark Nico Sturm at the 2023 Men's World Championships, where he registered three assists in eight games to help lead the Germans to a Silver Medal, their best World Championships finish since 1953 (West Germany, also Silver). He was a member of the German national team at the 2021 and 2022 World Championships, 2017, 2018 and 2019 World Junior Championships (Division 1A) and 2016 Men's U18 World Championship (Division 1A).

Gawanke was originally selected by Winnipeg in the 2017 NHL Draft (fifth round, 136th overall).