Career
Plotnikov previously played in the Kontinental Hockey League with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Undrafted, on 1 July 2015, Plotnikov bought out the final year of his contract in the KHL with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and pursued his National Hockey League ambitions in signing a one-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After demanding to be traded, Plotnikov was sent to the Arizona Coyotes on trade deadline day, February 29, 2016, for Matthias Plachta and a seventh round draft pick in 2016.