Florida Panthers sign Uvis Balinskis to two-year contract extension

Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito announced today that the club has signed Latvia defenseman Uvis Balinskis to a two-year contract extension, according to CapFriendly the contract will have an average annual value (AAV) of $850,000.

Balinskis has two points in 18 games this season with the Panthers while averaging 13:38 minutes of ice time. He has tallied one goal and seven points in seven games with the Panthers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Charlotte Checkers. He scored his first NHL goal and posted a plus-two rating on Nov. 10 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

“Uvis is a talented two-way defenseman with excellent playmaking abilities,” said Zito. “His successful transition to North American play enabled him to make an immediate impact, and we are excited to have him continue as a professional within our organization.”

During the 2022-23 season, Balinskis was named the Czech Extraliga’s Best Defenseman after registering 11 goals and 35 points in 50 games. With over 140 appearances in the Extraliga with the Liberec White Tigers and HC Litvinov, Balinskis has registered 75 points. The Latvia defenseman also spent time in Russia’s KHL, playing for Dinamo Riga; he collected 34 points over 135 contests.

On the international stage, the Ventspils, Latvia product represented his home country at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, notching two assists over 10 tournament games, helping his home country secure its first-ever IIHF medal when Latvia downed the United States 4-3 in overtime of the bronze medal game. Balinskis also skated for Latvia at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and has had appearances at the IIHF World Championships in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

The Panthers currently sit second in the Atlantic Division with a 23-12-2 record.