UVIS BALINSKIS NEWS

First goal of season Friday Balinskis scored a goal in Friday's 2-1 overtime win over the Blues.

Impact Balinskis has already surpassed the numbers he posted in his first year in the league in 2023-24, when he posted three points in 26 contests, and he's up to eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 31 appearances. This was his first goal of the campaign, but given his limited offensive involvement and his absence from power-play duties, Balinskis isn't going to have a lot of fantasy upside outside of formats that don't reward physicality. Outside of the eight points, Balinskis also has 42 shots, 25 hits and 18 blocked shots while posting a minus-5 rating.

DECEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Generates helper Saturday Balinskis recorded an assist in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Avalanche.

Impact Balinskis had a run on the first power-play unit for most of November, but he's since moved down to the second unit, with Aaron Ekblad taking over on the first unit. The 28-year-old Balinskis has six helpers, 27 shots on net, 20 hits, 11 PIM and a minus-9 rating through 21 contests. He's an odd fit for power-play duties given the other talented blueliners on the Panthers' roster, but he'll be on the fringe of fantasy interest as long as he's getting looks with the man advantage.

NOVEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dishes two helpers in win Balinskis notched two assists, four shots on goal, two hits and two PIM in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Predators.

Impact Balinskis has three helpers over his last two games, and two of those assists have come on the power play. The 28-year-old defenseman is quarterbacking the first power-play unit, so he's worth at least a speculative add in most fantasy formats. He's up to four helpers this season, surpassing his point total (three) from 26 regular-season outings in 2023-24. Balinskis has added 13 shots on net, 13 hits, six blocked shots, nine PIM and a minus-1 rating over 14 contests in 2024-25.

NOVEMBER 8, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Territory Talk: Uvis Balinskis talks faceoffs, power play and more! (Ep. 323) | Florida Panthers In the midst of his second season with the Florida Panthers, Uvis Balinskis joins this episode of Territory Talk to discuss is new role on t...

NOVEMBER 8, 2024 • NHL.COM

Collects assist in win Balinskis notched an assist in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Stars in Finland.

Impact Balinskis hadn't gotten on the scoresheet since Opening Night. The defenseman is seeing consistent power-play usage, but it hasn't helped his offense. The 28-year-old is up to two assists, nine shots on net, 11 hits, six blocked shots, seven PIM and a minus-1 rating through 13 appearances. He had just three points in 26 regular-season outings in 2023-24, his first year in the NHL, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to have a sudden uptick in scoring.

NOVEMBER 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Chips in helper Balinskis recorded an assist and two PIM in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Bruins.

Impact Balinskis was in the Opening Night lineup over Nate Schmidt. There may be room for both players Thursday versus the Senators after Adam Boqvist (face) left Tuesday's game. Balinskis had three points, 22 shots on net, 33 hits and 15 blocked shots in 26 regular-season games as a rookie in 2023-24, but he didn't appear in any of the Panthers' playoff games on their march to a Stanley Cup championship. Balinskis get more playing time this year, but he has a long way to go to be an option for fantasy managers.

OCTOBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Summoned from AHL Balinskis was called up from AHL Charlotte on Wednesday.

Impact Balinskis has three goals and 21 points in 37 contests with Charlotte in 2023-24. He also has collected a goal and three points in 22 outings with the Panthers. He's back with Florida after Aaron Ekblad exited Tuesday's contest because of an undisclosed injury.

APRIL 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to minors Balinskis was reassigned to AHL Charlotte on Wednesday.

Impact Balinskis has a goal and three points in 22 games with Florida in 2023-24. He also has contributed three goals and 21 points in 35 outings with Charlotte.

MARCH 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Called up from minors Balinskis was promoted to the NHL roster Thursday, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact Balinskis figures to serve as an emergency depth defenseman due to the absence of Aaron Ekblad (lower body) and Dmitry Kulikov (suspension). If the 27-year-old Balinskis were to get into the lineup against Nashville on Thursday, it would likely come at the expense of Tobias Bjornfot.

MARCH 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Agrees to two-year extension Balinskis signed a two-year contract extension with Florida on Wednesday.

Impact Balinskis is playing through a one-year, entry-level deal and would have become an unrestricted free agent this summer had he not agreed to an extension. The 27-year-old, who is currently with AHL Charlotte, has two points in 18 contests with Florida as well as seven points in seven minor-league outings this season.

JANUARY 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to minors Balinskis was reassigned to AHL Charlotte on Friday.

Impact Balinskis has a goal and an assist in 18 games with Florida this season. He's also scored a goal in his lone appearance with Charlotte.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Summoned from minors Balinskis was recalled from AHL Charlotte on Sunday.

Impact Balinskis has contributed one goal, one assist, 16 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and 19 hits over 15 NHL appearances this season. He scored a goal in his lone AHL outing during a 5-2 loss to Hershey on Saturday.

DECEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to minors Balinskis was reassigned to AHL Charlotte on Friday.

Impact Balinskis has a goal and two points in 15 games with Florida this season. The 27-year-old signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Panthers in April after scoring 11 goals and 35 points in 50 contests with Liberec of the Czech League last year.

DECEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Garners assist Balinskis notched an assist in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Sharks.

Impact Balinskis has a goal and an assist over three contests since he sat out two games as a healthy scratched. The Latvian defenseman has added 17 hits, eight blocked shots, 12 shots on net and a plus-1 rating through 13 appearances this season. He's seen a limited role in the Panthers' bottom four, and his lack of offense makes him a non-factor in most fantasy formats.

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Records first NHL goal Balinskis scored his first career NHL goal in Friday's 5-2 win over the Hurricanes.

Impact With a little over a minute left in the first period, Balinskis joined the rush and found himself alone to Antti Raanta's right, and the 27-year-old rookie made no mistake when Aleksander Barkov slipped a pass to him through two defenders. It's Balinskis' first point in 11 games, but it might end up being the high point of his time on the Florida blue line, as Brandon Montour (shoulder) is closing in on his return to the lineup and Aaron Ekblad (shoulder) may not be too far behind him.

NOVEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Healthy scratch Monday Balinskis will be a healthy scratch Monday against Columbus, per Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site.

Impact Balinskis, who is still looking for his first NHL point, has eight shots on goal, seven blocked shots, 13 hits and six PIM through 10 games this season. He will be replaced in the lineup by Mike Reilly, who was in the press box for Florida's first 10 games of the 2023-24 campaign.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE