PuckSleuth
26Cap hit
$875K
0.8% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$3.42M
vs. $4.295M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
2
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
13:46
PP 0:35 · PK 0:08
Plus/minus
+2
Hits
3
Blocks 1
PIM
7
Game Score
+0.14
per game
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4 @ ANA · OTL 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14:40 | 1:10 | 0:15 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | +2 | +0.19 |
| Oct 1 @ SJS · OTL 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12:52 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.08 |
| Mar 10 vs DET · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15:49 | 1:27 | 0:03 | — | 67 | 1 | 1 | -1 | +0.03 |
| Mar 6 @ DET · W 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 16:51 | 1:30 | 0:00 | — | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.01 |
| Mar 5 @ CBJ · L 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 17:35 | 1:24 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -0.34 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 763 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
37th percentile
15th percentile
30th percentile
67th percentile
36th percentile
56th percentile
20th percentile
49th percentile
76th percentile
71st percentile
76th percentile
44th percentile
10th percentile
91st percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play stylePuck-moving shutdown defender
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Balinskis excels at controlling the puck and initiating plays from the blue line, ranking elite in puck management and forechecking intensity. However, his defensive impact numbers lag significantly, suggesting he struggles with positioning or one-on-one coverage despite his heavy workload.
- Shooting volume
- 54
- Playmaking
- 53
- Zone entries(est.)
- 44
- Forechecking
- 98
- Physicality
- 57
- Defensive impact
- 23
- Puck management
- 99
- Speed
- 78
Where he shoots from
Slot 7% · Mid-range 37% · Perimeter 55%(83 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 99th percentile puck management keeps possession and transitions play cleanly
- 98th percentile forechecking pressure creates turnovers and offensive chances
- 78th percentile speed helps him gap up and pursue north-south plays
Watch-outs
- 23rd percentile defensive impact suggests positioning or coverage issues despite high ice time
- 44th percentile rush chances indicate limited ability to generate offensive momentum from the blue line
Similar style: Justin Faulk (DET), Aaron Ekblad (FLA)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | Latvia U16 | Tukums U17 | 26 | 4 | 10 | 14 | — | 12 |
| 2012-13 | Latvia U18 | Tukums U18 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 19 | — | 6 |
| 2013-14 | Jugend-BL | Augsburger EV U18 | 27 | 11 | 19 | 30 | — | 32 |
| 2013-14 | Junioren-BL | Augsburger EV U20 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 |
| 2013-14 (playoffs) | Jugend-BL | Augsburger EV U18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 4 |
| 2014-15 | DNL2 | Augsburger EV U19 | 20 | 5 | 14 | 19 | — | 14 |
| 2015-16 | MHL | HK Riga | 36 | 7 | 11 | 18 | -7 | 24 |
| 2015-16 | JCWC | HK Riga | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | +1 | 2 |
| 2015-16 | KHL | Dinamo Riga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| 2015-16 | WJC-20 D1A | Latvia U20 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +5 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | KHL | Dinamo Riga | 21 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 2016-17 | MHL | HK Riga | 30 | 3 | 9 | 12 | -7 | 24 |
| 2016-17 | JCWC | HK Riga | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | +6 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | WC | Latvia | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 4 |
| 2017-18 | KHL | Dinamo Riga | 28 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -8 | 4 |
| 2017-18 | Latvia | Liepaja | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 |
| 2017-18 | WC | Latvia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | KHL | Dinamo Riga | 37 | 1 | 10 | 11 | -7 | 16 |
| 2018-19 | WC | Latvia | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2019-20 | KHL | Dinamo Riga | 48 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -13 | 20 |
| 2020-21 | Czechia | HC Litvinov | 48 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 0 | 18 |
| 2020-21 | WC | Latvia | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2020-21 (playoffs) | Czechia | HC Litvinov | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | Czechia | HC Litvinov | 42 | 9 | 14 | 23 | +8 | 22 |
| 2021-22 | OGQ | Latvia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +3 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | OG | Latvia | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | Czechia | Bili Tygri Liberec | 50 | 11 | 24 | 35 | +3 | 22 |
| 2022-23 | WC | Latvia | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +2 | 4 |
| 2022-23 (playoffs) | Czechia | Bili Tygri Liberec | 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 26 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| 2023-24 | AHL | Charlotte Checkers | 37 | 3 | 18 | 21 | +4 | 31 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 76 | 4 | 14 | 18 | -7 | 27 |
| 2024-25 | OGQ | Latvia | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024-25 (playoffs) | NHL | Florida Panthers | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 2 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 54 | 5 | 10 | 15 | -13 | 30 |
| 2025-26 | OG | Latvia | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-27 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 7 |
Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.36 per game over these 10.
Where his Game Score comes from
+0.33 per game
2025-26 · 54 GP
Season total +17.8, or +0.33 per game.
- Scoring
- +11.0
- Shooting
- +5.0
- 5-on-5 goals
- -1.4
- Penalty kill
- +0.4
- Physical play
- +3.5
- Puck battles
- -0.5
- Penalties
- -0.2
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 23.1 mph
- 95th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 33
- Hardest shot
- 97.2 mph
- 89th pct
- Distance
- 127.8 mi
- OZ time
- 44.9%
- 91st pct
- DZ time
- 37.1%
Usage
Last game: @ ANA, Oct 4
Pair 3 with Radko Gudas (11:51 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Age curve
At 30: 89% of peak
NHL defensemen · production index
At 30, defensemen typically produce 89% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 31, when the typical level is 86%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | FLA | $875K | 0.8% |
| 2027-28 | FLA | $875K | 0.8% |
UFA after 2027-28. $1.75M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).