The Florida Panthers have signed Vladislav Kolyachonok to a three-year entry-level contract according to his agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey. The 18-year old spent last season in the OHL and was selected 52nd overall in June’s entry draft.
Not necessarily the biggest defenseman on the ice, you’ll nevertheless want to know exactly where Kolyachonok is when playing against him. Coming over from Belarus for his first taste of North American hockey, he made quite an impact with the Flint Firebirds by playing an aggressive, physical style in his own end and moving the puck quickly up to his forwards. Tallying 29 points while being one of the more responsible defenders on the team, he also captained his country’s team at the U18 World Juniors, the second time he’d been part of the tournament.
Kolyachonok is expected to return to Flint this season but he’s obviously already done enough to deserve an NHL deal with the Panthers. Florida has been slowly building up quite the prospect pool the last several seasons and will need players like this to fuel them as contenders in the Eastern Conference.