PuckSleuthCap hit
$875K
0.8% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$3.342M
vs. $4.217M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
12:52
PP 0:00 · PK 0:00
xGF%
83.5
5v5, +35.7 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.11
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 1 · Hits 3
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 @ SJS · OTL 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12:52 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.11 |
| Mar 10 vs DET · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 15:49 | 1:27 | 0:03 | — | 67 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -0.24 |
| Mar 6 @ DET · W 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 16:51 | 1:30 | 0:00 | — | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.17 |
| Mar 5 @ CBJ · L 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 17:35 | 1:24 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -0.38 |
| Mar 3 @ NJD · L 5-1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16:55 | 0:39 | 0:00 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.02 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. 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.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 54 GP · goals above average
Season total +1.0 goals, or +0.02 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.5
- Power play
- +0.2
- Penalty kill
- +0.4
- Finishing
- +1.5
- Playmaking
- -0.4
- Penalties
- -0.2
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | FLA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12:52 | — | -0.11 |
| 2025-26 | FLA | 54 | 5 | 10 | 15 | -13 | 66 | 16:22 | — | +0.02 |
| 2024-25 | FLA | 76 | 4 | 14 | 18 | -7 | 92 | 14:51 | — | +0.02 |
| 2023-24 | FLA | 26 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 14:06 | — | -0.02 |
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.
Age curve
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.
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%