Boris Valábik

Boris Valábik
Born	(1986-02-14) February 14, 1986 Nitra, CS
Height	6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Weight	245 lb (111 kg; 17 st 7 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
Slovakia team Former teams	ŠHK 37 Piešťany Atlanta Thrashers
National team	Slovakia
NHL draft	10th overall, 2004 Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career	2006–present

Boris Valábik (born February 14, 1986) is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Coventry Blaze in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Valabik was drafted in the first round, tenth overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers.

Junior hockey

Kitchener Rangers (2003–2006)

After playing the 2002–03 season with HC Nitra U-20 team in his hometown of Nitra, Valábik was drafted by the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the first round, 48th overall, in the 2003 CHL Import Draft.

Valábik played in his first career OHL game on September 19, 2003, as he was held pointless in a 10–4 victory over the Plymouth Whalers. He earned his first career OHL point on October 17, 2003, an assist in a 6–2 loss to the Owen Sound Attack. Valábik scored his first career OHL goal on November 7, 2003, against Josh Disher of the Erie Otters in an 8–1 win. He finished the 2003–04 season with three goals and 16 points in 68 games, as well as accumulating 118 penalty minutes, helping the Rangers make the playoffs. In the post-season, however, Valábik was held pointless in five games, as Kitchener was eliminated by the Plymouth Whalers in the Western Conference quarter-finals. After the season, Valábik was named to the OHL All-Rookie Team.

Valábik struggled offensively in the 2004–05 season, as he earned only four assists in 43 games during the season, as well as recording 231 penalty minutes. In 15 playoff games, Valabik was held off the scoresheet, as the Rangers eventually lost to the London Knights in the Western Conference finals.

He returned to Kitchener for his final season in 2005–06, where in 52 games, Valábik scored a goal and 10 points, as well as 216 penalty minutes, as Kitchener made the post-season once again. In the playoffs, Valábik recorded two assists in five games as the club lost to the Owen Sound Attack in the Western Conference quarter-finals.

Professional career

Atlanta Thrashers (2004–2011)

Valábik was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round, 10th overall, at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft held in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Thrashers, however, sent Valábik back to his junior team, the Kitchener Rangers, for the 2004–05 and the 2005–06 seasons. On March 30, 2006, Valábik signed an entry level contract with Atlanta.

The Thrashers assigned Valábik to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2006–07 season. He played in his first career AHL game on October 7, 2006, also registering his first point, an assist, in a 5–0 win over the Peoria Rivermen. In his next game, on October 13, Valabik scored his first career AHL goal against Karl Goehring of the Milwaukee Admirals in a 7–5 victory. He finished the season playing in 50 games with Chicago, scoring two goals and nine points, helping the Wolves clinch a playoff spot. In the post-season, Valábik had an assist in eight games, as the Wolves lost to the Iowa Stars in the West Division finals.

Valábik began the 2007–08 season with the Wolves, where in 58 games, he had a goal and eight points. On March 17, 2008, the Thrashers called Valábik up to Atlanta, and two days later, on March 19, Valábik appeared in his first career NHL game, going pointless in a 5–3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He finished the 2007–08 season with Atlanta, recording zero points in seven games. He was then sent back to the Wolves for their Calder Cup playoff run. On April 26, 2008, Valábik scored his first career AHL playoff goal against Pekka Rinne of the Milwaukee Admirals in a 3–0 victory. Overall, Valábik appeared in 24 playoff games with Chicago, scoring three goals and four points, as the Wolves ultimately won the Calder Cup.

Valábik started the 2008–09 season with the Wolves, and in 11 games, he scored a goal and three points. In November, however, the Thrashers called Valábik up for the remainder of the season. He earned his first career NHL point on December 10, 2008, an assist in a 3–2 loss to the New York Rangers. He finished the season playing in 50 games with Atlanta, recording five assists and 132 penalty minutes. On July 20, 2009 he re-signed with the Thrashers.

Valábik began the 2009–10 with the Wolves. He suffered an ankle injury in a practice before the season, however, and missed the first six weeks of the season. Valábik returned to the lineup on November 20, 2009, and would play in six games with Chicago, earning no points, before being called up to Atlanta again. With the Thrashers, he appeared in 23 games, earning two assists. His 2009–10 season, however, ended in early February, as Valabik torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

On October 15, 2010, the Thrashers placed Valábik on waivers, which he cleared, allowing him to be sent back to the Wolves. In 49 games with Chicago, he had nine assists. On February 18, 2011, the Thrashers traded Valábik and forward Rich Peverley to the Boston Bruins for forward Blake Wheeler and defenceman Mark Stuart.

Boston Bruins (2010–2011)

Valábik finished the 2010–11 season with the Boston Bruins' AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins. In 10 games with Providence, he had two assists. After the season, Valábik became an unrestricted free agent.

Pittsburgh Penguins (2011–2012)

On July 3, 2011, Valábik signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He suffered a knee injury at a Penguins practice on October 3, however, and on November 2, the Penguins placed Valábik on waivers. He cleared waivers and was assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Penguins' AHL affiliate. He would only play in three games for the club in the 2011–12 season, earning no points. After the season, Valábik once again became a free agent.

HC Kometa Brno (2012–2013)

Valábik signed with HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga on August 14, 2012. In 29 games, he had a goal and three points. Valábik then asked for his release in early January.

Portland Pirates (2012–2013)

Valábik signed with the Portland Pirates of the AHL on January 11, 2013, where in 24 games, he had two goals and six points, helping the team reach the playoffs. He appeared in one playoff game, being held off the scoresheet, while earning 17 penalty minutes, as the Pirates lost to the Syracuse Crunch in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals.

Coventry Blaze

Valabik signed for the Coventry Blaze at the start of the 2015-2016 season. He was promptly named an Alternate Captain .

Awards and achievements

• 2003–04 OHL First All-Rookie Team
• 2003–04 CHL All-Rookie Team
• 2003–04 CHL Top Prospects Game
• 2007–08 AHL Calder Cup (Chicago Wolves)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002–03	Nitra	SVK Jr.		46	2	12	14	145		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Kitchener Rangers	OHL		68	3	12	15	278		5	0	0	0	8
2004–05	Kitchener Rangers	OHL		43	0	4	4	231		15	0	0	0	56
2005–06	Kitchener Rangers	OHL		36	1	5	6	138		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Chicago Wolves	AHL		50	2	7	9	184		8	0	1	1	37
2007–08	Chicago Wolves	AHL		58	1	7	8	229		24	3	1	4	71
2007–08	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		7	0	0	0	42		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Chicago Wolves	AHL		11	1	2	3	21		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		50	0	5	5	132		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		23	0	2	2	36		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Chicago Wolves	AHL		6	0	0	0	10		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Chicago Wolves	AHL		49	0	9	9	165		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Providence Bruins	AHL		10	0	2	2	24		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		3	0	0	0	7		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				80	0	7	7	210		—	—	—	—	—

International

Medal record
Representing Slovakia
World Junior U18 Championships
	2003 Yaroslavl	Ice hockey

Year	Team	Comp	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003	Slovakia	WJC18	7	1	0	1	34
2004	Slovakia	WJC18	6	0	3	3	26
2005	Slovakia	WJC	6	0	1	1	20
2006	Slovakia	WJC	6	1	5	6	32
2009	Slovakia	WC	6	0	0	0	16
Junior int'l totals			25	2	9	11	112
Senior int'l totals			6	0	0	0	16

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database