Uvis Jānis Balinskis (born 1 August 1996) is a Latvian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He made his NHL debut with Florida in 2023, and won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2025. Prior to the NHL Balinskis played several years in different European leagues, with his first senior professional games coming in 2015. Internationally Balinskis has represented the Latvian national team at several World Championships, and won a bronze medal in 2023.
Playing career On 18 April 2023, Balinskis signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers.
International play
He participated at the 2017 IIHF World Championship,2017 World Championship roster 2018 IIHF World Championship and 2019 IIHF World Championship.
He represented Latvia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship where he recorded two assists and won a bronze medal, Latvia's first ever IIHF World Championship medal.
Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2011–12 Tukums LAT U16 26 4 10 14 12 — — — — — 2012–13 Tukums LAT U18 19 8 11 19 6 — — — — — 2013–14 Augsburger Panther GER.2 U18 27 11 19 30 32 6 1 0 1 4 2013–14 Augsburger Panther GER.2 U20 4 1 1 2 2 — — — — — 2014–15 Augsburger Panther DNL Q 20 3 4 7 42 — — — — — 2014–15 Augsburger Panther DNL2 20 5 14 19 14 — — — — — 2015–16 HK Riga MHL 36 7 11 18 24 — — — — — 2015–16 Dinamo Riga KHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2016–17 HK Riga MHL 30 3 9 12 24 — — — — — 2016–17 Dinamo Riga KHL 21 2 3 5 6 — — — — — 2017–18 Dinamo Riga KHL 28 2 3 5 4 — — — — — 2017–18 HK Liepāja LAT 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2018–19 Dinamo Riga KHL 37 1 10 11 16 — — — — — 2019–20 Dinamo Riga KHL 48 5 8 13 20 — — — — — 2020–21 HC Verva Litvínov ELH 48 5 12 17 18 3 0 0 0 2 2021–22 HC Verva Litvínov ELH 42 9 14 23 22 — — — — — 2022–23 HC Bílí Tygři Liberec ELH 50 11 24 35 22 10 1 6 7 4 2023–24 Florida Panthers NHL 26 1 2 3 8 — — — — — 2023–24 Charlotte Checkers AHL 37 3 18 21 31 — — — — — 2024–25 Florida Panthers NHL 76 4 14 18 27 5 1 0 1 2 2025–26 Florida Panthers NHL 54 5 10 15 30 — — — — — KHL totals 135 10 24 34 46 — — — — — NHL totals 156 10 26 36 65 5 1 0 1 2
International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 2016 Latvia WJC D1A 5 0 1 1 2 2017 Latvia WC 7 0 2 2 4 2018 Latvia WC 5 1 1 2 0 2019 Latvia WC 7 0 1 1 4 2021 Latvia WC 7 0 2 2 4 2021 Latvia OGQ 3 0 2 2 0 2022 Latvia OG 4 0 3 3 0 2023 Latvia WC 10 0 2 2 4 2024 Latvia OGQ 3 1 3 4 2 2026 Latvia OG 4 0 1 1 2 Junior totals 5 0 1 1 2 Senior totals 50 2 17 19 20
Awards and honours Award Year RefNHL Stanley Cup champion 2025
References
External links
Uvis Janis Balinskis at Milano Cortina 2026