Rinat Valiev
Birth dateMay 11, 1995 (age 31)
Birth placeNizhnekamsk, Russia
Height6 ft
Height in1
Weight lb196
PositionDefence
ShootsLeft
LeagueKAZ
TeamHC Almaty
Former teamsToronto Maple Leafs
Montreal Canadiens
Ak Bars Kazan
Dinamo Minsk
Admiral Vladivostok
Draft (2014)68th overall
Draft teamToronto Maple Leafs
Career start2015

Rinat Valiev (born May 11, 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing under contract with HC Almaty of the Pro Hokei Ligasy (KAZ). Valiev was selected in the third round (68th overall) of the 2014 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Playing career

Valiev was selected in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 2012 KHL Junior Draft by Ak Bars Kazan.[1] After parts of two seasons with junior affiliate, Bars Kazan, he relocated to North America and played the 2012–13 season with the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League.[2]

After his draft selection to the Maple Leafs, Valiev was promptly signed to a three-year entry-level contract on July 10, 2014.[3] Following his second season within the Kootenay Ice organization of the Western Hockey League, Valiev made his professional debut after the 2014–15 season, playing in 2 games with the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

During the 2015–16 season, behind the back of enjoying a solid season in his return to the Marlies, Valiev received his first NHL recall on March 11, 2016.[4] He made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs in a 4–0 defeat to the Ottawa Senators on March 12, 2016.[5]

On February 25, 2018, one day before the trade deadline, Valiev was traded by the Maple Leafs, alongside teammate Kerby Rychel and a second-round pick in 2018 NHL entry draft to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Tomáš Plekanec and minor league forward Kyle Baun.[6] On May 31, Valiev signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Canadiens.[7]

Before the 2018–19 season, on October 1, 2018, Valiev was traded by the Canadiens alongside teammate Matt Taormina to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Brett Kulak.[8]

Following two seasons within the Flames organization assigned to AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, Valiev sat out the shortened and pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season as a free agent.

On 5 July 2021, Valiev returned to the professional ranks in securing a try-out contract with his original Russian club, Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.[9] After a successful pre-season, Valiev secured a one-year contract for the 2021–22 season with Ak Bars on 26 August 2021.[10] Valiev made one appearance with Ak Bars, playing the majority of his contract with VHL club, Bars Kazan, before he was traded to Belarusian KHL club, HC Dinamo Minsk, in exchange for the rights to Julius Honka on 27 December 2021.[11]

On 5 July 2022, Valiev continued his tenure in the KHL, joining Admiral Vladivostok on a two-year contract.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2011–12Bars KazanMHL151121011010
2012–13Bars KazanMHL60000—————
2012–13Indiana IceUSHL36671343—————
2013–14Kootenay IceWHL5552328681318916
2014–15Kootenay IceWHL52937465373250
2014–15Toronto MarliesAHL20000—————
2015–16Toronto MarliesAHL604192330120004
2015–16Toronto Maple LeafsNHL100000—————
2016–17Toronto MarliesAHL473101379901110
2017–18Toronto MarliesAHL405101526—————
2017–18Laval RocketAHL51232—————
2017–18Montreal CanadiensNHL20002—————
2018–19Stockton HeatAHL574172151—————
2019–20Stockton HeatAHL49281028—————
2021–22Bars KazanVHL2318918—————
2021–22Ak Bars KazanKHL10000—————
2021–22Dinamo MinskKHL20000—————
2022–23Admiral VladivostokKHL180224—————
2023–24Neftyanik AlmetievskVHL40004—————
2023–24Humo TashkentKAZ121238—————
NHL totals120002—————
KHL totals210224—————

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2012RussiaIH185th42130
2015RussiaWJC70336
Junior totals112466

References

  1. ^ "SKA Picks Alexandrov as No. 1 in KHL Draft". RIA Novosti. August 9, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  2. ^ "Rinat Valiev - The Next Ones: 2013 NHL Draft Prospect Profile". thehockeywriters.com. June 25, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  3. ^ "Defenseman Rinat Valiev signed to entry-level contract". Toronto Maple Leafs. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  4. ^ "Valiev the ninth Maple Leaf to make NHL debut this season". CTV News. March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  5. ^ Hornby, Lance (March 12, 2016). "Maple Leafs get clocked by Senators". Toronto Sun. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  6. ^ Cudzinowski, Matt (February 25, 2018). "Plekanec traded to Toronto in exchange for a draft pick and two prospects". NHL.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  7. ^ Braverman, Dan (May 31, 2018). "Canadiens agree to terms with Rinat Valiev". NHL.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  8. ^ "Flames acquire Valiev, Taormina from Montreal". National Hockey League. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Rinat Valiev on view at Ak Bars" (in Russian). Ak Bars Kazan. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Ak Bars sign two-way contract with Rinat Valiev" (in Russian). Ak Bars Kazan. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Rinat Valiev becomes a player for Dinamo" (in Russian). HC Dinamo Minsk. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Admiral sign contract with Rinat Valiev" (in Russian). Admiral Vladivostok. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.