Boris Valábik

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Boris Valábik
Born (1986-02-14) February 14, 1986
Nitra, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight 245 lb (111 kg; 17 st 7 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
ELH team
Former teams 		HC Kometa Brno
Atlanta Thrashers
Boston Bruins
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. He is currently playing with the HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Valabik was drafted 10th 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, Slovakia, Valabik was drafted by the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL in the first round, 48th overall, in the 2003 CHL Import Draft.

Valabik 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. Valabik scored his first career OHL goal on November 7, 2003, against Josh Disher of the Erie Otters in a 8-1 win. Valabik finished the 2003–04 OHL 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, Valabik was held pointless in five games, as Kitchener was eliminated by the Plymouth Whalers in the Western Conference quarter-finals. After the season, Valabik was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team.

Valabik 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 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, Valabik scored a goal and 10 points, as well as 216 penalty minutes, as Kitchener made the post-season once again. In the playoffs, Valabik had 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)

Valabik 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 sent Valabik to his junior club, the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL for the 2004–05 and the 2005–06 seasons. On March 30, 2006, Valabik signed an entry level contract with Atlanta.

The Thrashers assigned Valabik to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL for the 2006–07 season. Valabik played in his first career AHL game on October 7, 2006, as he had an assist in a 5-0 win over the Peoria Rivermen. In his next game, on October 13, 2006, 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, Valabik had an assist in eight games, as the Wolves lost to the Iowa Stars in the West Division finals.

Valabik 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 Valabik up to Atlanta, and on March 19, 2008, Valabik appeared in his first career NHL game, going pointless in a 5-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Valabik finished the 2007–08 season with Atlanta, as he was held to no points in seven games. He was sent back to the Wolves for Calder Cup playoffs. On April 26, 2008, Valabik scored his first career AHL playoff goal against Pekka Rinne of the Milwaukee Admirals in a 3-0 victory. Overall, Valabik appeared in 24 playoff games with Chicago, scoring three goals and four points, as the Wolves won the Calder Cup.

Valabik started the 2008–09 season with the Wolves, and in 11 games, he scored a goal and three points. In November, the Thrashers called Valabik up for the remainder of the season. Valabik 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 2008–09 season playing in 50 games with Atlanta, recording five assists and 132 penalty minutes.

He began the 2009–10 with the Wolves, however, he suffered an ankle injury in a practice before the season, and missed the first six weeks of the season. Valabik 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. With the Thrashers, Valabik appeared in 23 games, earning two assists, however, his 2009–10 season ended in early February, as Valabik torn his ACL.

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

Boston Bruins (2010–2011)

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

Pittsburgh Penguins (2011–2012)

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

HC Kometa Brno (2012–2013)

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

Portland Pirates (2012–2013)

Valabik 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. Valabik 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.

Awards and achievements

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
Competitor for  Slovakia
World Junior U18 Championships
Silver 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

References

    External links

    Preceded by
    Braydon Coburn    		 Atlanta Thrashers first round draft pick
    2004     		Succeeded by
    Alex Bourret
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