HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent on April 18, 2023

2025 Playoffs:

• Scored first career playoff goal R2G1, May 5 at TOR
• Made playoff debut R1G1, April 22 at TBL

2024-25 Notes:

• Notched assist in his 100th NHL game, April 12 vs. BUF
• Scored a goal, Jan. 13 at PHI
• Recorded two-game point streak (1-1-2), Jan. 11 – 13
• Notched two assists (0-2-2), Dec. 30 vs. NYR
• Tallied first goal of season, leading Florida with career-high six shots on goal, Dec. 20 vs. STL
• First career multi-point game (0-2-2), Nov. 7 vs. NSH

2023-24 Notes:

• Ranked 2nd on Charlotte (AHL) defensemen in assists (18)
• Skated in 26 NHL games with Florida, potting three points (1-2-3) and eight PIMs
• Recorded an assist, March 23 at NYR
• Posted 21 points (3-18-21) in 35 AHL games w/ Charlotte before being recalled by FLA on March 21
• Posted his 1st NHL assist, Nov. 14 at SJS
• Scored his 1st NHL goal, Nov. 10 vs. CAR
• Made his NHL debut, Oct. 12 at MIN

PLAYOFF HIGHLIGHTS

• Notched two assists over 10 tournament games to help Latvia secure its first-ever IIHF medal, when Latvia downed the United States 4-3 in overtime of the bronze medal game at the 2023 IIHF World Championship

• Led all Liberec White Tigers (Czech Extraliga) with seven points over 10 postseason games in 2022-23

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Skated in 26 NHL games with Florida, potting three points (1-2-3) and eight PIMs

• Ranked second among AHL Charlotte defensemen with 18 assists in 2023-24.

• Made his NHL debut with Florida on Oct. 12, 2023 at MIN

• Appeared in 140 Extraliga games between Liberec (2022-23) and HC Litvinov (2020-21 to 2021-22), amassing 75 points (25-50-75)

• Skated in parts of five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), logging 34 points (10-24-34) over 135 games with Dinamo Riga from 2015-16 to 2019-20

• Played for the Liberec White Tigers (2022-23) and HC Litvinov (2020-21 to 2021-22) of the Czech Extraliga, logging 75 points (25-50-75) in 140 appearances. In the 2022-23 season, Balinskis was named the Extraliga’s Best Defenseman, leading all Extraliga defenseman in goals (11) and points (35).

• Represented Latvia at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, posting three assists over four contests

• Represented his home country at the IIHF World Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2021

FIRSTS/SINGLE-GAME HIGHS/STREAKS

First NHL Game: Oct. 12, 2023 at MIN

First NHL Goal: Nov. 10, 2023 vs. CAR

Most Goals, Single Game: 1 [5X], Last: Feb. 27, 2025 vs. EDM

Most Assists, Single Game: 2 [3X], Last: April 10, 2025 vs. DET

Most Points, Single Game: 2 [3X], Last: April 10, 2025 vs. DET

Most PIM, Single Game: 5, Oct. 17, 2024 vs. VAN

Most Shots, Single Game: 6, Dec. 20, 2024 vs. STL

Longest Goal Streak: --

Longest Assist Streak: 2 Games [2X], Last: April 10 – 12, 2025

Longest Point Streak: 2 Games [3X], Last: April 10 – 12, 2025

Career Playoffs

Most Goals, Single Game: -- 1, May 5, 2025 at TOR

Most Assists, Single Game: --

Most Points, Single Game: -- 1, May 5, 2025 at TOR

Most Shots, Single Game: --

Most Shots, Single Game: 2, May 26, 2025 vs. CAR