Utah places Vladislav Kolyachonok on waivers

On Saturday, the Utah Hockey Club placed defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok on waivers for the purpose of being assigned to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.

Kolyachonok has been up with Utah for the entire 2024-25 season, but has been in and out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. He hasn’t played in a month, last finding his name on the lineup card on Jan. 8 in a 4-1 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

The Belarussian blueliner has appeared in 23 games this season, the most he’s played in the NHL since his rookie 2021-22 season when the franchise was known as the Arizona Coyotes. Kolyachonok has spent much of the previous two campaigns in the AHL. The 23-year-old has posted two goals and three assists for five points, registering a plus/minus of -7 while averaging 12:20 of ice time.

In 62 NHL games, Kolyachonok has posted four goals and eight assists for 12 points, with a career rating of -2. In 150 AHL appearances, he has scored 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points, posting a goal in five Calder Cup Playoff games.

Kolyachonok was originally taken by the Panthers in the second round, 52nd overall, in the 2019 NHL Draft. However, he was dealt to Arizona, along with Anton Stralman and a pick, for a seventh-round pick in July 2021.

Prior to making the jump to the pro ranks, Kolyachonok had a fruitful career with the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League. Across two seasons, he scored 63 points in 107 games with the Firebirds, earning a spot on the OHL All-Rookie First Team in 2018-19.

Utah (23-22-9) is fifth in the Central Division, six points back of the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

The Roadrunners (20-19-3) are eighth in the AHL’s Pacific Division, eight points back of the last playoff spot in the division.