Florida Panthers defensive prospect Vladislav Kolyachonok is headed home to Belarus, at least for the time being. Dinamo Minsk of the KHL has announced that they have come to terms on a contract with Kolyachonok for the the 2020-21 season. This would indicate that the Panthers have agreed to loan the young defenseman overseas, as Kolyachonok signed his entry-level contract with the club earlier this season.
Kolyachonok, 19, is the best prospect out of Belarus in some time. A second-round pick of the Panthers in 2019, Kolyachonok was the highest-selected Belarussian since 2003 and the first player from his country to be selected earlier than the fourth round in that time as well. An aggressive two-way defenseman who is known for his fast tempo and intensity, Kolyachonok made great strides in his game this season, both improving his offensive ability and solidifying his defensive game while starring for the OHL’s Flint Firebirds. While the teen blue liner could return to the junior ranks this season, it could be that Florida saw so much growth this season that they think continuing to challenge Kolyachonok by letting him face pro competition could be the better route.
Having played in the developmental ranks for Dinamo before jumping to North America, Kolachonok’s return to Minsk is a homecoming in more than one way. The team is desperately in need of a boost as well after finishing dead last in the KHL this season with just 14 wins in 62 games and a -97 goal differential. Kolyachonok will have his work cut out for him on a roster largely devoid of top talent and that has also lost three of their top four scorers in
Ryan Spooner, Andrei Kostitsyn, and
Teemu Pulkkinen, as well as leading defensive scorer
Marc-Andre Gragnani. Fortunately, Kolyachonok won’t be alone; fellow NHL prospects
Maxim Sushko of the Philadelphia Flyers and
Yegor Sharangovich of the New Jersey Devils have also been loaned to Minsk for the 2020-21 season.
Should Kolyachonok continue in his upward developmental trend through his first pro season, one would think that he would have a strong case to follow it up with an NHL roster spot in 2021-22. Defensive depth and talent are not strong suits of the Panthers, in the NHL or in the pipeline, and they are in need of an upgrade. Kolyachonok is their top prospect defender and if he can prove himself in the KHL, considered by many to be the best league outside of the NHL, and especially on a poor roster, Florida would have little reason not to test him out at the highest level and hope that they have found a new, young cornerstone for their defense.