Uvis Balinskis has been one of the quiet heroes of the Florida Panthers' season - and now he’s got a new contract to show for it. On Friday, the 29-year-old defenseman inked a two-year, $1.75 million extension that will keep him in South Florida through the 2027-28 season. It’s a well-earned reward for a player who’s stepped up in a big way during a stretch when the Panthers have needed all hands on deck.
Balinskis’ agent, Dan Milstein, announced the deal, which was later confirmed by Panthers GM Bill Zito. And Zito didn’t hold back in his praise: “Uvis has proven his ability to be a dependable NHL blueliner on a consistent basis. He possesses a relentless work ethic, and we are excited that he will continue his career with the Panthers.”
That work ethic has been on full display this season. With key veterans like Dmitry Kulikov and Seth Jones sidelined, Balinskis has taken on a bigger role, sliding into the second defensive pairing alongside Niko Mikkola. He’s logged meaningful minutes and contributed on both ends of the ice, tallying a goal and eight points through 36 games in the 2025-26 campaign.
This isn’t a flash-in-the-pan story either. Since joining the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in April 2023, Balinskis has quietly carved out a place for himself. He suited up for five games during Florida’s 2025 Stanley Cup run, even finding the back of the net during the playoffs - a moment that marked both a personal milestone and a contribution to a championship effort.
Through 138 regular-season games, the Latvian blueliner has put up 29 points, but his value goes beyond the stat sheet. He’s a steady presence, a guy who reads the game well and doesn’t shy away from the physical side. And with Florida battling a growing injury list, players like Balinskis have become even more crucial.
The Panthers are currently without Kulikov and Jones on the back end, and they're also missing key forwards Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk. That’s a lot of firepower and experience out of the lineup, and it’s forced head coach Paul Maurice to lean on depth - and trust that depth to deliver.
To their credit, the Panthers have responded. After dropping four of five, they’ve rattled off back-to-back wins, including a gutsy 3-2 road victory over the Ottawa Senators and a 4-3 win against a surging Buffalo Sabres squad. Those four points were badly needed in a jam-packed Eastern Conference playoff race.
At 24-18-3, Florida sits second-to-last in the Atlantic Division, ahead of only Ottawa. But the standings are tight.
The Panthers are just five points out of the final wildcard spot in the East, though they’ll need to leapfrog four teams to get back into playoff position. That’s not impossible - but it does mean every game matters, especially with the roster still shorthanded.
Balinskis will also be representing Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, which kick off on February 11. It’s another testament to how far he’s come - from undrafted free agent to Stanley Cup champion to Olympian.
But before he dons the Latvian jersey, he and the Panthers have business to handle. Florida heads to Raleigh for a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Puck drops just after 7:00 p.m. ET at Lenovo Center, and with momentum finally swinging their way, the Panthers will be looking to make it three straight wins - and keep clawing their way back into the playoff picture.