Vladislav Kolyachonok Bio
Vladislav Anatolevich Kolyachonok (born 26 May 2001) is a Belarusian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kolyachonok was selected by the Florida Panthers, 52nd overall, in the 2019 NHL entry draft. He made his NHL debut in 2022 with the Arizona Coyotes and has since played for the Utah Hockey Club, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 198 pounds, Kolyachonok has established himself as a steady presence on the blueline at both the junior and professional levels. He has represented Belarus internationally at both the junior and senior levels throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Vladislav Anatolevich Kolyachonok was born on 26 May 2001 in Minsk, Belarus. Growing up in the Belarusian capital, Kolyachonok developed his passion for hockey at a young age in a country with a strong tradition in the sport. He began playing youth hockey as a child, lace up his skates on frozen ponds and local rinks throughout Minsk, following in the footsteps of many Belarusian players who have gone on to professional careers in Russia and North America.
Kolyachonok played as a youth in his native Belarus with Team Belarus at the under-17 and under-18 level in the second-tier Vysshaya Liga as an affiliate to top Belarusian club HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). This early exposure to organized hockey at a competitive level provided him with a strong foundation in the game. His development during these formative years caught the attention of scouts from North America, setting the stage for his eventual transition to major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Path to Professional Hockey
Kolyachonok’s path to professional hockey took him across the Atlantic Ocean when his talent was noticed by scouts from the Ontario Hockey League. He was drafted 102nd overall by the London Knights in the 2018 CHL Import Draft, marking his official entry into North American major junior hockey. This selection represented a significant milestone in his development, as the OHL is widely regarded as one of the premier junior hockey leagues in the world and has produced numerous NHL players.
In his first major junior season in North America, Kolyachonok appeared in one game with the Knights to start the 2018-19 season before he was claimed off waivers by the Flint Firebirds on 2 October 2018. Showing significant potential on the blueline with the Firebirds, Kolyachonok collected 4 goals and 29 points through 53 regular season games and was named to the OHL’s All-Rookie Team, an impressive achievement for a player adjusting to a new country and league. Finishing second in scoring from the blueline in his final junior season, Kolyachonok posted 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points, demonstrating his offensive instincts and two-way play.
Vladislav Kolyachonok Career
Entry-Level Contract and Development (2019-2021)
Kolyachonok was selected by the Florida Panthers in the second round, 52nd overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft, fulfilling his dream of being drafted into the NHL. He was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Panthers on 13 September 2019, officially beginning his professional hockey journey. The draft selection represented the culmination of years of hard work and development that began on the frozen ponds of Minsk.
With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the beginning of the 2020-21 season, Kolyachonok opted to remain in Belarus and was loaned by the Panthers to continue his development with HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL. In making his professional debut, he contributed with one goal and six points through 46 regular season games, gaining valuable experience against older, more experienced professional players in a league considered one of the best outside the NHL. After the KHL season concluded, he was reassigned by the Panthers to American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Syracuse Crunch, registering two assists through ten games as he adjusted to the North American professional game.
Arizona Coyotes Era (2021-2024)
On 26 July 2021, Kolyachonok was traded by the Panthers, along with Anton Strålman and a 2024 second-round draft pick, to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2023 seventh-round pick. This trade marked a new chapter in his career as he joined an organization that would provide him with his first real opportunity at consistent NHL playing time.
In the following 2021-22 season, Kolyachonok was initially reassigned by the Coyotes to their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. Placing third in scoring from the blueline for the Roadrunners through the early stages of the season, Kolyachonok received his first recall to the NHL on 11 January 2022. The following day on 12 January, he made his NHL debut for the rebuilding Coyotes in an upset 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, marking a dream come true for the young Belarusian defenceman. He scored his first NHL goal against Jacob Markström in a 4-2 loss to the Calgary Flames, a milestone moment in his professional career. He finished the season with 32 games played with Arizona, demonstrating his ability to compete at the highest level.
Kolyachonok began the 2022-23 season with Tucson before being recalled by Arizona on 1 March 2023, playing two games before being returned to the AHL. Kolyachonok was assigned to Tucson to start the 2023-24 season. On 16 November, Arizona recalled Kolyachonok from Tucson after defenceman Juuso Välimäki was injured. He made one appearance, on 25 November, in a 2-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. However, during the game he was injured, suffering a lower-body injury that required time to recover from. After recovering from the injury he was returned to Tucson. He was recalled again in April 2024 to replace Maksymilian Szuber and scored his first goal of the season against the Vancouver Canucks in a 4-3 victory on 10 April. He finished the season having played in five games with Arizona, scoring one goal and four points, along with eight goals and 11 points for Tucson.
Utah Hockey Club and League Transactions (2024-2026)
Shortly after the end of the 2023-24 regular season, the Coyotes’ franchise was suspended and team assets were subsequently transferred to the expansion Utah Hockey Club. As a result, Kolyachonok became a member of the Utah team, continuing his NHL journey with a new franchise. He signed a two-year contract extension with Utah in June, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to his development. He made Utah’s opening night roster for the 2024-25 season, playing in the team’s first-ever game, a memorable milestone in his career.
Kolyachonok featured in 23 games, notching five points, with Utah on the blueline until he was placed on waivers by the club at the 4 Nations break in schedule and was subsequently claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins on 9 February 2025. Following the season, Kolyachonok was traded to the Dallas Stars on 10 July 2025, in exchange for Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick, marking another chapter in his career with a playoff-contending team. Several months later, on 15 December 2025, Kolyachonok was waived by the Stars and was subsequently claimed by the Boston Bruins the following day. After just two games with Boston, Kolyachonok was waived again on 20 January 2026 and was then re-claimed by Dallas the following day, returning to the Stars organization.
International Career
Kolyachonok has played internationally at the junior and senior level for the Belarus national team, representing his home country with pride throughout his hockey career. His international experience has provided him with valuable opportunities to compete against top players from around the world while representing Belarus on the international stage.
Vladislav Kolyachonok Career Statistics
Throughout his professional career, Kolyachonok has appeared in multiple NHL and AHL games while playing for various organizations. His most productive NHL season came in 2021-22 with the Arizona Coyotes, where he appeared in 32 games. In the AHL, he has demonstrated his ability to contribute offensively from the blueline, particularly during his time with the Tucson Roadrunners where he ranked among the top scoring defencemen. His career totals include appearances across several NHL teams including the Coyotes, Utah Hockey Club, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and Dallas Stars.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of significant change for Kolyachonok, as he found himself moving between multiple organizations throughout the campaign. He began the season with Utah Hockey Club, playing a regular role on their blueline before being claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in February 2025. The trade to Pittsburgh provided him with an opportunity to join a historic franchise with a strong hockey tradition. Later that summer, he was involved in another transaction when the Dallas Stars acquired him in July, sending him to a team with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations.
Kolyachonok’s tenure with Dallas continued into the latter portion of the 2025 calendar year before he was claimed by the Boston Bruins in December 2025, adding another Original Six franchise to his resume. After a brief stint with Boston that saw him appear in two games, he returned to the Dallas Stars in January 2026 following another waiver claim. This series of transactions demonstrated his value as a versatile defenceman capable of contributing at the NHL level for multiple organizations. As he continues his career with Dallas, Kolyachonok looks to establish himself as a steady presence on the blueline and contribute to the Stars’ pursuit of a championship.