Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Uvis Balinskis’ Time as a Panther May Be Coming to an End

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Joey Ganzi | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 4:55 PM ET

The Florida Panthers are in their celebration era as they are back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. They look to win their third straight and join the 1981, 1982, and 1983 New York Islanders in accomplishing the feat. They look to form a new dynasty in the NHL.

One area of slight concern is defense. Youngster Uvis Balinskis has been in and out of the lineup since he arrived in South Florida. With the Aaron Ekblad’s expiring contract and Nate Schmidt’s departure, it was thought he was going to get an increased role. But not only did Ekblad extend , the team went out and grabbed Jeff Petry on a one-year deal. This could mean that fans are going to see less of him once the season starts or that he could be sent out.

Balinskis Struggled This Past Regular Season

Ballinskis got more playing tim than normal this past season, playing in 76 games. But he didn’t put up big numbers.

He found the back of the net four times while also tallying 14 assists and finishing with a minus-7 rating. It wasn’t the best campaign for him despite winning a Stanley Cup.

The Jeff Petry Signing Could Be a Sign of Lack of Confidence

As previously mentioned, Petry signed a one-year contract with the Panthers worth $775,000, giving the team another veteran option on the eback end. He will likely be on the third pairing with Dmitry Kulikov.

This move seems to show of lack of confidence in Balinskis’ abilities from the coaching staff and front office. He could be the guy they call upon if someone gets injured during the regular season, but it still shows their overall opinion of him.

Balinskis Didn’t See Much Playing Time in the Playoffs, But Performed Well

Just before the playoffs last season, Ekblad was suspended for 20 games due to a violation of the terms of the NHL/NHLPA’s Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Additionally, he was suspended again during the playoffs for a dangerous hit to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in Game 3 of the first-round matchup. With that, Balinskis got some playing time in the playoffs early on.

He played very well in those circumstances. In Game 1 of the second round against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he scored a goal. In five playoff appearanc es, he would tally only that and finish with a plus-4 rating. Despite seeing limited playing time, he still has a massive upside.

His Contract Expires Next Summer

Balinskis is entering the final year of his two-year contract worth $850,000 per season. Although his cap hit is very small, the team is currently more than $3 million above the cap limit.

They could look to move him to free up some extra space or they may let him walk. Keeping him around would also be reasonable. But given he hasn’t been offered an extension, it isn’t looking good for the 29 year-old.

What’s Next for Balinskis?

Balinskis has done a ton to help his resume. Not only has he got his name on the Stanley Cup, but he was selected to represent his home country of Latvia in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics this February. However, it seems as if the Panthers do not intend to keep him in their long-term plans.