'It’s a new story, a new page' for new Penguins defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok

Things were a little irregular during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ practice Monday in Cranberry.

And why wouldn’t it be? Because of the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, NHL squads had been off for more than a week from all team-wide activities, including games and practices.

For the Penguins, that idleness manifested itself in plenty of players getting their skates adjusted at the bench and unusual sights such as 6-foot-7, 226-pound defenseman Vincent Desharnais scoring on a breakaway during a three-on-three drill.

At the risk of being understated, things were a bit disorganized.

But no one on the ice needed to make a bigger adjustment than defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok.

It was his first practice with the team that claimed him off waivers from the Utah Hockey Club on Feb. 9, the first day of the Penguins’ break.

Things were a bit disheveled for Kolyachonok during the session. During one drill, he went to the wrong bench and bumped into forward Michael Bunting. Even after practice, he wasn’t quite sure who to hand his socks off to.

But those minor miscues are overshadowed by enthusiasm for a fresh start.

“I was super excited to (see) that Pittsburgh picked me up,” Kolyachonok said. “I’m very glad to join the organization. Great to compete at the highest level.”

Kolyachonok has been at the NHL level on and off for parts of four seasons. But the left-hander has yet to gain significant traction since being drafted fairly high by the Florida Panthers, who selected him in the second round (No. 52 overall) in 2019.

(Note: In an odd twist, the Penguins once held that draft pick but traded it to the Panthers in a 2019 transaction that brought forwards Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann to Pittsburgh).

The Panthers traded Kolyachonok to the former Arizona Coyotes franchise in 2021, and he spent three seasons with that organization, primarily at the American Hockey League level with the Tucson Roadrunners.

When the Coyotes ceased operations last summer, all of that franchise’s assets (players, prospects, coaches, staffers, etc.) were sent to the Beehive State to begin the new Utah franchise.

(Note: The NHL considers the Utah Hockey Club a new entity and not a continuation of the now-defunct Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets franchise.)

As a pending restricted free agent this past offseason, Kolyachonok re-signed — so to speak — with the new team and was in the lineup for Utah’s first game Oct. 8.

AP

In 23 games with the Utah Hockey Club this season, defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok scored five points (two goals, three assists).

But the opportunities for other milestones were limited. He was a healthy scratch for 32 of a possible 55 games this season, including Utah’s 15 most recent contests. In total, he has appeared in 23 games this season and has scored five points (two goals, three assists) while averaging 12 minutes, 20 seconds of ice time.

Given his service time as a professional, he had to be exposed to waivers for any kind of assignment to the AHL. That led to the Penguins taking a chance on the 23-year-old.

“I was pumped,” Kolyachonok said of learning the Penguins claimed him. “Because (this is) a legendary organization. Lots of good players here. Only positive things in my head about this place.”

It’s premature to speculate on where he may fit into the Penguins lineup. On Tuesday, he alternated with defenseman Ryan Graves on the left side of the third pairing during a practice that did not include right-handed defenseman Erik Karlsson as well as forwards Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell, all of whom are participants in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

But there is plenty to be intrigued by.

“He’s a smooth skater,” assistant coach Mike Vellucci said of Kolyachonok. “I noticed that today, and we watched a little bit of video on him. And he’s a good defender. That’s going to play into our scheme. We like to squeeze and play the entries that way. So I think he’s going to be a good fit for us.”

A native of Belarus who adapted to North America at the junior level by skating for the Ontario Hockey League’s Flint (Mich.) Firebirds, Kolyachonok offers some versatility as he can play both sides of a pairing. In fact, he has opened 12 games on the right side and 11 on the left this season.

“I can play both sides,” he boasted. “I feel comfortable left and right. No problems.”

Kolyachonok (pronounced koh-lee-ah-CHOHN-ahk) is brief in outlining any problems that have limited his success as an NHLer. But he accepts full responsibility for any shortcomings.

“Not easy but still need to make the team and be better to play in the top-six (defensemen),” Kolyachonok said. “That’s on me.”

He’s eager to make the necessary adjustments to maximize his opportunity with the Penguins.

“It’s a new story, a new page,” Kolyachonok said. “Can’t wait to play. I just want to be on the ice as soon as possible.”