Rinat Valiev

September 2021 – Valiev signed to play the 2021-2022 season for Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL. At 26 there may not be much hope for him making the NHL full time again. Pat Quinn

Oct 2018 – Valiev has been traded to the Calgary Flames. He has a very large hill to climb if he is ever going to be fantasy relevant for the Flames.  – Joel Henderson

March 2018 – With Victor Mete breaking a finger and being held out the remainder of the season, Rinat Valiev has been recalled by Montreal and will make his Canadiens debut March 6th in New Jersey. The 22-year-old defenseman will skate on the third pairing with Jordie Benn to commence his Habs career in what is really an audition for top-six consideration heading into next season. Valiev will be asked to play a simple game and isn’t expected to contribute on the scoresheet, so while an NHL career could be on the mend you needn’t jump all over him in fantasy hockey just yet. Mike Barrett

February 2018 – Rinat Valiev was acquired by the Montreal Canadiens along with Kerby Rychel and a 2018 second round pick in a trade for Thomas Plekanec. Valiev was once considered a top prospect in Toronto but has been surpassed on the depth chart as mentioned in the update below. This trade should give Valiev a larger role with the Montreal AHL farm team in Laval where he should be a top pairing defenseman. This has the potential to rejuvinate his career and fantasy value. Peter Harling

December 2017 – A steady defensive D that has slipped on the Leafs depth chart with the additions of Andreas Borgman, Calle Rosen from the SHL, the drafting of Liljegren and the development of Travis Dermott and Andrew Nielson. When the Leafs drafted him in the 3rd round of the 2014 draft I had thought they had selected a solid prospect that was sure to make the Leafs in a few years. Valiev had shown some decent offensive upside in his last year in Junior and had a decent 23 point first year with the Marlies, but he has regressed from that positive start. He has not provided much offensive upside in his last two seasons with Marlies. He has been a healthy scratch in a number of Marlies games this year as a result of the glut of D on the Marlies roster. In ten games so far this year Valiev has but one assist.  Valiev at 22-years-old is now in the last year of his ELC and third year with the Marlies, and he will not be waiver exempt next season. With the contract limitations the Leafs face, Valiev may not be offered a new contract.  Leafs might offer an AHL contract or decide to just let him go. He may be picked up by another team but that is a long shot. It is more likely that he will decide to head off to the KHL for a bigger paycheck. In any case Valiev’s fantasy value is now very limited. Brian Harling

January 2017 – The young defender is having a pretty good season as a top-4 in the AHL. He is logging more minutes and throwing his weight around much and he has added over 10 pounds of it. This new found rough side has led to a spike in PIMs, but we don’t expect him to produce them at his current pace going forward. He has not made as many high-risk plays, but is susceptible to making mistakes under pressure. Production has declined due to a less potent offense to work with. He is shooting at a higher rate and goals will come. He is the likely recall if minutes are needed in the NHL. Jason Banks

November 2015 – Valiev is having a strong year in the American Hockey League despite his lack of offensive production. Currently the concentration is on defensive responsibility and making the strong higher percentage plays. He is getting some power-play time and is also has the trust to be a regular for 3 on 3 overtime. The offense will come, when he is expected to fulfill that role, until then it’s all about waiting and experience. Not expecting him to be a longer term year AHL player before he reaches the Leafs, three years is the over/under. Jason Banks

February 2015 – The Russian native has had a big season both on the score sheet and with massive experience. Valiev has appeared in The Subway Super Series for a second time, was a core member of the Russian under-20 offering and is a key defender for the Kootenay Ice. His appearance in the World Juniors was rather uneventful despite playing large minutes for the motherland, but the opportunity and process is very welcomed for his development. Kootenay currently relies on him as the main offensive catalyst from the blueline and is just outside the top 20 in the WHL, but he would be fringing on the top five defensive scorers had he not spent so much time away from his team. He will be a welcomed addition to the pro ranks next season. He is becoming very intriguing name for the future of the Leafs organization and looks like a solid draft selection. Jason Banks

August 2014 – The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Rinat Valiev, their 3rd round selection of the 2014 NHL Draft, to a three-year entry level contract. Valiev is expected to return to Kootenay of the WHL for the 2014-15 season. Brendan Ross

July 2014 – Ventured overseas to compete with the Indiana Ice of the USHL for the 2012-13 season in hopes of becoming a draft target. Eventually, Kamloops drafted the Valiet with the 25^th overall selection of the 2013 CHL Import Draft and the Russian made his WHL debut in 2013-14 scoring five times for 28 points in 55 games, finishing second in defensive team scoring. One year after being passed over in his first attempt at the NHL Draft, Valiev became a 3^rd round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs after the blue and white were impressed with his emerging offensive game that included nine points in 13 WHL post-season games. He is a rangy blueliner who owns a well-rounded game and an ability to adapt to a number of different roles. With his sizeable wingspan and strong skating abilities, Valiev displays good defensive pressure holding opponents to uncomfortable gaps. On the offensive side of the puck, increasing confidence in possession allows him to transition the puck up the ice with his feet or seeing-eye passes. He is a physical competitor who isn’t afraid to mix it up and shows a promising commitment to developing into an NHL professional. Brendan Ross