Rinat Valiev

Rinat Valiev (born May 11, 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Valiev was selected in the third round (68th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Playing career
Valiev was selected in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 2012 KHL Junior Draft by Ak Bars Kazan. After parts of two seasons with junior affiliate, Bars Kazan, he relocated to North America and played the 2012–13 season with the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League.

After his draft selection to the Maple Leafs, Valiev was promptly signed to a three-year entry-level contract on July 10, 2014. Following his second season within the Kootenay Ice organization of the Western Hockey League, Valiev made his professional debut at the conclusion of the 2014–15 season, playing in 2 games with the Maple Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

During the 2015–16 season, behind the back of enjoying a solid season in his return to the Marlies, Valiev received his first NHL recall on March 11, 2016. He made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs in a 4-0 defeat to the Ottawa Senators on March 12, 2016.

On February 25, 2018, one day before the trade deadline, Valiev was traded by the Maple Leafs, alongside teammate Kerby Rychel and a second-round pick in 2018 NHL Entry Draft to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Tomáš Plekanec and minor league forward Kyle Baun. On May 31, Valiev signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Canadiens.

Prior to the 2018–19 season, on October 1, 2018, Valiev was traded by the Canadiens alongside teammate Matt Taormina to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Brett Kulak.