New York Ranger prospect defenseman; Pavel Valentenko has signed a two year contact with Avangard Omsk of the KHL. The 24 year old played the 2011-12 season for the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League. The Nizhnekamsk, Russia native scored 5 goals, had 16 assists and 53 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Whale.
Valentenko was selected 139th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2006 NHL draft. Valentenko played parts of the next three seasons in the American Hockey League with the Hamilton Bulldogs and Nizhnekamsk and Moscow Dynamo of the KHL. There was some contract problems with Valentenko when he was playing for Hamilton because he signed a deal with Moscow Dynamo while he was still under contract with the Montreal Canadiens but the problem was resolved.
On June 30th, 2009 was traded along with Chris Higgins, Doug Janik and Ryan McDonagh to the New York Rangers in exchange for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto. Valentenko finished his last year of his contract with Moscow Dynamo during the 2009-10 season and then he came over to play for the Rangers AHL affiliate; the Connecticut Whale for the 2010-11 deal. In 75 games in his first year with the Whale he posted 5 goals and 12 assists in 79 games. In his two years with the Whale he totaled 10 goals and 28 assists in 139 games.
Valentenko has decided to go back to his home country and continue his hockey career over there rather than the American Hockey League.
Avangard Omsk Signing Rating:
B+, young defenseman is good on the back-end and provides a physical presence
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