(Photo Credits: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

By: Ryan Jainchill | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jainchill_Ryan

Defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok is set to make his debut for the Boston Bruins tonight against the Montreal Canadiens, according to a pregame report from Head Coach Marco Sturm. Kolyachonok was claimed off waivers from the Dallas Stars on Dec. 16, as the team was dealing with a wave of injuries on the backend. In 11 games for the Stars before being placed on waivers, Kolyachonok had 1-2-3 and was a plus-three.

In his career, which spans 85 games across four franchises before being claimed by Boston, Kolyachonok has 5-12-17. He spent time with the Arizona Coyotes, the Utah Hockey Club/Mammoth, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Stars before now winding up on his fifth team by age 24. His career highs in games played and points came last season, split between Utah and Pittsburgh, when he appeared in 35 games and recorded 2-5-7.

The Minsk, Belarus native was selected with the 52nd pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by Florida, but did not appear in a game for the team. After signing his ELC with the Panthers, he was dealt to Arizona in a package that involved former-Bruins defenseman Anton Stralman. With Arizona, he appeared in 39 games across three seasons before the franchise moved to Utah ahead of last season.

Last season, a career-year for the 6’2”, 198-pound defenseman, was split between the then-Hockey Club and the Penguins due to being claimed off waivers on Feb. 9. In the offseason, he was dealt from Pittsburgh to Dallas in a package for defenseman Matt Dumba. After 11 games for Dallas and 10 for their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, he was placed on waivers and claimed by Boston.

With injuries to many key defenders this season, Kolyachonok will become the 11th defenseman to appear in a game for the Bruins. Kolyachonok is set to replace Victor Soderstrom in the lineup, a player with whom he was teammates in Arizona. The Bruins and Kolyachonok end their five-game homestand against the Canadiens at TD Garden tonight, a team they trail by two points in the standings, ahead of the brief holiday hiatus.