Pavel Valentenko

Pavel Aleksandrovich Valentenko (; born 20 October 1987) is a Russian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected in the fifth round, 139th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2006 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Valentenko was drafted in the fifth round, 139th overall, in the 2006 NHL entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He moved to North America in 2007 after growing up in the Nizhnekamsk hockey system to play for the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Canadiens' farm team. He was voted best rookie for the Bulldogs in his first season (2007–08) and was part of the group of players Montreal recalled for the 2008 NHL Playoffs in the case of injuries.

On 30 October 2008, it was reported that Valentenko had defected from the Hamilton Bulldogs and signed a three-year contract with Dynamo Moscow. This news came just days after Valentenko was given permission by the Bulldogs to go home to Russia for an indefinite period of time to deal with family issues.

On 30 June 2009, Valentenko was traded along with Chris Higgins, Doug Janik and Ryan McDonagh to the New York Rangers for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto.

Between 2009 and 2012 he played for the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League. During the offseason in 2012 he signed with Avangard Omsk.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2002–03 Lada–2 Togliatti RUS.3 8 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 2003–04 Neftekhimik–2 Nizhnekamsk RUS.3 26 0 1 1 28 — — — — — 2004–05 Neftekhimik–2 Nizhnekamsk RUS.3 62 7 7 14 140 — — — — — 2005–06 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk RSL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2005–06 Neftekhimik–2 Nizhnekamsk RUS.3 58 11 20 31 195 — — — — — 2006–07 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk RSL 50 0 2 2 62 4 0 0 0 2 2006–07 Neftekhimik–2 Nizhnekamsk RUS.3 6 2 2 4 10 — — — — — 2007–08 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 57 1 15 16 58 — — — — — 2008–09 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 4 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 2008–09 Dynamo Moscow KHL 8 0 1 1 8 1 0 0 0 2 2008–09 Dynamo–2 Moscow RUS.3 12 3 6 9 26 2 0 0 0 4 2009–10 Dynamo Moscow KHL 7 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2010–11 Hartford Wolf Pack/CT Whale AHL 79 5 12 17 38 6 0 0 0 12 2011–12 Connecticut Whale AHL 60 5 16 21 53 9 0 3 3 6 2012–13 Avangard Omsk KHL 39 1 2 3 48 11 2 0 2 0 2013–14 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod KHL 53 7 11 18 28 7 0 3 3 4 2014–15 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod KHL 26 0 4 4 55 — — — — — 2014–15 HC Yugra KHL 22 1 6 7 14 — — — — — 2015–16 Avangard Omsk KHL 24 1 2 3 43 — — — — — 2015–16 Spartak Moscow KHL 16 1 3 4 10 — — — — — 2016–17 HC Yugra KHL 44 1 4 5 48 — — — — — 2017–18 HC Yugra KHL 10 0 3 3 9 — — — — — 2018–19 Yuzhny Ural Orsk VHL 35 4 9 13 12 — — — — — 2018–19 HC Yugra VHL 12 1 4 5 14 3 1 1 2 0 2019–20 HC Yugra VHL 33 5 6 11 68 8 1 1 2 2 KHL totals 249 12 36 48 265 19 2 3 5 6 AHL totals 190 11 45 56 151 15 0 3 3 18

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2007 Russia WJC 6 2 1 3 6 Junior totals 6 2 1 3 6