Aaron Palushaj

Last updated
Aaron Palushaj
Aaron Palushaj - Checkers.jpg
Palushaj with the Charlotte Checkers in 2013
Born (1989-09-07) September 7, 1989 (age 34)
Livonia, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Colorado Avalanche
Carolina Hurricanes
KHL Medveščak Zagreb
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Dinamo Minsk
Brynäs IF
Örebro HK
HC Davos
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 44th overall, 2007
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 20092021

Agron Aaron Palushaj (born September 7, 1989) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger. Palushaj played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes.

Contents

Palushaj was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the second round, 44th overall, at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Amateur

Palushaj was drafted in the second round, 44th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. He previously played junior ice hockey in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Des Moines Buccaneers before playing two years of college ice hockey with the University of Michigan in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). In his sophomore season in 2008–09 with the Wolverines, Palushaj led the team and the CCHA with 50 points in 37 games to be named to the NCAA West First All-American Team. [1]

Professional

On April 3, 2009, Palushaj signed a three-year, entry level-contract with the Blues. [2] Assigned to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, for his first professional season, he was later traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Matt D'Agostini on March 3, 2010. [3]

After attending the Canadiens' training camp, Palushaj was reassigned to their AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, to begin the 2010–11 season. On March 17, 2011, Palushaj was recalled and dressed for his first game with the Canadiens in a 3–2 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. [4] After three scoreless games with the Canadiens, Palushaj returned to the Bulldogs and recorded 19 points in as many playoff games in reaching the Western Conference Finals. With 31 points in two playoff seasons, he became the Bulldogs' franchise-leading goal-scorer in the post-season.

During the following 2011–12 season, on the anniversary of his NHL debut and in his 32nd NHL game, Palushaj scored his first career NHL goal against the New York Islanders. [5]

Palushaj was re-signed by the Canadiens to a one-year contract on July 12, 2012. [6] With the 2012–13 NHL lockout in effect, Palushaj was signed to an AHL contract to enable him to play in the AHL with the Bulldogs on September 26, 2012. [7] He was leading the Bulldogs with seven goals in 21 games prior to suffering a shoulder injury on December 11 in a game against the Lake Erie Monsters. [8] With the commencement of the shortened 2012–13 NHL season and cleared for a return, the Canadiens placed Palushaj on waivers before he was claimed by the Colorado Avalanche on February 5, 2013. [9] He then made his Avalanche debut in a 3–2 overtime defeat to the Phoenix Coyotes on February 11, 2013. [10] Initially promoted to a scoring line, he scored his first goal for the Avalanche in his second game with the club in a 4–3 shootout victory over the Minnesota Wild on February 14. [11] After a career-high three-point game against the Nashville Predators, he had scored four points in his first four games. [12] Over the course of the season, Palushaj was primarily used in a depth checking role, and in 25 games finished with two goals and nine points.

Despite recording new career highs at the NHL level, Palushaj was not extended a qualifying offer by the Avalanche and was released as a free agent. [13] On July 11, 2013, Palushaj was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. [14] Palushaj was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, for the majority of the 2013–14 season. He finished the year third on the Checkers in scoring with 22 goals and 58 points in 68 games, while playing in just two games on brief recalls with the Hurricanes.

As a free agent, Palushaj signed his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year deal with Croatian club Medveščak Zagreb of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on September 15, 2014. [15] In the 2014–15 season, he scored three goals and 12 points in 25 games with Zagreb before signing an improved contract with fellow KHL rivals Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on November 21, 2014. [16]

On May 21, 2015, Palushaj returned to the NHL, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. [17] He was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the entirety of the 2015–16 season, appearing in 57 games and contributing with 11 goals and 28 points.

As an unrestricted free agent, Palushaj went unsigned over the summer, agreeing to a professional try-out with the Columbus Blue Jackets on September 22, 2016. At the conclusion of training camp, Palushaj signed a one-year contract with the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters on September 30, 2016. [18] In the 2016–17 season, Palushaj struggled to regain his scoring presence in 28 games with the Monsters. Having contributed with just 3 goals and 12 points, Palushaj opted to leave the AHL and return to the KHL for a second stint, agreeing on transfer deadline day with HC Dinamo Minsk for the remainder of the season on December 25, 2016. [19]

At the conclusion of the season with Minsk, Palushaj opted for an off-season move to Sweden, agreeing to a one-year deal with finalists, Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League, on June 14, 2017. [20]

After scoring 28 points in just 31 games in the 2018–19 season with Örebro HK, Palushaj left Sweden as a free agent to sign a two-year deal with HC Davos of the National League on May 15, 2019. [21]

International play

Medal record
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2013 Sweden/Finland

Palushaj made his international debut for the United States as a junior, when he was selected to compete at the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa. He scored 2 goals and 5 points in 6 games before suffering defeat to Slovakia at the Quarterfinal stage.

At the completion of his 2012–13 season with the Avalanche, Palushaj returned to the International stage as he was selected to the United States roster for the 2013 World Championships in Sweden/Finland. [22] He made his national senior debut in the opening game of the Tournament, scoring a goal, in a 5–3 victory over Austria on May 4, 2013. [23] Through 9 games, Palushaj scored a goal and an assist to help USA capture its first medal at the World Championships in claiming bronze since 2004. [24]

Personal life

Palushaj grew up in Michigan but attended Valley High School in West Des Moines, IA as a member of the class of 2007. His father, Tom, and mother Rita emigrated from Albania at a very young age. Aaron Palushaj has two younger sisters, Monica and Julia, and one older sister, Jesika. Palushaj first played soccer as a child, and after seeing posters of Steve Yzerman and the Russian Five in his first-grade classroom, decided he wanted to play hockey. Aaron is married to his college sweetheart, Bianca, who is from California and works as a doctor. [25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2005–06 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 58102333531124615
2006–07Des Moines BuccaneersUSHL5622456762865116
2007–08 University of Michigan CCHA 4310344422
2008–09 University of Michigan CCHA 3913375026
2008–09 Peoria Rivermen AHL 4202440112
2009–10 Peoria RivermenAHL445172222
2009–10 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL1837108192101228
2010–11 Hamilton BulldogsAHL6822355742197121914
2010–11 Montreal Canadiens NHL 30002
2011–12 Hamilton BulldogsAHL3515203535
2011–12 Montreal CanadiensNHL381458
2012–13 Hamilton BulldogsAHL21731018
2012–13 Colorado Avalanche NHL252798
2013–14 Charlotte Checkers AHL6822365880
2013–14 Carolina Hurricanes NHL20000
2014–15 Medveščak Zagreb KHL 25391226
2014–15 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg KHL284592250000
2015–16 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL5711172844
2016–17 Cleveland Monsters AHL28391224
2016–17 Dinamo Minsk KHL1884121420000
2017–18 Brynäs IF SHL 511926454261456
2018–19 Örebro HK SHL3112162854
2019–20 HC Davos NL 4020153526
2020–21 HC DavosNL381218302221120
NHL totals683111418

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2009 United States WJC 5th623510
2013 United States WC Bronze medal icon.svg911212
Junior totals623510
Senior totals911212

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-CCHA First Team 2008–09 [1]
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2008–09

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References

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