Aaron Palushaj

Agron Aaron Palushaj (born September 7, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for HC Davos of the National League (NL). Palushaj has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes.

Aaron Palushaj
Palushaj with the Charlotte Checkers in 2013
Born (1989-09-07) September 7, 1989
Livonia, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
NL team
Former teams		 HC Davos
Montreal Canadiens
Colorado Avalanche
Carolina Hurricanes
KHL Medveščak Zagreb
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Dinamo Minsk
Brynäs IF
Örebro HK
National team  United States
NHL Draft 44th overall, 2007
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 2009–present

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  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
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 Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 58 10 23 33 53 11 2 4 6 15
2006–07 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 56 22 45 67 62 8 6 5 11 6
2007–08 University of Michigan CCHA 43 10 34 44 22 — — — — —
2008–09 University of Michigan CCHA 39 13 37 50 26 — — — — —
2008–09 Peoria Rivermen AHL 4 2 0 2 4 4 0 1 1 2
2009–10 Peoria Rivermen AHL 44 5 17 22 22 — — — — —
2009–10 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 18 3 7 10 8 19 2 10 12 28
2010–11 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 68 22 35 57 42 19 7 12 19 14
2010–11 Montreal Canadiens NHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2011–12 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 35 15 20 35 35 — — — — —
2011–12 Montreal Canadiens NHL 38 1 4 5 8 — — — — —
2012–13 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 21 7 3 10 18 — — — — —
2012–13 Colorado Avalanche NHL 25 2 7 9 8 — — — — —
2013–14 Charlotte Checkers AHL 68 22 36 58 80 — — — — —
2013–14 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2014–15 Medveščak Zagreb KHL 25 3 9 12 26 — — — — —
2014–15 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg KHL 28 4 5 9 22 5 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 57 11 17 28 44 — — — — —
2016–17 Cleveland Monsters AHL 28 3 9 12 24 — — — — —
2016–17 Dinamo Minsk KHL 18 8 4 12 14 2 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Brynäs IF SHL 51 19 26 45 42 6 1 4 5 6
2018–19 Örebro HK SHL 31 12 16 28 54 — — — — —
2019–20 HC Davos NL 40 20 15 35 26 — — — — —
NHL totals 68 3 11 14 18 — — — — —

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2009 United States WJC 5th 6 2 3 5 10
2013 United States WC 9 1 1 2 12
Junior totals 6 2 3 5 10
Senior totals 9 1 1 2 12

Awards and honors
Award Year
College
All-CCHA First Team 2008–09 [1]
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2008–09

References
  1. "CCHA Awards headlined by Alaska's Johnson". uscho.com. 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  2. "Blues sign Aaron Palushaj". St. Louis Blues. 2009-04-03. Archived from the original on 5 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  3. "Canadiens trade D'Agostini to Blues for Palushaj". TSN. 2010-03-03. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  4. "Canadiens see off Lightning in shootout". CBS Sports. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  5. "Canadiens Aaron Palushaj joins exclusive company". Calgary Herald. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  6. "One-year contract for Aaron Palushaj". Montreal Canadiens. 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  7. "Bulldogs sign Desjardins, Palushaj and St. Denis to AHL contracts". Hamilton Bulldogs. 2012-09-26. Archived from the original on 2012-09-30. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  8. "Hamilton Bulldogs Weekly release" (PDF). Hamilton Bulldogs. 2012-12-19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
  9. "Avalanche claim Palushaj off waivers from Canadiens". The Sports Network. 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  10. "Coyotes edge Avs in OT". CBS Sports. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  11. "Avalanche end three-game slide, beat Coyotes". CBS Sports. 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  12. "Avs need disputed goal to end 9 game slide over Predators". CBS Sports. 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  13. "Aaron Palushaj not given Qualifying Offer by the Colorado Avalanche". Denver Post. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
  14. "Canes agree to terms with Aaron Palushaj". Carolina Hurricanes. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  15. "Former NHL player Aaron Palushaj signs with Zagreb" (in Croatian). Medveščak Zagreb. 2014-09-15. Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  16. "Palushaj chooses new KHL club" (in Croatian). Medveščak Zagreb. 2014-09-15. Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  17. "Flyers sign RW Aaron Palushaj". Philadelphia Flyers. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  18. "Aaron Palushaj Signs AHL Contract With Monsters". Cleveland Monsters. 2016-09-30. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
  19. "Transfers on last day of deadline" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 2016-12-25. Retrieved 2016-12-25.
  20. "The last piece to the puzzle finished" (in Swedish). Brynäs IF. 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  21. "Mattias Tedenby and Aaron Palushaj sign with HCD" (in German). HC Davos. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  22. "Johnson and Palushaj join Colorado contingency on US World Championship roster". article.wn.com. 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  23. "Game summary – USA 5, Austria 3" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 2013-05-04. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  24. "Shoot-out win earns USA bronze". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2013-05-19. Archived from the original on 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  25. Wigge, Larry (2009-09-11). "Palushaj now gets his kicks playing hockey". NHL.com. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
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