Alexander Petrovic (born March 3, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Petrovic was selected by the Florida Panthers in the second round, 36th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft from the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League (WHL).[1]

Alexander Petrovic
Petrovic with the Red Deer Rebels in 2010
Born (1992-03-03) March 3, 1992 (age 32)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams
Dallas Stars
Florida Panthers
Edmonton Oilers
NHL draft 36th overall, 2010
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2012–present

Playing career

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As a youth, Petrovic played in the 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the North East Eagles minor ice hockey team from Edmonton.[2]

Junior

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Petrovic was drafted by the Red Deer Rebels in the second round of the 2007 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft. Prior to being drafted, he had been playing midget hockey in Edmonton.[3] He played his first full WHL season in 2008–2009, recording 13 points in 66 games.[4] Leading up to the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Petrovic was ranked 29th among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, and the Florida Panthers ultimately drafted Petrovic in the second round, 36th overall.[3] Petrovic played his entire junior career with the Rebels, turning pro for good after the 2011–2012 WHL season.[4]

Professional

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Florida Panthers

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On April 18, 2011, Florida signed Petrovic to a three-year, entry-level professional contract.[5] He made his professional debut in the American Hockey League (AHL) playoffs with the San Antonio Rampage after the 2011–12 season.[4] Petrovic began the 2012–13 season with the Rampage in the AHL, but was called up to the Panthers in April 2013. On April 18, he made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers,[6] playing in six games at the NHL level near the end of the season. He did not score any points, however, though he did record 25 penalty minutes.[4]

Petrovic attended training camp with the Panthers prior to the 2013–14 season, and was expected to stick with the club for the entire season, but he was one of the earliest cuts and returned to San Antonio of the AHL.[7] On January 26, 2016, Petrovic scored his first NHL goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Two weeks later on February 9 in a 7–4 Panthers win over the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center, he picked up a goal and an assist but fought Evander Kane three times.[8] The three fights by the same two adversaries in a single NHL match was the first such occurrence since Jody Shelley and Bob Probert did it on January 10, 2002.[9]

Edmonton Oilers

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During his seventh season with the Panthers in 2018–19, having slowed his production and effectiveness on the third-pairing with Florida producing just 1 assist in 26 games, Petrovic was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Chris Wideman and a conditional third-round pick in 2019 on December 30, 2018.[10]

Boston Bruins

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In the 2019 offseason, as an unrestricted free agent, Petrovic signed a professional tryout contract with the Boston Bruins. After a successful camp with the Bruins, on September 26, 2019, Petrovic was signed to a one-year, two-way contract by the Bruins and assigned to AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.[11] Petrovic spent the duration of his contract in the AHL, posting 2 goals and 20 points in 54 regular season games, before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Calgary Flames

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A free agent from the Bruins, Petrovic signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames on October 9, 2020.[12] He began the pandemic delayed and shortened 2020–21 season, with the Flames AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, producing 12 points in just 17 games. He was later recalled to the Flames taxi squad, but did not appear with the club.

Dallas Stars

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A free agent from the Flames, Petrovic signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Dallas Stars on July 28, 2021. On May 17, 2024, Petrovic made his playoff debut of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals vs the Colorado Avalanche, recording 16 minutes of ice time in relief of Nils Lundkvist. [13]

Personal life

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As a child, Petrovic's favourite player was Mike Modano and his favourite team was the Dallas Stars. He models his game after defenceman Chris Pronger. He is of Serbian descent.[3][14]

Career statistics

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 MLAC Maple Leafs AMHL 31 3 8 11 80
2007–08 Red Deer Rebels WHL 10 1 0 1 2
2008–09 Red Deer Rebels WHL 66 1 12 13 70
2009–10 Red Deer Rebels WHL 57 8 19 27 87 4 0 0 0 4
2010–11 Red Deer Rebels WHL 69 7 50 57 140 9 0 6 6 23
2011–12 Red Deer Rebels WHL 68 12 36 48 141
2011–12 San Antonio Rampage AHL 5 0 1 1 0 9 2 4 6 14
2012–13 San Antonio Rampage AHL 55 4 13 17 102
2012–13 Florida Panthers NHL 6 0 0 0 25
2013–14 San Antonio Rampage AHL 43 2 11 13 79
2013–14 Florida Panthers NHL 7 0 1 1 8
2014–15 San Antonio Rampage AHL 41 3 17 20 59 3 0 1 1 0
2014–15 Florida Panthers NHL 33 0 3 3 34
2015–16 Florida Panthers NHL 66 2 15 17 90 6 1 3 4 4
2016–17 Florida Panthers NHL 49 1 13 14 79
2017–18 Florida Panthers NHL 67 2 11 13 98
2018–19 Florida Panthers NHL 26 0 1 1 24
2018–19 Edmonton Oilers NHL 9 0 1 1 2
2019–20 Providence Bruins AHL 54 2 18 20 24
2020–21 Stockton Heat AHL 17 2 10 12 14
2021–22 Texas Stars AHL 71 5 14 19 73 2 0 1 1 2
2022–23 Texas Stars AHL 71 9 18 27 62 8 3 2 5 4
2023–24 Texas Stars AHL 70 5 17 22 40 7 1 0 1 2
2023–24 Dallas Stars NHL 1 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 2
NHL totals 264 5 45 50 360 13 1 3 4 6

Awards and honours

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Award Year
WHL
East Second All-Star Team 2011 [15]

References

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  1. ^ "Rebels blue-liner has monster week". Times Colonist. 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2010-06-26.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
  3. ^ a b c "Petrovic, Alexander". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  4. ^ a b c d "Alex Petrovic". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  5. ^ "Panthers agree to entry level contract with D Alex Petrovic". Florida Panthers. 2011-04-18. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  6. ^ "Alex Petrovic in his NHL debut". zimbio.com. 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  7. ^ Richards, George (2013-09-22). "Florida Panthers begin task of roster trims". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  8. ^ "Panthers score early, hold off Sabres," nhl.com, Tuesday, February 9, 2016.
  9. ^ Vogl, John. "Videos: Sabres' Kane wins three straight fights against Florida's Petrovic," The Buffalo News, Wednesday, February 10, 2016. Archived February 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Oilers acquire defenseman Alex Petrovic". Edmonton Oilers. December 30, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  11. ^ "Bruins announce transactions". Boston Bruins. September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  12. ^ "Flames sign Alex Petrovic". Calgary Flames. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  13. ^ "Stars sign Alexander Petrovic to one-year contract". Dallas Stars. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  14. ^ "Florida Panthers Petrovic hopes to crack crowded defensive corps this season". Sun-Sentinel. July 5, 2012. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  15. ^ "Alex Petrovic player profile". The Hockey News. 2011-04-05. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
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