Vitaly Viktorovich Vishnevskiy (Russian: Виталий Викторович Вишневский, Ukrainian: Віталій Вікторович Вишневський; born March 18, 1980) is a Russian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He previously played in the National Hockey League for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Atlanta Thrashers, Nashville Predators, and New Jersey Devils, as well as for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, SKA St. Petersburg and Severstal Cherepovets in the KHL.

Quick Facts Born, Height ...

Vitaly Vishnevskiy
Visknevskiy with SKA Saint Petersburg in 2010
Born	(1980-03-18) March 18, 1980 (age 44) Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Khimik Moscow Oblast Atlanta Thrashers Nashville Predators New Jersey Devils SKA Saint Petersburg Severstal Cherepovets
National team	Russia
NHL draft	5th overall, 1998 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Playing career	1998–2015 2017–2018

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Vishnevsky began playing hockey in the Ukrainian SSR with his local organization Dynamo Kharkiv, but moved as a child to Russia and Torpedo Yaroslavl.^[1]

After playing in the Russian Super League for Torpedo Yaroslavl, Vishnevsky was drafted 5th overall by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He came to North America to start the 1999–2000 season playing for the Ducks affiliate the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League. He also made his NHL debut playing in 31 games for the Ducks.

Vishnevsky established himself as a mainstay on the Duck defense, known for his punishing checks. In the 2002–03 season he helped the Ducks reach the Stanley Cup finals. Playing in all their playoff games in their eventual defeat to the New Jersey Devils. Vitaly scored a career high 16 points (6 goals and 10 assists) in the 2003–04 NHL season. Vishnevsky returned to Russia to play for Khimik Voskresensk during the 2004–05 NHL lockout.

In the 2005–06 NHL season, Vishnevsky continued to play for the Ducks where they made their way to the conference finals before losing to the Edmonton Oilers. On August 17, 2006 Vishnevsky was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers for Karl Stewart and a 2nd round pick prior to the 2006–07 NHL season.^[2]

Vitaly played in 52 games with the Thrashers before he was traded to the Nashville Predators for Éric Bélanger on February 10, 2007.^[3] Vishnevsky left the Predators at season's end and was signed as a free agent by the New Jersey Devils to a three-year contract on July 10, 2007.^[4] After one season of play, with the Devils, he was waived on August 22, 2008.