Kirill Kabanov Profile

Skating

10
Stickhandling

9
Defensive play

5
Scoring

9
Hockey sense

9
Size

5

Grade: 9D

History

2008-09: Kabanov started playing at high level on the International stage with team Russia 91. He had already a good hype around him because of his strong play on the international level from the season before. Kabanov also started skating in the KHL with Spartak Moscow, without getting much success and picking up an injury after a big hit from former NHL defenseman Vitaly Vishnevsky. In April he skated at the U18s and he was the first line right winger and third scorer of the team after Tarasenko and Kuznetsov. At the end of the season he was drafted in the CHL by the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL.

2009-10: Kabanov’s season started with a transfer scandal and he needed to get an ok from the IIHF in order to move to Moncton. Then he had to undergo a wrist surgery that forced him to 23 games. After the first playoff game he was kicked out of the Wildcats due to poor performances and undisciplined play, the same things that determined his second kick in two weeks, this time from team Russia for the U18s. Even if he tried getting back on track at the combine with good interviews, he has been left by his agent and thus his status for the 2010 NHL Draft isn’t the best.

Talent Analysis

Kirill Kabanov is an immensely talented player with tons of skills and speed to burn. He is a fantastic skater with that kind of agility needed to beat defensemen one-on-one. He is an exciting player to watch because he can get a scoring chance out of nothing just because of his great puckhandling and hockey sense. He can feed team mates too, but he’s mainly a goalscorer, also thanks to his great wrist shot. A prototypical Russian winger with lives with his technique and speed, he needs to bulk up (he weighs a mere 175 pounds) and become stronger, especially in the upper part of his body. He also needs to commit more while on defense, but he’s one of those players which are so talented that coaches might forgive his lack of dedication in the own zone. The problem is all this is showed only when he’s really focused on the game and this year only a few times this version of Kabanov actually hit the ice.

Future

Kirill Kabanov can be one of the next big NHL stars, but first he has to get some discipline and stay off scandals. More than one team will be surely interested in gambling on him with a high pick, but there is a good question about where he’ll spend the 2010-11 season. He’s not ready yet for the NHL, doesn’t have a good reputation in the CHL and ruled out Russia himself.

Quotes

I will stay in North America forever. CHL, AHL, NHL - I don't want to go back to Russia.
Kirill Kabanov on May 28, 2010 @ NHL.com

I don't want to play on national teams. Actually, I wanted to change my citizenship.
Kirill Kabanov on May 28, 2010 @ NHL.com

I removed him from the team because we thought Kabanov would help us, but he brought only confusion to the team. Kabanov came and thought 'Here I am, a star from Canada, who will save all'. His main problem is discipline. He does whatever he wants and not what coaches ask him
Mikhail Vasiliev, head coach of the Russian U-18 team, on April 9, 2010 @ RussianHockeyFans.com

I'm a patriot. I'm always ready to play for my country
Kirill Kabanov on August 10, 2009 @ Allhockey.ru

Kabanov Watch

September 22, 2010
Kabanov late at the Islanders practice. Again.
September 27, 2010
Kabanov demoted by the Islanders to Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL
October 28, 2010
Kabanov has been traded to the Lewiston MAINEiacs