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Kirill KabanovHockey player, forward
Date of Birth: 16.07.1992
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Biography of Kirill Kabanov
- Professional Career
- QMJHL and NHL Draft
- Seasons in North America
- Later Career
- National Career
Biography of Kirill Kabanov
Early Life and CareerKirill Kabanov is a Russian ice hockey player who was born and raised in Moscow. He started playing hockey in his childhood at the Spartak sports school. Following in his brother's footsteps, Kabanov began his professional hockey career. He attended the Spartak school, as well as schools associated with Dynamo and CSKA. At the age of 14, he signed his first contract with Spartak. Prior to the start of the 2008/2009 KHL season, Miloš Ržiga started including Kabanov in the main team's training sessions. This led to him being recognized as one of the most promising and talented young hockey players in the country.
Professional Career
Kabanov made his debut for the main team on November 18, 2008, in an away game against the Khabarovsk Amur. He played a total of 6 regular season games and 4 playoff games that season. On July 16, 2009, Kabanov learned that his rights had been traded to Salavat Yulaev Ufa. However, his father, Sergey Kabanov, who represented him as an agent, claimed that they had not signed any contract and that Kirill had not agreed to the transfer. This caused a dispute between Spartak and Salavat Yulaev, with the latter accusing Kabanov of not honoring the transfer agreement. Unable to play for either team, Kabanov's father arranged for him to join the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL.
QMJHL and NHL Draft
Playing for the Moncton Wildcats, Kabanov had a successful season, scoring 10 goals and providing 13 assists in 22 games. He also won the President's Cup, becoming a league champion. Despite his achievements, Kabanov felt limited playing as a third-line player and suffered from a broken wrist during this time. In the 2010 NHL Draft, he was selected 65th overall by the New York Islanders.
Seasons in North America
Kabanov spent the 2010/11 season with the Lewiston Maineiacs in the QMJHL, where he earned 28 points in 37 regular season games and 20 points in 15 playoff games. In the following season, he played for Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and then signed a tryout contract with Färjestad BK in Sweden and the Shawinigan Cataractes in Canada. He ultimately stayed with Shawinigan for the season, winning the Memorial Cup and recording 73 points in 67 games.
Later Career
In the 2012/13 season, Kabanov played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the AHL, followed by a stint with the Stockton Thunder in the ECHL during the 2013/14 season. He scored a hat-trick in his first game with Stockton.
National Career
Kabanov represented Russia in international tournaments, including the U17 World Championship in 2007, where he won gold and was the tournament's top assistant with 9 assists. He also played in the U18 World Championship in 2008, winning silver and contributing 4 goals and 7 assists to the team's performance.
