Kirill Kabanov to play in Swedish Elitserien (Photo © Getty Images)

Today it was announced that Kirill Kabanov signed a try-out contract with top Elitserien team Farjestad BK. The 19-years-old Russian winger was among the last cuts of the New York Islanders.

To shed some light on this unexpected event, RHF talked with EliteProspect‘s admin Johan Nillson, a Swedish hockey expert.

What is Kirill Kabanov’s reputation in Sweden? You know that in Russia and in North America he had some problems, how is all this in a “neutral” country like Sweden?

Kabanov is not overly known in Sweden, but for those that have indeed heard about him, I think they believe he is somewhat of a “problem child” with some diva tendencies.

As we know Kabanov has a contract up to November 6th. What do you think, does he have a chance to stay in Sweden for the whole year?

I honestly have no clue how well he will fair. He will for sure have to do his very best to be able to grab a spot on Färjestad’s roster. It will be easy to get rid of him if they find his attitude or work ethic in question…

Can you talk us about Farjestad? Is the team a contender for the Elitserien title?

Färjestad has really started the season lousy are currently placed last. On paper, the team is good enough to be top 4-5 in Elitserien, but they are really underachieving at the moment.

What kind of role Kabanov can get on the team? Could he potentially compete for a top 6 spot?

Färjestad’s needs scoring and offense, so if they are bringing in someone now, they want him to contribute offensively rather than having a limited role. I think Kabanov will get the chance to see quality ice-time, and some time on the pp unit.

Last question. Considering Kabanov’s history, do you think a move to Sweden is potentially good for his career? Better than spending another season in the juniors?

Not knowing the exact current status of Kabanov, but looking at his history, it might be good for him to be playing in a men’s league. In a professional organization with many high quality players and where he will not be thought of as the obvious star/key player. It ought to get some pressure of his shoulders and maybe that could have a positive affect on his game.

Kirill Kabanov drafted by New York Islanders (Photo © Getty Images)

With the 65th overall pick, the New York Islanders picked . He’s the fourth Russian player to get picked in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft round after Alexander Burmistrov, Vladimir Tarasenko and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Kirill Kabanov, once thought to be one of the prime candidates for the 2010 Entry Draft #1 overall pick, has experienced a serious downhill fall after his departure to Canada this fall.

According to agent Ilya Moliver, Kabanov’s problems are caused by his father.

Kirill Kabanov’s free fall (Photo © cyberpresse.ca)

Many pages have been inked about the once thought to be one of the prime candidates for the 2010 Entry Draft #1 overall pick, Russian , as he has experienced a serious downhill fall after his departure to Canada this fall.

During the 2008-09 season the talented winger got the first taste of pro hockey experience skating in a bunch of regular season and playoff games (and getting knocked out by a hit from former NHL defenseman Vitaly Vishnevsky) with Spartak Moscow, then scored eleven points in the 2009 U18 WJC, being thus outscored by and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Getting to America

He was then picked up in the 2009 CHL Import Draft by the Moncton Wildcats, and the first controversy arose. As Salavat Yulaev bought his KHL rights from Spartak Moscow for a sum reported to be around a million dollars, Kabanov simply refused reporting to the team coached by Vyacheslav Bykov, as he didn’t want to sign a contract without an NHL out clause. “In principle, I would already play there because I want to play in the QMJHL, and I’m ready for that”, Kabanov declared to allhockey.ru in August 2009.

Once he was cleared to play in Canada by the IIHF, Kirill Kabanov didn’t start tearing the QMJHL up, but he had to miss three months of play as he had to undergo a wrist injury, thus missing the WJC. He then returned to ice and scored 23 points in 22 regular season games in the QMJHL regular season with the Wildcats. Good numbers, but probably not what people were expecting from a guy thought to be a top ten pick candidate. Most importantly, if we exclude some reported late buses, some missed practices and some interviews in which Kabanov didn’t talk well of WJC Team Russia coach Vladimir Plyuschev, he wasn’t at the center of any major scandal. Not yet, at least…

Playoff scandal

As soon as the playoffs started, Kabanov had a very bad game. It can happen, but he went well beyond that. He was benched midway in the second period and didn’t come back on the ice in the third one. He was yelled at by two teammates on two different occasions. He took a bad penalty in the first while Moncton was on the PP. He jumped on the ice when he wasn’t supposed to be playing. In the second period, another bad penalty when his team had just made it an even game and it cost a goal. He left the penalty box and one of his teammates gave him an earful. Kabanov wasn’t back with the team in the final stanza, they were losing 3-2. They scored 4 goals in the third period and won 6-3, as reported by C. Fortier.

After the first playoff game, Moncton’s head coach Danny Flynn announced that the talented winger wouldn’t play in game two. He was then released “so to be able to prepare to skate in the U18 WJC with Team Russia”. “I have the feeling that we are better without him, than with him”, Flynn declared later. Wildcats’ head coach also admitted that Kabanov “is 17, he’s coming from a different culture and a different background. He has some things that he has to learn about how we want to play here in Moncton.”

But after this, both the Cats and Kabanov tried to make things better. “The Wildcats believe that Kirill could benefit from this experience for his long-term hockey development,” said Flynn. “Unfortunately, as result of his lengthy injury, he’s only been able to play one third of our games this season. I’m confident this world hockey experience will help his continued development.”

Back in Russia

And after being kicked by the Wildcats, Kabanov had to face another kick not later than in two weeks, when U18 WJC Team Russia coach Mikhail Vasiliev decided to exclude Kabanov and Ivan Telegin from the team.

“I removed him from the team because we thought Kabanov would help us, but he brought only confusion to the team,” Vasiliev told Sovietsky Sport. “Kabanov came and thought ‘Here I am, a star from Canada, who will save all.’ But it’s the team that wins rather than an individual player.” He also added that “Kabanov doesn’t know how to behave”, and that “Kavanov’s main problem is discipline. He does whatever he wants and not what coaches ask him”.

Draft talks

The once highly touted Russian is now slipping in the pre-draft rankings. He was ranked as #4 by the ISS not later than November, but in the final rankings he was out of the top 30. After the U18 WJC cut Kabanov tried to get back to Moncton, but he didn’t manage to make the team. He was then working out in Calgary as preparation for the Draft. In Calgary he tried to get back some consideration through an interview, trying once again to get some leverage through PR. “I made a mistake. I recognize that now. I’m learning from it” – Kabanov told Globe and Mail. At the draft combine Kabanov had good tests, with many teams looking impressed by him, especially the Boston Bruins.

Kabanov sometimes has also made bold statements just to tell the opposite later. “I’m a patriot. I’m always ready to play for my country”, stated through allhockey.ru in August 2009. But recently he decided to make a U-turn: “I can you tell one thing: I will stay in North America forever,” Kabanov told NHL.com. “CHL, AHL, NHL, I don’t want to go back to Russia.” He even went as far as saying that he’s considering giving up his Russian citizenship, as reported by NHL.com draft and prospect insider Adam Kimelman. He went even beyond, maybe hurting a bit his stock (again) declaring through the Russian press that he wants to play “somewhere warm. Los Angeles and Florida would be a good fit.” The Panthers hold the third overall pick, and it’s extremely unlikely that they are going to use such a high pick on Kabanov. The Kings will pick 19th, but once again, it should be a bit high, considering his current position in the rankings.

Recently Kimelman confirmed both aspects of Kirill Kabanov‘s season in a recent interview with NashvillePredators.com. “Something happened in Moncton in the playoffs – or late in the regular season – where he had an issue with the coach or something and he decided he’d leave Moncton to go back to Russia to get ready for the World Under-18 Tournament. Then he got booted off the Russian team for disciplinary reasons. So there are a lot of red flags with this kid off the ice, but on the ice he has Top-10 talent. It’s a question of maturity and commitment with him.”

When an agent leaves

If this wasn’t enough, on June 6th agent JP Barry left Kabanov. “I wish Kirill all the best”, Barry told The Hockey News. “It just wasn’t a fit. We advised him to seek other representation.” Before Barry there were three agents with whom Kabanov had parted ways, Don Meehan (and his Russian representative Sergei Isakov), Jay Grossman and Scott Greenspun (Alexei Kovalev’s agent).

One of his former agents, Ilya Moliver, shared his thoughts in an interview that was published here at RussianHockeyFans, in which he pointed the finger at Kabanov’s father for Kirill’s insuccess. “Kirill isn’t to be blamed. It’s hard to find a common language with his father. He doesn’t understand the role of the agent.” He also added that “Sergei Kabanov believes that an agent is a player’s servant. He doesn’t know how to communicate with people. In view of this, he incorrectly educates Kirill. ”

It’s hard to think that he won’t be picked at all, but the #1 overall selection is just a blurred dream from two years ago.

Kabanov might well be one of the next big NHL stars, but first he has to get some discipline and avoid getting on the headers with such a frequency. That being said, during the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, 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 with Moncton or in the QMJHL in general and ruled out playing in Russia himself.

Announcing Russian Prospect.com (Photo © Getty Images)

We have started a new site dedicated to Russian prospects, RussianProspect.com.

We have compiled a list of Top Russians for the upcoming draft along with players’ profiles (History, Talent Analysis and Future).

1. , 9D
2. , 8.5B
3. , 8.5B
4. , 8.5C
5. , 8B
6. , 8C
7. , 7.5B
8. , 7.5C
9. , 7C
10. , 7C
11. Nikita Gusev, 7D

For now the site has profiles for the top Russian players available for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but during the summer the site will be upgraded and it will have profiles of older and younger players, news, interviews and more scout reports, to give our readers the best coverage of Russian prospects available on the internet. The “Prospects” section of Russian Hockey Fans will be shut down.

Agent Ilya Moliver: “Kabanov’s problem is his father” (Photo © saintjohnseadogs.com)

As widely reported in the last few days, and his agent JP Barry parted ways. “I wish Kirill all the best”, Barry told The Hockey News. “It just wasn’t a fit. We advised him to seek other representation.”

The collaboration between Kabanov and Barry (whose agency works with, for example, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar) lasted a few months only. They helped Kabanov in the preparation toward the upcoming NHL Draft and the NHL Draft Combine. But they refused to work with him any longer.

Before Barry there were three agents with whom Kabanov had parted ways, Don Meehan (and his Russian representative Sergei Isakov), Jay Grossman and Scott Greenspun (Alexei Kovalev’s agent).

Russian popular newspaper Sovietskiy Sport had an interview with Russian agent Ilya Moliver, who works for Jay Grossman’s agency. Some of his clients are Ilya Kovalchuk, Nikolai Khabibulin and Pekka Rinne.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

Moliver: “Kirill isn’t to be blamed. It’s hard to find a common language with his father. He doesn’t understand the role of the agent.”

In what sense?

Moliver: “Sergei Kabanov believes that an agent is a player’s servant. He doesn’t know how to communicate with people. In view of this, he incorrectly educates Kirill. Kabanov is a nice guy. He is very curious, he likes computers. When Alexei Cherepanov, who was our client, passed away, he sent us a text message: ‘Please, call me. We are mourning.’ But the dad…”

What about him?

Moliver: “I’ve told Kirill once: ‘You have to choose. We either work with you or with your dad.’ Kabanov’s dad is hard to please. I work with players and their parents since 1992, and I never had to deal with such a complicated person.”

Do you have any example?

Moliver: “I’m driving my car with my wife. Sergei Kabanov calls me and starts reprimanding me: ‘Where have you gone? Why don’t you call?’ Though we talked licterally one day before.

Sometimes I tell him: ‘Sergei, let’s work quietly. And sign with us an official contract.’ He’s always saying that Grossman’s agency represents his son’s interests, but officially it wasn’t so. It turned out that he had several agents at the same time. And as a result, it’s a big mess.

One day I bought some sticks for Kirill. I spent agency’s money to gratify the kid. But he didn’t like the curve. And thus his father started scolding me like I bought a left handed stick instead of a right one. A delirium.”

But is Kirill talented after all?

Moliver: “When we just started working together, Sergei told me: ‘My son is considerably better than Kovalchuk, Ovechkin and Malkin at 16.’ Why all this arrogance? This can only spoil the kid. And I understand why scouts and agents changed the attitude towars Kabanov. Because Kirill isn’t progressing as he should, but the guilty ones are the ones surrounding him. They didn’t help him to get on to the world. What can you do when you have a stone wall in Sergei Kabanov?”

History knows similar examples. They say that Eric Lindros had a crazy father-agent.

Moliver: “I know Carl [Lindros]. He’s a nice fellow. But excuse me, Kabanov isn’t Lindros! Eric was coming to the NHL as a second Gretzky or Lemieux. Kirill is far from being the top pick of the draft. He isn’t even the best among Russians. And he isn’t listed as first rounder.”

And he was once called the possible first overall pick for the 2010 Draft!

Moliver: “A couple of years ago I visited a tournament in London, Ontario, and Kirill played great. Elegant, intelligent, he made beautiful rushes to the net. It was evident that the guy can play. The fans were crazy about him and he became the top contender for the first overall pick. But what can you do when you have so much pressure from your father? And Kirill himself has a talent to get into awkward situations.”

In Russia people were outraged by Kabanov’s words when he said ‘I want to change citizenship. I don’t need this country.’

Moliver: “This wasn’t wise. I live in America for 20 years. But I still have Russian citizenship. Many emigrants still cheer for Russian teams, for Russian national team. You can’t part ways with your motherland. This statement from Kabanov was foolish. They kicked you from the national team? Do the right conclusions: ‘It means that something is wrong with me. I have to change myself to have a great career like Bure, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk…'”

What if Kirill doesn’t get drafted at all?

Moliver: “Some team will risk and try to get a good person out of him. That’s in case his dad comes to his senses. I’m not saying that Kirill must work with Grossman’s Agency. But Kabanovs should change their attitude toward life. ”

This situation is well described by this popular American saying: ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.’ You can’t say it better.”

ISS Final Rankings: Tarasenko #4, Burmistrov #14, Kuznetsov #19, Galiev #24 (Photo © sportbox.ru)

The International Scouting Services announced its final rankings for the upcoming 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

, playing for Sibir of the KHL, is the highest ranked European, having the 4th spot in the rankings.

There are three more Russian prospects in the Top 30, they are:

14. (OHL, Barrie Colts)
19. (KHL, Traktor Chelyabinsk)
24. (QJMHL, Saint John Sea Dogs)

The notorious has fallen out of the Top 30.