Prospects: Kabanov still having trouble playing

In further obstruction to Kabanov playing in juniors this season, IslandersCentral has learned that forward Kirill Kabanov, who was recently traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes, must receive a release from the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia in order to play in a game.

We had all been hoping that this trade would be the end of Kabanov's issues for playing time, but as we know considering his history, nothing's ever drama free even when you think it is. This is by no means Kabanov's fault, but is certainly another roadblock in his final year of juniors.

When questioned about Kabanov, Cataractes coach Vellieux responded that Kabanov has been practicing since arriving in Shawinigan and his practice time is a reflection of what's to come: "He's smart with the puck. He's got great vision and he can put the puck right on your tape even if he's got someone on his back. I also liked his compete-level, as he was really intense during the practices. He's a young kid who really wanna learn and who asks a lot of questions. He's brought some fresh air to the group". 

While it may take up to 14 days to gain his release, the fact that Kabanov is at least training and working hard while not able to play is a positive sign. Even if he only gets to play in 40 or so games this year, it's better than nothing. He's just learning the ways of Shawinigan's chemistry right now and bonding with his teammates, so it's not a total loss as of right now. The sooner he can get into a game the better, but right now he just has to face one more roadblock before finishing up his junior career. 


- AT

Prospects: Kirill Kabanov traded to Shawinigan Cataractes

After accepting a 1 month tryout with SEL team Farjestad, Kirill Kabanov was traded from QMJHL team Blainville-Broisband Armada to the Shawinigan Cataractes, as so to give him a spot on a roster and the ability to play.

AT: Finally, this situation has been resolved. Of course, Kabanov will have to find chemistry with his new linemates once again, but being a 19 year old in a junior league he should find his way on to the top 6 in the depth chart and considering his skill should have no problem producing. According to his Facebook, he seems ecstatic to just have a place to play. Though the Cataractes have already played a solid amount of games, there is no doubt Kabanov will still have a solid chunk of the season to play through and hopefully help guide the Cataractes to the playoffs.

News: Strome Sent Back, Kabanov, Injury Updates

The Islanders announced that 2011 first round pick Ryan Strome has been sent back to Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League. In a somewhat unusual circumstance, Strome was kept on the roster for the team's first two games but did not play. 

CH: This is the correct and obvious move here. Like we said, Strome is not physically ready for the NHL, and having him play games would have been a mistake. He will go back to a Niagara team that has stumbled a bit out of the gate and be a main contributor for a team that should be in the playoffs. While this week may have been a waste from a fans' standpoint, Strome claims he learned a lot, which in the grand scheme of things is important.

AT: The only positive to having Strome up for the two games was that he was able to take part in NHL practices, but this is obviously the right move. Niagara is going to be a force in the OHL this year and compete heavily for the Memorial Cup, so this was the best possible option for all parties. Strome gets to develop further, and Islander fans get to see a well developed Strome in a few years.

Kirill Kabanov has found a home for the time being as he will play for Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League on a one month tryout. Kabanov has recently stayed on Long Island as he continues to try and find a place to play.

CH: It's only a month but this is exactly the league that Kabanov should be playing in. We knew the KHL would not take him back, and given the amount of talent that has come through the SEL, he is at the right level. The nature of the league is somewhat defensive, so even if Kabanov only plays fourth line minutes, he will learn a lot of valuable lessons there. We can worry about the future when it comes, but for now this is a relatively good situation for Kabanov given the circumstances.

AT: Even if it's 4th line minutes, playing time is playing time. The SEL is a professional league where many other prospects as well as veterans play, so Kabanov will have an interesting time finding a chemistry with both the younger and older players of the game. While everyone including myself still prefers him to be in the Q, sometimes extenuating circumstances force other action to be taken.


Rick DiPietro continues to be re-evaluated after getting hit in the head by a Brian Rolston snapshot in Wednesday's practice. Doctors have not ruled a concussion out just yet, according to Katie Strang. DiPietro will not dress for Thursday's game against Tampa Bay. Evgeni Nabokov will back-up Al Montoya.

 

CH: DiPietro cannot seem to catch a break. I know that he is a very polarizing figure in Islander country these days, but you have to feel bad for him. This is a freak incident that may have been brought on by previous concussions, so there is nothing anyone could have done.

AT: Really is a shame. He seemed to be fully healthy coming into this year, but everyone was so focused on his knees that his concussion problems in the past weren't really on anyone's radar. Hopefully the situation is monitored properly and DiPietro can return to back up Montoya and put up a few solid games here and there. 

Finally, Trevor Gillies comes off IR today and replaces Ryan Strome on the active roster.

AT: Fear the 'stash.

Prospects: Kabanov Unhappy with North America/NHL?

Journalist Dmitry Chesnokov reported that Islanders prospect Kirill Kabanov, in an interview with Sports.ru, spoke on his current situation with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL. The team has two international players on their roster already, and due to QMJHL stipulations, must either sit out or play in Europe. Kabanov expressed his frustration, although has recently refuted his statements via social media.

AT: This is such a shame. After developing such a solid chemistry with his linemates on Lewiston last year, Kabanov had to suffer one heartbreak when his team was dissolved and he was drafted to Blainville-Boisbriand (then the Montreal Juniors) in a special draft. Now, he's unable to even play hockey, and it's up to the Islanders and Kabanov to figure out a situation as to where he can play. Right now, it's looking like the most likely situation for Kabanov would be playing for a team in the Swedish Elite League or going back to the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. Kabanov can technically still play in the QMJHL if Viktor Hertzberg, another international player playing with the Armada, leaves the team. That does seem likely seeing as how he's had a lot of injuries and may not even be able to continue playing hockey, but as of right now everything is still up in the air.

That leaves the two most likely options: He can be loaned out to either the SEL or the KHL. Neither league is known for giving young prospects much playing time, and Kabanov, even with his talent, will be no exception. It would be wise to loan him out to a team like Frolunda (SEL) or Ak Bars (KHL) so he can play with other Isles prospects Johan Sundstrom and Kirill Petrov, respectively. He'll be playing 4th line minutes, but he'll be playing, and that's the most important thing right now. Better to play 5 minutes a game than to dwell on Long Island losing over a year of development time.

As for Kabanov's comments, I wouldn't be too concerned about them. Kabanov has come a long way since his days of immaturity as a 16 and 17 year old teenager, and has shown massive progress in his desire to be a better person and player. He is clearly upset that he's not playing right now and at the instability in his life, and as a fellow 19 year old I can understand how such major instability at an age like this can cause an incredible amount of stress. He has some extra kinks to work out in his career, but I have faith that he'll be able to. It will only create an even better story for when he develops into the player we know he can be.

CH: I do agree that Kabanov's comments were taken out of context and that there was a translation error in talking about his happiness in North America. After looking fully into this situation, I expect Kabanov to end up in Sweden, though it's still too early to say. After all of the disparaging remarks he made towards the KHL, it seems unlikely that he will be able to go back there even if he currently has a standing offer. Obviously, Kabanov has a lot of talent so getting him a place to play is the first priority. The rest will all take care of itself as he will most likely be in Bridgeport to start next season.

The Isles made the correct decision in not keeping him in the NHL, as he is not ready to play at that level. At 19 years old, Bridgeport unfortunately is not an option due to the NHL/CHL agreement. While it would be nice to make an exception in this rare case, there is no loophole in the rule regarding a team's overabundance of European players. So that leaves a teenager with no place to play as we works on his fourth team in the last three seasons. Some of that is his fault, but the poor kid can't catch a break. All the Isles can do is hope that this is not a wasted year for Kabanov.

Season Preview: Kirill Kabanov

Kirill Kabanov

Position: LW
Height: 6'3"

Weight: 185 lbs
Birthdate: July 17th, 1992 (19 years old)
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Acquired: Draft, 3rd round, 65th overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft

2010-2011 Team: Moncton Wildcats/Lewiston MAINEiacs
2010-2011 Stats: 39 GP - 11 G - 17 A - 28 P - 28 PIM. (Playoffs: 15 GP  - 8 G - 12 A - 20 P)
2011-2012 Team: Montreal Juniors
Team Role: Top 6 Forward

Last year: Kabanov had yet another wild year last year, being shipped off early from Moncton to Lewiston and having trouble finding chemistry with linemates. His skill was always evident, it just wasn't clicking with the rest of the team. However, once Kabanov found his groove, everything started flowing. He ended the year with decent stats and went on an absolute power run in the playoffs with Lewiston. He became a teammate rather than a selfish player and took on a leadership role in the lockerroom. He was also nominated for the QMJHL's Humanitarian of the Year award, showing that while he knows he's made mistakes in the past, he's clearly trying to make up for it and mature as much as possible. After what we saw in the playoffs when provided with a top line role and teammates who work for him, Kabanov's potential is sky high. Clearly Garth Snow realized this as well when he signed Kabanov to his 3 year ELC on July 1st.

Expectations: Unfortunately, the MAINEiacs folded under financial trouble and the team was dissolved. A special draft was held, and Kabanov was selected by the Montreal Junior hockey club. This is the team that Lewiston eliminated last year, so hopefully no hard feelings carry over (this is a team of young teenagers, remember that) and chemistry can form between him and his new linemates. We definitely expect a bigger year stat wise from Kabanov and a top role considering his age and skill. This may be the make or break year for Kabanov in terms of where he's going to be placed in the depth chart and in terms of his longevity with the Islanders. If he puts up solid numbers in the Q this year, he will most definitely find himself a top slot on Bridgeport come 2012-2013.

Projections: 58 GP - 29 G - 25 A - 54 P

Thoughts:

AT: Everyone including myself was ecstatic when Kabanov was picked originally, as we all knew his potential and why he fell so far. Once heralded as "the next Ovechkin", Kabanov's attitude and path in life have troubled him greatly. After meeting him at the draft party this year, I can tell that this kid has changed, and has a desire to continue maturing. He clearly still wants to have fun, but at a reasonable level - as anyone should be able to. Kabanov is definitely on the right path, and what he shows this year when he is inevitably returned to Montreal (no way he makes the team) should and hopefully will prove to the fans and the organization that he is the talent we all knew he was.

CH: This is a huge year for Kabanov's development, as he needs to show the Islanders that they were right to sign him one year before they had to. It's obvious that Kabanov has a ton of skill - he is a great skater, stickhandler and a great shot. He just needs to put everything together in the QMJHL this season. One thing that's always been overstated are his "attitude problems." He's not a bad kid, he is just immature, which is something that can and should be corrected over time. The fact that he is living on Long Island during the summer shows that he does have commitment to this franchise. Yes, he has made some bad social media decisions, but that comes with the immaturity of being a 19 year old kid. Overall, it was great value to pick him in the third round. The Islanders have been trying to put him in positions to succeed, and they gave him more confidence by signing him to a contract. Now, it's all up to Kabanov.

Signing: Isles sign Kirill Kabanov to entry level deal

Brian Compton reported today that the Isles have signed Russian winger Kirill Kabanov to an entry level deal. Financials are not yet known.

AT: Great for Kirill. He's come a long way and showed major progress with Lewiston last year. Now he'll be going back to his new juniors team in Montreal after the dissolution of Lewiston. He should fit in well on a very strong Montreal team. He is probably one of the most gifted talents we have in our organization and it will be exciting to see him grow over the next few years. I met him at the draft party and he was one of the nicest players I'd ever met. Good luck, Kirill... all the best to you!

CH: Very interesting timing on this signing. Not exactly sure why, but announcing this signing on July 1 at 12 PM is odd. That said, this was a no brainer here. They obviously like the direction Kabanov is heading in, so this makes sense. As far as raw skill goes, Kabanov is a top-5 Islander prospect. He'll have one more year down in the QMJHL before most likely heading to Bridgeport in 2012. This contract assures Kabanov will be part of the organization for the next three seasons. Good way to start the day.

Prospects: Kirill Kabanov Selected By Montreal in QMJHL Dispersal Draft

Per Chris Botta's Twitter and the QMJHL's Twitter, Islander prospect Kirill Kabanov was selected by Montreal in the Lewiston dispersal draft. Montreal selected Kabanov with the 16th overall pick. Last season, the team finished with a 46-15-5-5 record, which was second overall in the QMJHL. They lost to Lewiston in the second round in the playoffs, 4-2. Kabanov was drafted by the Islanders in the 3rd Round of the 2010 Draft.

CH: It's extremely unfortunate that Lewiston disbanded as Kabanov seemed to really find himself there in the second half of last year and during the QMJHL playoffs. Looking forward, this move could really go either way for Kabanov. It's possible he struggles in the huge market of Montreal, but at the same time he is joining one of the best teams in the league. This is going to be an extremely important year for Kabanov. He needs to be signed by the Islanders by June 1, 2012, and having a disappointing year may make the Islanders more cautious to sign him. His talent is obvious, and his maturation process seems to be on the right track. This move is part of that, and he needs to show he can put it all together as an older junior player in 2011-12.