Kirill Kudryavtsev

Kirill Kudryavtsev
Kudryavtsev with the Abbotsford Canucks in 2025.
Born (2004-02-05) 5 February 2004
Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Vancouver Canucks
Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
NHL draft 208th overall, 2022
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2024–present

Kirill Kudryavtsev (born 5 February 2004) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman. He currently plays for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League while under contract with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Early life

Kudryavtsev was born on 5 February 2004, in Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia.[1]

Playing career

Amateur

Kudryavtsev recorded two goals and seven points over 20 games with Loko Yaroslavl in the MHL in the 2020–21 season. He also represented Russia at the 2020 Youth Olympics and the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. In August 2021, Kudryavtsev was drafted in the first round, sixth overall, by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 2021 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft.[2][3] He made plans to move to the United States despite some resistance from his family, and because he did not speak English, his agent arranged a tutor for him.[4] Due to immigration clearance issues, Kudryavtsev missed the start of the Greyhounds' training camp but was expected to arrive before the 2021–22 season began.[5] Kudryavtsev recorded his first Ontario Hockey League (OHL) point, an assist, on 15 October[6] and scored his first goal on 11 November against the London Knights.[7] In January, Kudryavtsev was ranked 103rd among all eligible North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.[8] Throughout his rookie season, Kudryavtsev began to earn more responsibility from the coaching staff and played on the team's powerplay and penalty killing unit.[9] He finished the regular season with five goals and 34 assists for 39 points through 68 games.[1] There was little consensus on Kudryavtsev's draft position as both TSN's Director of Scouting Craig Button and the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him differently.[10][11] Kudryavtsev was eventually drafted in the seventh round, 208th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2022 NHL entry draft.[12]

Kudryavtsev returned to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for the 2022–23 season after attending the Canucks' 2022 training camp.[13] He improved offensively in his sophomore season and was named an assistant captain on 25 January. At the time, he ranked fifth among all OHL defencemen with six goals and 30 assists.[14] While he did not score anymore goals, Kudryavtsev finished the season leading all team defencemen with 45 points.[6] In recognition of his efforts, Kudryavtsev received the team's Most Gentlemanly Player award and Best Defenseman award.[15] Kudryavtsev signed a three-year, entry level contract with the Vancouver Canucks on 10 March 2023.[6]

Kudryavtsev again attended the Canucks' training camp before returning to the Greyhounds for the 2023–24 season.[16] He remained in British Columbia in the summer to train with various local players including Connor Bedard, Mathew Barzal, and Alexander Kerfoot.[17] Kudryavtsev was recognized as the OHL's Player of the Week on 30 October after scoring two goals and four assists in three games.[18] By December, he had accumulated three goals and 19 assists for 22 points through 27 games.[19] Kudryavtsev finished his third OHL season with five goals and 47 points through 67 games[4] and was the Greyhounds nominee for the OHL's Most Outstanding Player.[20]

Professional

After attending the Canucks' 2024 training camp, Kudryavtsev was reassigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.[21] He participated in Abbotsford's training camp and was named to their opening night roster.[22] He scored his first career AHL goal on 29 October 2024 in a 3–0 win over the Tucson Roadrunners.[23] Kudryavtsev finished his rookie season tied for second in points among team defensemen with five goals and 21 assists.[22] He was called up by the Vancouver Canucks on 14 April under emergency conditions.[24] He skated 13:33 minutes in his NHL debut that night against the San Jose Sharks and finished with one shot on net.[25] Kudryavtsev played in one more game for the Canucks before being returned to the AHL.[26] Upon rejoining the Abbotsford Canucks, Kudryavtsev helped lead them to the 2025 Calder Cup over the Charlotte Checkers.[27]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2024–25 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 65 5 21 26 22 21 1 9 10 4
2024–25 Vancouver Canucks NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2021 Russia U18 IH18 5 1 1 2 4
Junior totals 5 1 1 2 4

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
AHL
Calder Cup Champion 2025 [28]

References

  1. ^ a b "Kirill Kudryavtsev". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  2. ^ "RD1; Hounds select Kirill Kudryavtsev in CHL Import Draft". Canadian Hockey League. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Kudryavtsev commits to Greyhounds". Canadian Hockey League. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b Kierszenblat, Adam (27 March 2024). ""I Know That You Just Never Give Up": Kirill Kudryavtsev Discusses His Development In The OHL This Season And How He Is Ready To Do Whatever It Takes To One Day Make The NHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  5. ^ Anderson, Gordon (1 September 2021). "Soo Greyhounds general manager excited for the arrival of Kirill Kudryavtsev". The Sault Star. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "Canucks sign Kudryavtsev". Canadian Hockey League. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  7. ^ Ruicci, Peter (12 November 2021). "Recap: Hounds fall in London, Holmes suffers injury". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Four Greyhounds Included on NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Draft Rankings". Canadian Hockey League. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  9. ^ Ruicci, Peter (7 April 2022). "Kirill is thriving in debut season". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  10. ^ Spiker, Brianne (20 June 2022). "'I never considered another player at No. 1' - Wright locked in atop final Craig's List". The Sports Network. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Four Greyhounds in NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings". Canadian Hockey League. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Canucks select Kudryavtsev in 7th Round Saturday". Canadian Hockey League. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Vancouver Canucks Announce 2022 Training Camp Roster and Schedule". National Hockey League. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  14. ^ Ruicci, Peter (26 January 2023). "Coach calls Kirill 'the best'". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  15. ^ "2022-23 Team Award Winners Announced". Canadian Hockey League. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Familiar Faces at 2023 NHL Development Camps". Canadian Hockey League. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  17. ^ Faber, Chris (12 February 2024). "Building Blue: OHLer Kirill Kudryavtsev Continues to Improve with Pro Hockey in his Sights". National Hockey League. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Greyhounds' Kirill Kudryavtsev named OHL Cogeco OHL Player of the Week". Canadian Hockey League. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  19. ^ Ruicci, Peter (5 December 2023). "Greyhounds veteran D making his mark". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  20. ^ Stockl, Joely (1 April 2024). "OHL Announces 2024 Nominees for the Red Tilson Trophy; Awarded to the OHL's Most Outstanding Player". The Hockey News. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Canucks assign Lekkerimaki, Pettersson and more to Abbotsford". Sportsnet. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  22. ^ a b Williams, Patrick (20 June 2025). "Kudryatsev putting finishing touches on impressive rookie season". American Hockey League. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  23. ^ Lypka, Ben (29 October 2024). "Abbotsford Canucks post 3-0 win in front of franchise record lowest attendance". The Chilliwack Progress. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Game Notes: Canucks vs. Golden Knights". National Hockey League. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  25. ^ Wood, Joelle (15 April 2025). "NHL Debut: Kirill Kudryavtsev (Apr. 14, 2025)". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Canucks' Kirill Kudryavtsev: Back in AHL". CBS Sports. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  27. ^ "Abbotsford Canucks Claim First-ever Calder Cup Championship". Abbotsford Canucks. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  28. ^ Kuzma, Ben (23 June 2025). "Abbotsford Canucks: The journey really was the adventure to capture 2025 Calder Cup crown". The Province. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
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