Kirill Kabanov - Roller Coaster Ride to the NHL

[M Moulson Ale]

Originally Posted by JoeLH

I thought, that is not the case for european players. So, Kabby counts as a North American, because he played in the CHL?

Yes
If you play in the CHL, you go by CHL rules

[JPIsles21]

Originally Posted by M Moulson Ale

Yes
If you play in the CHL, you go by CHL rules

It actually depends on where you play the year before you get drafted.

If Kabanov was drafted out of the KHL, then played in the Q the following year, he'd be eligible to play in the AHL this year. However, he played in the Q in his draft year. Thus, he has to stay in juniors another year before playing in the AHL. I think that's a good thing because, he hasn't proven that he could play/dominate at the Q. He basically hasn't earned the right to play in the AHL as a 19 year old.

Evgeny Grachev is an example of this rule. He got drafted out of the KHL. He played a year in Brampton, then made the jump to the AHL at 19. KK did not take this route.