LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Kings signed defenseman Kirill Kirsanov to a two-year entry-level contract through the 2026-27 season. Kirsanov was drafted by the Kings in the third round (84th overall) in the 2021 Draft.
In an offseason where the Kings are dealing with another Russian defenseman's pending contract or lack of contract, Vladislav Gavrikov, Ken Holland's first move was signing prospect Kirsanov. Not to portray the move was a swap out for Gavrikov should he not sign, as the two are entirely different defensemen.
However, they have some of the same qualities, aka safe-event-free hockey. In 34 games for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Russia's top professional hockey league, he recorded three goals and seven points (3-4=7) with eight penalty minutes (PIM) and a plus-5 rating (19 total points in 120 KHL games with three teams).
Congratulations to #GoKingsGo prospect Kirill Kirsanov and Torpedo Gorky, who won the VHL championship 4-2.
— The Armchair Scout (He/Him) (@Davidenkness) May 27, 2025
Kirsanov joins Slukynsky and Woolley as the only Kings prospects with a league championship this year.
Woolley can also win the Memorial Cup this week.
He's been touted for having a mature game and has spent five seasons in what is considered the second-best hockey league in the world. Once again, this shouldn't be seen as a move to act as a safety net if Gavrikov goes unsigned and hits free agency. It is, however, a good sign that the defensive pipeline is getting shored up, with prospects getting dealt left and right during Rob Blake's tenure.
Kirsanov represents a wildcard for the franchise in a pivotal season for Holland and the company.
The Russian defenseman will likely get a straight ticket to Ontario, where he should manage top minutes as the number one/two. He truly will live the 'wildcard' tag if he can play up the LA Kings 2way standard on the backend, maybe a mid-season call-up, even if the Kings desperately need a puck mover.
I'm unsure what his future looks like in LA, especially with the usage and approach towards Jordan Spence in the playoffs. Spence could be on the way out by his or team's design. Jacob Moverare hasn't been the answer as a potential top four guy in LA since his drafting almost a decade ago.
The Kings will hit free agency licking their chops, and with Holland at the helm, they should be aggressive. Kirsanov, while not a backup plan, is a good sign for a very questionable backend, which looks to be their Achilles heel heading into 2025-26.