Agent J.P. Barry parts ways with prospect Kirill Kabanov as client

Ryan Kennedy
2010-06-08 11:57:00

In an exclusive interview with THN, agent J.P. Barry revealed that he and his agency, CAA, have parted ways with mercurial Russian prospect Kirill Kabanov.

“It just wasn’t a fit,” Barry said. “We wish him the best, but we advised him to seek other representation.”

Kabanov was only with the firm for a couple months, but in that time Barry (who represents Evgeni Malkin, among other NHL stars) helped guide the talented left winger through the NHL Draft Combine process, which included many interviews with teams curious about what they could expect from a player who had run-ins with the Kontinental League, the Quebec League’s Moncton Wildcats and the Russian World Under-18 Championship team.

Amidst all those burnt bridges this season, Kabanov’s stock for the 2010 draft plummeted from the top five to perhaps somewhere in the second or third round by now. THN’s Draft Preview ranked him No. 38 this year.

Still, the kid can produce on the ice. In an injury-shortened season with Moncton, Kabanov put up 23 points in 22 games. Nevertheless, his penchant for rubbing coaches and management the wrong way has gotten him in trouble numerous times.