Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of cska-hockey
- Name: Kirill Lyamin
- Position: D
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 198 lbs
- Birthdate: 1986-01-13
- Eligible for Draft: 2004
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Moscow, Russia
- Acquired: 2004 NHL Entry Draft by Ottawa
- Playing In: Europe
Kirill Lyamin
Prospect Grade: 7.0 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: Derek Cheng
History
Kirill Lyamin was expected to be a late first round or early second round pick in the 2004 Entry Draft, however, he was not selected until the latter stages of the second round when Ottawa picked him 58th overall. This was due to a rib cage injury he suffered in his draft year that caused him to miss significant time.
2001-02: Lyamin had an excellent season with CSKA Moscow in the Russian junior league. In 18 games, he registered 14 assists and 16 points. In the playoffs, Lyamin suited up for 12 games, tallying 2 assists. Lyamin also played for Team Moscow in the Moscow Junior Cup and the Tretiak Cup.
2002-03: Lyamin continued playing well for CSKA Moscow’s junior team, notching 15 points in 30 games. In the playoffs, he picked up three assists in seven games. Lyamin also received a promotion to the Moscow’s RSL farm team. He suited up for five games, picking up 10 penalty minutes. Lyamin was also part of the CSKA ’86 team, where he played on the top defensive pairing and was one of the top players on the team.
2003-04: After two solid seasons in the junior league, Lyamin he was promoted to the SuperLeague where he played 30 games. Like most young Russians, he wasn’t given an abundance of ice time, but all reports indicate he was reliable in the playing time he saw playing against men. He picked up 3 assists and 12 penalty minutes. Lyamin competed for Russian in the U18 World Championships and was a key member of the team, playing on the top defensive pairing to help the Russian squad win a gold medal. During the season, Lyamin suffered a rib cage injury, which set back his development somewhat, but he came back strong and established himself as a potential late first or early second round draft pick.
2004-05: With so much depth in CSKA’s RSL squad, Lyamin was moved back to the division 2 team to get more ice time and continue developing. He tallied 12 points and 88 penalty minutes in 28 games. Lyamin also played key defensive roles at the U18 WJCs and the Canada-Russia Challenge.
2005-06: Having proven himself in the junior leagues, Lyamin finally moved to the RSL for good. In 25 matches, he played a more important role for CSKA Moscow, picking up one assist and 28 penalty minutes. Lyamin also took part in the WJCs, again playing as one of Russia’s top defensive defensemen and capturing the silver medal.
2006-07: Lyamin became a mainstay on CSKA Moscow’s blueline. As a top defensive defenseman, he picked up 8 points and 46 penalty minutes, while going a +6 in 47 matches.
Talent Analysis
Lyamin was hailed as one of the strongest players in the draft, which bodes well for his hard hitting game. He has demonstrated a very aggressive side, something which isn’t overly common among Russian defensemen, and has played a consistent defensive game in the Russian Superleague. Lyamin is a smooth skater with good acceleration and lateral movement. He possesses a heavy shot, but he needs to shoot more. He rarely uses his wrist shot, preferring to fire hard slapshots from the point.
Lyamin’s 6’2 frame gives him excellent reach and he is an excellent puck handler who carries the puck with confidence. Lyamin sometimes buckles with his stickhandling when pressured, something that needs to improve before making it to the NHL. Lyamin transitions the puck very well and makes precise first passes out of the zone. Overall, Lyamin has excellent passing abilities and can create scoring opportunities with his above average vision. Lyamin is a solid overall package that is end loaded a bit on the defensive side of the game.
Matt MacInnis contributed to this profile
Future
When he comes across to North America will probably depend on a pair of factors: his ice time in Russia and the situation with the Russian transfer fee and the NHL. When he does arrive, Lyamin is projected to become a No. 3 defender. Lyamin has yet to agree to terms with the Ottawa Senators and has not yet had any North American experience. Playing in the Superleague, which is widely regarded as the best league outside the NHL, Lyamin could potentially step right into the NHL should he decide to come over. Lyamin has left CSKA Moscow and will be joining Khimik for the 2007-08 season.
Stats
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| 2003-04 | Moscow CSKA (Rus) | 30 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| 2004 | Team Russia (WJC 18) | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20 | +2 |
| 2004-05 | Moscow CSKA-2 (Rus 3rd level) | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -- |
| 2005-06 | Moscow CSKA (Rus) | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | +1 |
| 2006 | Team Russia (WJC) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -1 |
| 2006-07 | Moscow CSKA (Rus) | 47 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 48 | +5 |
| 2007 | Moscow CSKA (Rus) | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | +3 |
Profile Last Updated: April, 1st 2008
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