Kirill Safronov

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = SKA St. Petersburg
former_teams = Phoenix Coyotes
Atlanta Thrashers
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (RSL)
Khimik Voskresensk (RSL)
league = RSL
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 196
nationality = Russia
birth_date = Birth date and age|1981|2|26|mf=y
birth_place = Leningrad, USSR
draft = 19th overall
draft_year = 1999
draft_team = Phoenix Coyotes
career_start = 1996

Kirill Safronov (born February 26, 1981 in Leningrad, U.S.S.R.) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League. He was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Drafted from the Russian Superleague's SKA St. Petersburg, Safronov made his North American debut with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL in the 1999–2000 season. After one season with the Remparts, he joined the Coyotes' American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.

Safronov appeared in one game with the Coyotes during the 2001–02 season before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers (along with Ruslan Zaynullin and a draft pick) in exchange for Darcy Hordichuk and two draft picks. Safronov appeared in two games with the Thrasers in 2001–02 and 32 more in 2002–03 season before being traded to the Nashville Predators (along with Simon Gamache) for Ben Simon and Tomas Kloucek. He spent the remainder of the season with the Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

Safronov returned to Russia during the 2004–05 NHL lockout and has played there since.

Awards

*Raymond Lagacé Trophy (defensive rookie of the year in QMJHL): 1999–2000 season

External links

*hockeydb|45042