Kyle Burroughs Bio
Kyle Burroughs is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Burroughs was selected 196th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 193 pounds, he is known for a steady, defensive style of play and a right-handed shot. He has competed professionally since the 2014–15 season, working his way up through the AHL and ECHL before reaching the NHL.
Born and raised in British Columbia, Burroughs built his game in the Western Hockey League (WHL) before turning pro. His journey from a mid-round draft pick to an NHL roster player has included stops with several organizations, reflecting the perseverance required to establish a career as a depth defenceman at the top level of the sport.
Early Life and Background
Kyle Burroughs was born on June 12, 1995, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He grew up in the greater Vancouver area and developed his early skills through minor hockey, playing AAA bantam with the Langley Eagles. During the 2009–10 season, while serving as an associate captain, he recorded 40 points in 33 games, an early sign of the offensive touch he would carry into junior hockey.
Burroughs also spent time with the Valley West Hawks of the BC Hockey Major Midget League, where he was again named an associate captain and earned BCMML All-Star recognition. These experiences in British Columbia’s competitive minor hockey system helped him gain the attention of Western Hockey League scouts, and in 2010 he was drafted 47th overall by the Regina Pats in the WHL Draft.
Path to Hockey
Burroughs joined the Regina Pats for his first full major junior season in 2011–12, making his WHL debut on September 28, 2011, against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Over the following seasons, he grew into one of the Pats’ most reliable defencemen, leading the team’s defencemen in points during the 2012–13 campaign. On March 15, 2013, he was awarded the Charles Johnston Memorial Award as the Pats’ top defenceman.
Heading into the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Burroughs was ranked 206th among North American skaters, but a breakout season moved him up to 133rd by April. The New York Islanders selected him 196th overall in the seventh round. Named captain of the Pats in September 2013, he continued to develop his two-way game while also representing Team BC at the 2011 Canada Winter Games, where he won a gold medal, and Team Pacific at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.
Kyle Burroughs Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
After his final WHL season, Burroughs played nine games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to close out their 2013–14 campaign. He attended the Islanders’ Development Camp the following summer but was returned to the Pats, and on January 5, 2015, he was traded to the Medicine Hat Tigers. While playing in the 2015 WHL playoffs, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Islanders on April 8, 2015, contributing three points in ten playoff games as the Tigers lost to the Calgary Hitmen in the Conference Semi-finals.
Burroughs began the 2015–16 season with the Islanders’ ECHL affiliate, the Missouri Mavericks, recording seven points in 18 games before earning a recall to the Sound Tigers. He notched his first AHL point on January 1, 2016, and finished his rookie AHL season with 10 points in 31 games. The following year, he set new career highs in goals, assists, and penalty minutes, and on March 30, 2017, he was named the Sound Tigers’ AHL Man of the Year for his community work.
New York Islanders Organization Breakthrough (2017–2020)
Burroughs recorded a spike in offense during the 2017–18 season, leading the Sound Tigers with a plus-16 rating and posting new career highs in goals and points. His strong two-way play and leadership earned him a second consecutive AHL Man of the Year honor on March 29, 2018, and on July 16, 2018, he signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Islanders.
Named co-captain of the Sound Tigers for 2018–19 alongside Ben Holmstrom, Burroughs reached his 200th AHL game on November 17, 2018. He continued to serve as a steady presence on the team’s penalty kill and second power-play unit, helping the organization develop several of its young defencemen. On October 11, 2020, the Islanders traded him to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for A. J. Greer, opening the door to his NHL opportunity.
Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks Era (2021–2023)
After attending the Avalanche’s training camp for the delayed 2020–21 season, Burroughs was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on January 10, 2021. He made his NHL debut on April 5, 2021, in a 5–4 win over the Minnesota Wild, and two days later recorded his first NHL point with an assist on a goal by André Burakovsky. He finished that season with one assist in five NHL games.
As a free agent, Burroughs signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 28, 2021. On November 19, 2021, he scored his first NHL goal in the Canucks’ 3–2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, a memorable milestone in his career.
San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings Era (2023–Present)
On July 1, 2023, Burroughs signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent. One year into that deal, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on June 27, 2024, in exchange for Carl Grundström. He currently plays for the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, continuing his role as a reliable depth defenceman within the organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burroughs is recognized for his dependable defensive play, steady positioning, and willingness to block shots and serve on the penalty kill. He has logged significant minutes on the second power-play unit at the AHL level and brings a right-handed shot that teams value for balance on the blue line. His work ethic and community involvement have also been highlighted by teammates and coaching staffs throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Burroughs’s most significant moments are his NHL debut with the Colorado Avalanche on April 5, 2021, his first NHL goal as a member of the Vancouver Canucks on November 19, 2021, and his gold medal with Team BC at the 2011 Canada Winter Games. He has also been recognized twice as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers’ AHL Man of the Year for his contributions off the ice.
Kyle Burroughs Career Wins
Kyle Burroughs has built his career on consistency, leadership, and steady defensive contributions rather than high-scoring output. His statistical highlights include leading the Sound Tigers with a plus-16 rating in 2017–18 and earning two AHL Man of the Year awards for community service.
Junior and Professional Highlights
In the WHL, Burroughs was twice awarded the Charles Johnston Memorial Award as the Regina Pats’ top defenceman and was named team captain for the 2013–14 season. He also captured a gold medal with Team BC at the 2011 Canada Winter Games, one of the highlights of his junior career.
At the professional level, Burroughs reached the 200-game AHL milestone on November 17, 2018, and recorded his first NHL point and goal in 2021 with the Avalanche and Canucks, respectively. His continued presence in the Kings’ system reflects the trust organizations have placed in his dependability.
Other Wins and Performances
Burroughs was a BCMML All-Star during his time with the Valley West Hawks and represented Team Pacific at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. His career has been marked by steady progression through every level of the game, from minor hockey in British Columbia to the NHL.
Kyle Burroughs Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Public information about Kyle Burroughs’s parents and broader family is limited. What is known is that he grew up in the Vancouver area and developed his game in British Columbia’s competitive minor hockey system, which helped shape his path to the WHL and beyond.
Personal Life
Burroughs maintains a private personal life and is not publicly known to be married. He has continued to live and work in North American hockey markets, with his current residence tied to the Los Angeles Kings and Ontario Reign organization.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Kyle Burroughs remains under contract with the Los Angeles Kings through 2026, as agreed in his three-year, $3.3 million deal signed with the San Jose Sharks in 2023 and later transferred in the trade that sent him to Los Angeles. He is expected to continue serving in a depth role with the Ontario Reign in the AHL while remaining available for NHL call-ups.
Burroughs’s veteran presence and penalty-killing ability make him a valuable asset for the Kings organization as they manage their defensive depth chart. His experience with multiple NHL teams, including the Avalanche, Canucks, and Sharks, gives him the flexibility to step into different systems when called upon.
As the 2025 season progresses, Burroughs will look to contribute to the Ontario Reign’s push in the AHL standings and remain ready for any opportunity at the NHL level with the Kings. His track record of professionalism and steady play suggests he will continue to be a reliable option for the organization throughout the year.