Kyle Burroughs Bio
Kyle Burroughs is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who 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 drafted 196th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to turning professional, he developed in the Western Hockey League with the Regina Pats and the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Burroughs has built a steady professional career that began in 2014 and has taken him through the Islanders, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks organizations. Known for his physical defensive play and penalty-killing responsibilities, he has been a reliable depth defenceman in the AHL and a contributor at the NHL level when called upon.
Early Life and Background
Kyle Burroughs was born on July 12, 1995, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He grew up in the Lower Mainland area and began his minor hockey career playing AAA bantam with the Langley Eagles. As an associate captain, he posted 40 points in 33 games during the 2009–10 season, showing early offensive ability from the back end.
Burroughs continued his development with the Valley West Hawks of the BC Hockey Major Midget League, where he also served as an associate captain. During the 2010–11 season, he earned a call-up to the Aldergrove Kodiaks of the Pacific Junior Hockey League and was selected 47th overall by the Regina Pats in the 2010 WHL Draft. His strong play with the Valley West Hawks earned him BCMML All-Star recognition.
Path to Professional 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. Leading up to the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, he was initially ranked 206th among North American skaters, but a breakout campaign moved him up to 133rd by April 2013. On March 15, 2013, he was awarded the Charles Johnston Memorial Award as the Pats’ top defenceman after leading team defencemen in points.
The New York Islanders selected Burroughs in the seventh round, 196th overall, of the 2013 NHL Draft. On September 23, 2013, he was named captain of the Pats as a replacement for Colton Jobke, who had turned professional. Despite a concussion that cost him seven games, Burroughs posted new career highs in goals and assists that season and earned the Charles Johnston Memorial Award for a second time. He closed his junior career with a brief stint alongside the Islanders’ AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Kyle Burroughs Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Burroughs signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Islanders on April 8, 2015, while playing in the 2015 WHL playoffs with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He opened his first full professional season with the Islanders’ ECHL affiliate, the Missouri Mavericks, in 2015–16, recording seven points in 18 games before being recalled to the AHL. He notched his first AHL point on January 1, 2016, assisting on a goal by Jared Gomes against the Springfield Thunderbirds, and finished his rookie AHL season with 10 points in 31 games while playing on the second power-play unit and penalty kill.
In 2016–17, Burroughs set new career highs in goals, assists, and penalty minutes with the Sound Tigers. His strong community work led to him being named the Sound Tigers AHL Man of the Year on March 30, 2017.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Islanders System (2017–2020)
Burroughs recorded a team-leading plus-16 rating during the 2017–18 AHL season and set new career highs in goals and points. He was again named the Sound Tigers AHL Man of the Year on March 29, 2018, and on July 16, 2018, signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Islanders. After clearing waivers to begin 2018–19, he was named co-captain of the Sound Tigers alongside Ben Holmstrom and reached the 200-game AHL milestone on November 17, 2018.
NHL Debut and Colorado Avalanche (2020–2021)
On October 11, 2020, the Islanders traded Burroughs to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for A. J. Greer. Following training camp, he was assigned to the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on January 10, 2021. Burroughs made his NHL debut on April 5, 2021, in a 5–4 win over the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center, and two days later recorded his first NHL point with an assist on a goal by André Burakovsky. He finished that pandemic-shortened season with one assist in five NHL games.
Vancouver Canucks (2021–2023)
Burroughs signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent on July 28, 2021. He scored his first NHL goal on November 19, 2021, helping Vancouver to a 3–2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. He spent two seasons with the organization, contributing as a depth defenceman at both the NHL and AHL levels.
San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings (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 the deal, on June 27, 2024, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Carl Grundström. He currently plays for the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, while remaining under contract to Los Angeles through the 2025–26 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burroughs is recognized as a stay-at-home defenceman with a physical, no-nonsense approach. He logs important minutes on the penalty kill and brings veteran leadership to the blue line, having served as a captain and co-captain at the junior and AHL levels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Burroughs’ career include his first NHL game and first NHL point with the Colorado Avalanche in April 2021, his first NHL goal with the Vancouver Canucks in November 2021, and consecutive Sound Tigers AHL Man of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018. He also won a gold medal with Team BC at the 2011 Canada Winter Games and represented Team Pacific at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.
Kyle Burroughs Career Highlights
Across the Western Hockey League, AHL, and NHL, Kyle Burroughs has built a steady résumé as a reliable defenceman. His professional career began in 2014, and he has since appeared in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks while logging hundreds of games in the AHL.
Junior and AHL Highlights
Burroughs won back-to-back Charles Johnston Memorial Awards with the Regina Pats in 2013 and 2014, served as team captain, and was named a BCMML All-Star in 2010–11. In the AHL, he earned Sound Tigers AHL Man of the Year honors in 2017 and 2018 and was named co-captain of the team in 2018–19. He played his 200th AHL game on November 17, 2018, and helped the Sound Tigers qualify for the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs.
International Play
Burroughs represented Team BC at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, winning a gold medal. He was later selected to play for Team Pacific at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.
Kyle Burroughs Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Kyle Burroughs’ parents and family background are limited. He grew up in the Vancouver area of British Columbia, where he developed through the local minor hockey system before advancing to major junior hockey.
Personal Life
Kyle Burroughs keeps his personal life largely private. He is a Canadian national born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and has spent much of his professional career based in cities across North America. Verified public information about a spouse, partner, or children is not available.
2025 Season Performance
Kyle Burroughs enters the 2025–26 season under contract with the Los Angeles Kings, with the deal running through 2026 at a total value of $3.3 million USD. He is expected to continue serving as a depth defenceman for the organization, splitting time between the NHL roster and the Ontario Reign in the AHL. His veteran presence and penalty-killing reliability make him a steady option for the Kings’ blue line.
Burroughs’ 2024–25 campaign with the Kings and Reign reinforced his role as a trusted organizational piece, providing leadership and physicality wherever he lines up. With two-way depth experience gained in Colorado, Vancouver, and San Jose, he offers flexibility for the Kings as they manage their blue-line rotation.
Looking ahead, Burroughs will aim to remain a steady contributor for the Ontario Reign while staying ready for NHL call-ups with the Kings. His contract ensures he remains part of the Los Angeles system through 2025–26, offering stability and depth to the organization’s defensive group.