CHL to NHL: Klepov makes NHL debut with Ducks
Saginaw Spirit alumnus Nikita Klepov made his NHL debut with the Anaheim Ducks last night when they hosted the Edmonton Oilers at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Klepov recorded 10:03 of ice time in his debut.
Born in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Klepov is a dual citizen of the United States and Russia. He played for the Spirit in 2025-26 after they selected him with the 35th overall pick of the 2025 CHL Import Draft, putting up 97 points (37G-60A) in 67 regular season games and adding five points (1G-4A) in four playoff games.
For his 97-point 2025-26 campaign, Klepov won the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the OHL’s points leader, the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the OHL’s top scoring right winger and the Emms Family Award as the OHL’s rookie of the year. He was named to the OHL First All-Star Team, OHL First All-Rookie Team, the CHL Second All-Star Team and the CHL All-Rookie Team.
On the international stage, Klepov won a gold medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he represented the United States.
Klepov was selected by the Ducks in the first round, 15th overall, in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. In playing his first game, Klepov became the fifth player from 2026 draft to make their NHL debut this season and the first player drafted outside the top 10 to do so.
