The Penguins could stand to target skill and high offensive upside with pick No. 22 on Friday night in the first round of the NHL Draft. If they do go down that path, Nikita Klepov could be one of the more intriguing names on the board.
Klepov, who turns 18 years old on Saturday, is a 6-foot, 181-pound winger with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit, and he just put together one of the more impressive draft-year seasons in junior hockey. He led the entire OHL in scoring as a 17-year-old rookie, finishing with 37 goals and 60 assists for 97 points in 67 games. Only two other CHL rookies have led one of the three Canadian major junior leagues in scoring since 2000: Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane. That's decent company.
"He kind of can create from nothing," Spirit general manager told Sportsnet. "Sometimes I feel like you're in the o zone, he's got great hands, he hangs on the puck and kind of finds a way to make a play or gets to the middle of the ice to get a better opportunity for a shot off. He seemingly can score from anywhere. ... I really think his ability and IQ to create and play when you think maybe there's nothing there kind of brings you out of your seat as a fan or even as a GM watching from above."
NHL Central Scouting's Nick Smith told NHL.com that. "Klepov grew on me every time I watched him. He's explosive, shifty with elite hockey sense and skills. He has that nose for the net with an NHL release. He created some magic playing with smart players like (Egor) Barabanov. He’s a top-six guy at the next level, which we don’t say about too many players."
The concerns with Klepov aren't anything exceptional. His skating could use work. He could stand to work on his overall consistency.
Klepov going to the Penguins would bring a homecoming of sorts. Klepov comes from a Russian family and lives in Moscow, but was born in the U.S. while his parents were taking a trip to Florida, making him a dual citizen. He grew up playing hockey in Russia, but then spent a full year in Wilkes-Barre playing 15U hockey for the Knights program in 2023-24. He moved to the USHL the following year with Sioux City, then the OHL just last season.
Klepov is committed to Michigan State for next season, and will presumably spend a year or two there before going pro.
The Penguins have a decent amount of wingers coming up in the system, but not a ton who project to be future top-six wingers. Klepov projects to be just that. He checks a lot of boxes.
THE ASYLUM
Draft profiles: Klepov 'can create from nothing'
The Penguins could stand to target skill and high offensive upside with pick No. 22 on Friday night in the first round of the NHL Draft. If they do go down that path, Nikita Klepov could be one of the more intriguing names on the board.
Klepov, who turns 18 years old on Saturday, is a 6-foot, 181-pound winger with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit, and he just put together one of the more impressive draft-year seasons in junior hockey. He led the entire OHL in scoring as a 17-year-old rookie, finishing with 37 goals and 60 assists for 97 points in 67 games. Only two other CHL rookies have led one of the three Canadian major junior leagues in scoring since 2000: Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane. That's decent company.
"He kind of can create from nothing," Spirit general manager told Sportsnet. "Sometimes I feel like you're in the o zone, he's got great hands, he hangs on the puck and kind of finds a way to make a play or gets to the middle of the ice to get a better opportunity for a shot off. He seemingly can score from anywhere. ... I really think his ability and IQ to create and play when you think maybe there's nothing there kind of brings you out of your seat as a fan or even as a GM watching from above."
NHL Central Scouting's Nick Smith told NHL.com that. "Klepov grew on me every time I watched him. He's explosive, shifty with elite hockey sense and skills. He has that nose for the net with an NHL release. He created some magic playing with smart players like (Egor) Barabanov. He’s a top-six guy at the next level, which we don’t say about too many players."
The concerns with Klepov aren't anything exceptional. His skating could use work. He could stand to work on his overall consistency.
Klepov going to the Penguins would bring a homecoming of sorts. Klepov comes from a Russian family and lives in Moscow, but was born in the U.S. while his parents were taking a trip to Florida, making him a dual citizen. He grew up playing hockey in Russia, but then spent a full year in Wilkes-Barre playing 15U hockey for the Knights program in 2023-24. He moved to the USHL the following year with Sioux City, then the OHL just last season.
Klepov is committed to Michigan State for next season, and will presumably spend a year or two there before going pro.
The Penguins have a decent amount of wingers coming up in the system, but not a ton who project to be future top-six wingers. Klepov projects to be just that. He checks a lot of boxes.
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