The 2026 NHL Draft saw the Anaheim Ducks make a splash by selecting 17‑year‑old right winger Nikita Klepov with the 15th overall pick, a move that caps a whirlwind rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League.
Klepov dominated the league, topping the scoring charts with 97 points in 67 games and earning Rookie of the Year honors while being named to the OHL First All‑Star Team.
A Historic OHL Campaign
His 97 points marked the third time in OHL history a rookie has both won Rookie of the Year and led the league in scoring, a feat that also earned him the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the circuit’s top scorer.
The Ducks acquired the 15th and 29th picks from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Mason McTavish, a transaction that reshapes both clubs’ rosters.
Beyond club play, Klepov helped Team USA capture gold at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring the decisive goal in the championship game and cementing his status as a rising star on the international stage.
Committed to Michigan State University for the 2026‑27 season, Klepov will join a program known for developing elite talent, while continuing to represent his country on the world stage.
The milestone places him alongside notable alumni such as Jason Robertson and Mason McTavish, both of whom have charted successful NHL careers after similar junior achievements.