The Calgary Flames have acquired defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a conditional fifth-round draft pick.
The Flames added yet another Russian defenseman, days after acquiring Daniil Miromanov from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Noah Hanifin.
Okhotiuk has tallied one goal and eight points in 43 games this season with the San Jose Sharks and is a plus/minus -22. He has appeared in five games with the Sharks’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the San Jose Barracuda, registering one point.
Okhotiuk was originally selected No. 61 overall by the New Jersey Devils and made his NHL debut with New Jersey in the 2021-22 campaign appearing in five games and registering one goal and one assist. He scored his first NHL goal on April 21, 2022, against the Buffalo Sabres. He was part of the package sent to San Jose for Timo Meier.
The Chelyabinsk, Russia product has spent the majority of his pro career in the AHL. Over parts of four years, Okhotiuk has appeared in 116 games and has totalled seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points in that frame with the Binghamton Devils, Utica Comets and San Jose Barracuda. He played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Ottawa 67s prior to going pro. During his time in the OHL, Okhotiuk collected 10 goals and 37 assists for 47 points in 148 games, he added three points in 23 OHL Playoff contests.
The Flames currently sit fifth in the Pacific Division with a 31-26-5 record and 67 points through 62 games. They sit six points back of the Golden Knights for fourth place. Calgary is set to face off against Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers on Saturday and the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday in a set of back-to-back games. It’s unclear whether Okhotiuk will be in the lineup or not.
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