Ducks Draft Nikita Klepov 15th Overall

Klepov’s rise has been impressive considering his path to the NHL Draft. After being selected by Saginaw in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, he quickly became one of the OHL’s premier offensive players and earned the Hap Emms Award as the league’s Rookie of the Year. He is also committed to Michigan State University, where he is expected to continue his development next season.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

Once he arrived in Saginaw for the 2025-26 season, Klepov immediately stood out. Whether it is on the offensive side of the puck or making plays on his end of the ice, he has taken his game to another level this season after a solid one with the Sioux Falls Musketeers in the United States Hockey League (USHL) last season. What stands out most when he has possession of the puck in the offensive zone is the calmness with which he plays. When he has the puck, he does not rush or force a pass or play, having the IQ and vision to know when and where to attack. While he’s not the biggest (6-foot, 181 pounds), Klepov has no issue going to the middle of the ice with the puck to make a play and can play anywhere in the offensive zone, making him a threat to fire from anywhere. He does need to work on bulking up a bit to handle the physical nature of the game at the next level, though. 

Klepov’s offensive skill set, along with his IQ, vision, and patience, has been on full display this season for the Spirit as well. It starts with his stickhandling and puck work through the neutral zone, where he makes a difficult play look easy with quick moves to weave his way through and then uses his hands in the offensive zone to maneuver himself into a good spot. While he does have good speed, the mechanics of his skating are an area where he could improve. He has great playmaking ability thanks to his vision on the ice, finding teammates in spots some would not think to pass or play, and also has the shot to be a goal scorer when he needs to be. To this point of the OHL season, the future Michigan State Spartan is second in the league in points (88) and sits in the top ten in both goals (36) and assists (52).

Read Klepov’s full player profile here.

How This Affects Anaheim Ducks’ Plans

Drafting Klepov gives the Ducks another high-end offensive weapon to add to their already impressive young core. Anaheim has spent the last few years building around skill and creativity, and Klepov fits that identity perfectly. His playmaking ability and scoring touch add even more depth to a forward group that already features young talent, giving the organization another potential top-six option as it continues to rebuild.

More importantly, the selection of Klepov reinforces that the Ducks are shifting from just acquiring prospects to building a team capable of becoming a consistent threat. If his development continues on the current trajectory, he could eventually provide Anaheim with another game-breaking winger that can help elevate the team from rebuilding to true playoff contender in the coming years.