Ht/Wt: 6' 0"/178 lbs
Position: LW
Team: Saginaw (OHL)

Nikita Klepov's Player Profile

Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff - April 14th: "It was surprising, given he only put up 31 points in the USHL the year prior. The Michigan State University commit plays with a ton of finesse, but he’s physically strong, too. He’s just an OK skater, but Klepov should still go high because magic tends to happen when he’s in control of the puck on the attack."

Dauton Reimer - The Hockey Writers - March 25th: "He has a great shot with a quick release, and he uses plenty of deceptive movements and subtle shifts to get the goalie off-kilter. He’s also a creative puck-mover who can slip a puck by several defenders to a wide-open teammate."

Scott Wheeler - The Athletic - March 17th: "He sees the ice at a very high level as a passer and has legit power-play skill, blending little fakes and hesitations into his handles to throw defenders off his scent. He also skates well and creates a ton of entries and high-danger looks with his craft on the puck. It can be hard for average-sized wingers to go in the first round, and they usually really have to produce, but he has, and he has some real believers in his talent and upside."

Jason Bukala - Sportsnet - March 17th: "There have been several nights where Klepov has been deployed over 25 minutes and used in all situations. He will never be described as elite defensively, but he’s a threat to score shorthanded and has contributed 36G-52A so far this year."

Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff - March 13th: "He’s in his first year of OHL competition, but he’s tracking for around 40 goals and 95 points. Klepov is equally skilled as a shooter and a playmaker, and I love how often he finds open scoring lanes."

Peter Baracchini - The Hockey Writers - March 10th: "He can cut through defenders with ease, shows quick movement and executes plays with his timing and strong puck skills in tight spaces. Defensively, he needs work and there are times where he’s not as engaging and lets the play come to him, but he can turn on the jets and step in to regain possession instantly."

Smaht Scouting - February 27th: "His stride is noticeably clunky, with poor lower-body connection and balance issues that limit his speed and make him vulnerable in transition, particularly through the neutral zone. To his credit, Klepov is aware of these deficiencies and plays around them well, using strong puck protection, intelligent first touches under pressure, and quick puck movement to get himself into workable space rather than relying on foot speed."

Sam Cosentino - Sportsnet - February 25th: "Klepov can transport pucks and change pace on opponents when necessary. His puck touch is excellent and so is his ability to find open lanes to distribute. There’s plenty of creativity in his game."

Nikita Klepov's Stats

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