Klepov led the OHL in scoring as a draft-eligible, and Anaheim grabbed him 15th with the pick it acquired from St. Louis in the Mason McTavish trade. The production is real and the leap is the story: 97 points (37 goals, 60 assists) in 67 games for Saginaw after just 31 points in the USHL the year before. He is a gifted playmaker with elite hands, one of the best distributors in the CHL, dangerous from the half wall, off the puck, or planted at the net front, and he backs the vision with a near-40-goal shooting touch. The catch is the skating. His stride is clunky and his straight-line speed is ordinary, which leaves him vulnerable in transition, and he survives on puck protection, smart first touches, and quick puck movement rather than separating with his feet.

Klepkov was drafted 15th overall by the Ducks and is one of the most skilled forwards in the draft.

Not many have done more early on to insert themselves in the lottery conversation this season as Nikita Klepov. A player who performed well in the USHL, Klepov moving to the OHL has raised his stock immensely, getting to showcase himself as a top-six forward for the Saginaw Spirit, and in the process unable to stop producing. Klepov has been leading the Spirit offensively early in the season, at the time of writing leading the team in goals, assists, & points, as well as being a top player for the Americans at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Although not big, Klepov is a physical player who does well in working hard to gain possession, and doesn’t shy away from being tough to win. Klepov is also a smooth skater who has good agility and balance with the puck. One area of improvement for Klepov is body strength. For how elusive he is, a highly physical opponent can cause him some challenges, and he’ll need to be able to match up body for body to add a layer of aggressiveness to an already scrappy and mobile game. This season has been the start Nikita Klepov has wanted, and with him surely to continue being a key player for Saginaw, he should be able to maintain standing out as one of the OHL’s top prospects.-

Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff pegged him as a secondary scorer in the NHL, and the skating is why the points came with a draft-day discount. He is committed to Michigan State for 2026-27, and his fantasy value tracks the playmaking, with power-play time the most likely first source of points if the feet hold up against pro speed.