Nikita Klepov had an electric rookie year at both the OHL and international levels, transitioning into a top six role with Saginaw seamlessly after playing a depth role in the USHL last season. His electric puck skills and aggressive mentality carried over from a strong Hlinka Gretzky tournament in the preseason, quickly developing chemistry with a veteran Spirit roster and producing consistently en route to leading the OHL in points.
An electric puck carrier and playmaker, Klepov has elite offensive instincts and an attacking, aggressive mindset that belies his average frame and strength. His ability to make defenders miss and create space for himself despite choppy strides and average foot speed is key to his offensive consistency. He also processes the game quickly, making smart, creative plays with the puck the showing the ability to fight through contact to get to high-danger areas of the offensive zone. While his frame and skating currently hold him back from making a big impact on the rush and in the defensive zone, he doesn’t shy away from physical play and his quick-strike offensive capabilities make him a threat at all times. His offensive potential at the NHL level is at a top six level, but his top-end speed and play off the puck could depress his draft stock a bit despite his high-end production. To me, he’s still firmly in the conversation as a prospect in the latter half of the first round.