The 15th overall pick in the NHL Draft just over a month ago was Nikita Klepov, as the Anaheim Ducks targeted the American-Russian skater who looks more like a wizard on the ice, turning his hockey stick into a wand as he makes pucks disappear—even when he’s not at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Klepov was one of five Michigan State Spartans to be selected in the first round of this year’s NHL Draft and was poised to begin his collegiate career under Adam Nightingale in East Lansing before eventually making the jump to the NHL.
Instead, that career is starting much earlier than any Spartan fan would have hoped.
Saturday afternoon, the Ducks announced they had signed Klepov to a three-year entry-level contract and will immediately place him in their minor league system with hopes of developing him into an NHL contributor sooner rather than later.
This is something that happens in college hockey from time to time, as players are drafted before they even begin their collegiate careers. It hasn’t happened often in the Spartans program, but with the number of future Spartans selected in this year’s NHL Draft, it almost felt inevitable. Still, with every passing day, fans had grown more excited about the thought of watching Klepov suit up in the Green and White.
Ironically, the news came just one day after Michigan State officially announced its 2026-27 roster, with Klepov included. In the announcement photo, he looked like a quiet Russian ready to get to work. Now, after Saturday’s news, it’s almost as if those eyes knew something was brewing. As much as he may have wanted to join the Spartan family and help Michigan State chase a fourth straight Big Ten championship, he’ll instead begin developing in the Ducks’ organization.
Nightingale has slowly transformed Michigan State into one of the premier pipelines for NHL talent, and that vision came to fruition last season when Porter Martone joined the Philadelphia Flyers immediately after Michigan State’s final game. Martone exploded onto the scene, recording 10 points over the final nine games of the regular season.
It’s not as though Anaheim necessarily offered Klepov a better opportunity than Michigan State. He was expected to receive plenty of ice time for the Spartans while competing against some of the nation’s top incoming talent. NCAA hockey has continued to surge in recent years, with NIL opportunities encouraging many elite prospects to spend more time developing through the collegiate ranks.
Instead, the Ducks’ decision to sign Klepov now may signal just how highly they think of his potential. If he can quickly showcase the magical skill he’s become known for, Anaheim could have him knocking on the NHL’s door much sooner. Had he stayed at Michigan State, he likely would have spent the entire season in East Lansing before making the jump to professional hockey.
Last season with the Saginaw Spirit, Klepov put together a mind-boggling campaign, totaling 97 points with 32 goals and 65 assists while establishing himself as one of the most exciting young players in junior hockey.
Klepov was expected to be a major piece of Michigan State’s roster this season, but fate had different plans for both him and the Spartans.
Michigan State fans will undoubtedly be disappointed they never got the chance to see him wear the Green and White, but they’ll also be eager to watch the next chapter of his career unfold. Sometimes the road to the NHL comes sooner than expected, and for Nikita Klepov, that journey begins now.
