Left Wing
6’0/178
Left
Saginaw Spirit/OHL
Related: Ilia Morozov
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.
Size/Strength Good
Skating Great
Shot/Scoring Good
Puckhandling Excellent
Physical Play Average
Offensive Play Great
Defensive Below Average
Hockey Sense Great
Competitiveness Great
Strengths
1. Klepov is a skilled winger who consistently makes moves in open ice while always buzzing around. He finds space in the scoring areas off the puck and is able to use his size and hands to get by defenders to find teammates as well.
2. 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.
3. Klepov excels at using small fakes, hesitations, and no-look passes to deceive defenders. He is confident handling the puck under heavy pressure and can “carve” through the offensive zone.
Areas of Improvement
1. Skill is a blessing and a curse; has a tendency to over-handle the puck, sometimes “stickhandling himself into oblivion” or ignoring open passing lanes to take difficult shots.
2. While he shows effort in all three zones, he needs to refine his defensive positioning and “learn to pick his spots” rather than chasing every play.
3. He has been called a “raw” player whose impact can fluctuate, though his performance as a primary driver for Saginaw’s offense has significantly boosted his stock.
Scouting Report
Nikita Klepov is an elite offensive winger for the Saginaw Spirit, currently projected as a top-32 pick (ranking as high as the top 15-20) for the 2026 NHL Draft. He is defined by a “tanky” and pacey style, combining high-end skill with a fearless physical game. Klepov excels at using small fakes, hesitations, and no-look passes to deceive defenders. He is confident handling the puck under heavy pressure and can “carve” through the offensive zone.
He sees the ice at a high level and has a “knack” for finding open scoring lanes and space in transition. A Dual threat scorer; he is equally lethal as a shooter and a playmaker. His one-timer is particularly noted for its pro-level load and release, often drawing comparisons to Evgeni Malkin. Despite being 6’0″, he plays a “tanky” style, using his strength and low center of gravity to win battles he shouldn’t. He is willing to go to “dirty areas” and engage in corners.
Scouts note a tendency to over-handle the puck, sometimes “stickhandling himself into oblivion” or ignoring open passing lanes to take difficult shots. While he shows effort in all three zones, he needs to refine his defensive positioning and “learn to pick his spots” rather than chasing every play. He has been called a “raw” player whose impact can fluctuate, though his performance as a primary driver for Saginaw’s offense has significantly boosted his stock.
Klepov recently broke the Saginaw Spirit franchise record for most points by a rookie, a mark previously held by current Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti. NHL Comparison for Nikita Klepov is Cole Perfetti, current Winnipeg Jet
and former Saginaw Spirit star, who ironically has identical skillset to him. Klepov’s rapid development in his OHL rookie year has moved him from a potential late-first/early-second-round pick to a legitimate candidate for the top 15. His offensive toolkit—specifically the combination of high-danger playmaking and a lethal power-play shot—makes him one of the most dynamic prospects in the 2026 class.
Skill: Offensive forward with net-driving tendencies and a O-zone game
NHL Comparable: Cole Perfetti
NHL Potential: Top 6 Playdriving Winger
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | PTS |
| 2024-25 | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | 64 | 13 | 33 |
| 2025-26 | Saginaw Spirit | OHL | 67 | 37 | 97 |
| USA U18 | Hlinka Gretzky Cup | 5 | 1 | 6 |
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