The Anaheim Ducks have a roster decision to make about 18-year-old rookie Nikita Klepov, according to an Oct. 5 report from The Hockey News. They can keep him in the NHL or send him back to junior hockey in the OHL. Klepov signed his entry-level contract with Anaheim in late July.
The Ducks traded up to get him. In the first round of the 2026 NHL draft, Anaheim sent center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for the 15th overall pick, which became Klepov, and the 29th overall pick. After the draft, general manager Pat Verbeek said Klepov could be on a "fast track" to the NHL, even though Klepov had committed to Michigan State University.
Klepov earned that attention in his first OHL season. He led the league in scoring with 97 points (37 goals, 60 assists) in 67 games. Klepov decided he had outgrown the junior level, and the Ducks went a step further by signing him to his entry-level deal.
His options are limited. Because 2026-27 is his draft-plus-one season, he can't play in the AHL, and The Hockey News reports he's now ineligible for the NCAA as well. That leaves the NHL or a return to the OHL. If the Ducks scratch him for five straight games, they can send him to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL for a conditioning stint of up to 14 days.
So far, Klepov has been a healthy scratch for Anaheim's first two games. The Ducks opened on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights and then hosted the Florida Panthers. The Hockey News described both as Cup contenders and two of the league's more physical teams.
Anaheim needs scoring. The Ducks have moved on from McTavish and fellow top-six forward Chris Kreider, and forward Troy Terry is expected to miss the first two to three months of the season. The Hockey News argues that Klepov has top-six skill and could help fill those gaps. For now, head coach Joel Quenneville and the staff have chosen to wait on his NHL debut.