One Ducks prospect departed the organization while another took a major leap toward joining the parent club ahead of schedule Saturday.
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Nikita Klepov, the coveted forward whom the Ducks selected 15th overall in June’s draft, made a seemingly abrupt about face, decommitting from Michigan State and instead signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ducks.
By virtue of his fresh pact, he is no longer NCAA-eligible, meaning he will challenge for an NHL roster spot in training camp. He could also return to the Canadian junior ranks, where he competed last season for the first time, or take on a hybrid approach to his development during the upcoming campaign.
That could see him play limited action with the Ducks, potentially get a few AHL games under his belt in San Diego with new Gulls coach Dave Manson and then spend the remainder of the season at the junior level, including the World Junior Championships potentially.
Klepov was born in Florida., but raised in Russia until age 15. He represented the U.S. at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last season, but ultimately yearns to skate for Russia on the international stage, he told the SoCal News Group earlier this month.
The IIHF recently softened its ban on Russia from international competition – that stemmed from its war with Ukraine, citing safety concerns – though the Russians’ status for this winter’s World Junior Championships remained somewhat unclear. The IIHF said it would evaluate Russian participation on an event-by-event basis.
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“It’s been really nice to get the opportunity to play in both countries and to understand different systems and different ways to play,” Klepov said.
With winger Troy Terry sidelined (hip surgery) until around the turn of the calendar year, Klepov could have an opening at the top level to seize this September. That would represent a similar but even more swift transition than that of Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov, who also passed quickly from Russia to Canadian juniors to the minor-pro and then the NHL level, albeit when he was two years older than Klepov.
“There’s a lot of good players in the NHL, but I watch mostly Nikita Kucherov’s games, because of the way he plays, the way he handles the puck and the stuff he does on the power play,” Klepov said.
Heading the other way was goalie Vyacheslav Buteyets. Much like fellow netminder Calle Clang, who signed with Rögle BK in his native Sweden earlier this offseason, Buteyets inked a deal overseas with Traktor Chelyabinsk, who then loaned him to the Shanghai Dragons. Both clubs play in the majority-Russian Kontinental Hockey League.
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