Klepov Dominates OHL, NHL Draft Buzz

0:00It's March 14th for the NHL. Let's get into it. Follow and subscribe for more team news every day. Nikita Klepoff is dominating the Ontario Hockey League this season with the Saginaw Spirit. The 6-foot right-winger from Deerfield Beach, Florida, born on June 27th, 2008, leads rookies with 88 points that put some second overall in the league with 36 goals and 52 assists. As a 20-26 NHL draft eligible player, he's shooting left and drawing tons of scout attention. Earlier this offseason, Klepoff got selected in the first round of the CHL import draft by Saginaw. He came off a strong showing at the Lincoln-Gretzky Cup, helping the United States grab gold while tying for the team lead and assists. Before that, he played well in the United States Hockey League with the Sioux Falls Musketeers. The Scouts rank him highly, like 16th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's mid-term list, and around 17th to 28th in other top rankings.

1:00His calm, puck handling and vision make him a threat anywhere in the offensive zone. On Saginaw's roster, he's filling big shoes left by recent NHL departures. Klepoff shines on the power play, ranking top three league-wide with 33 points there. His playmaking and shot create chances, and he battles to the net, despite his 181 pound frame. Defensively, he's responsible, but sometimes drifts, and is skating mechanics knee tweaks. Looking ahead, Klepoff projects as a mid-first round pick with top six NHL potential. Bolking up could elevate his two-way game, turning him into a power play and penalty kill asset down the line. This episode is brought to you by our sponsor. See the episode description. It looks like a pillow. It sounds like headphones, built for comfort and sound, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com.