It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! Earlier on, we released the TWC consolidated 2026 NHL Draft rankings. The 2026 NHL Draft will take place on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo. Today, we’re looking at dynamic winger Nikita Klepov, one of the top forwards available at the 2026 NHL Draft.
The American-born Russian tore up the OHL this season and is expected to make the jump to the NCAA in 2026-27.
Who is Nikita Klepov?
| Position | Shoots | Height | Weight | Nationality | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left Wing | Left | 6’0″ / 183cm | 181lbs / 82kg | USA/Russia | TWC Rank #23 / CS EU Rank #8 |
Although of Russian origin, Klepov was born in the U.S.A. and represents the U.S. at the international level. Standing at six feet and 181 pounds, Klepov has plenty of room to grow over the coming years and offers decent size for a winger. As a June 2008 birthday, he’s also one of the younger forwards in the draft.
Klepov’s on-ice production
| Year | Draft Rel. | League | Team | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | D-2 | AYHL 15U | WB/Scranton Knights AAA | 22 | 31 | 41 | 72 |
| 2024-25 | D-1 | USHL | Sioux City Musketeers | 59 | 12 | 19 | 31 |
| 2025-26 | D+0 | OHL | Saginaw Spirit | 67 | 37 | 60 | 97 |
A solid showing in the USHL
Klepov destroyed 15U AAA in his D-2 year and moved on to the USHL for his D-1 season. While his numbers don’t jump off the page, it’s worth noting that he was still just 16 years old and one of the youngest players in the entire USHL. 31 points in 59 games as a 16-year-old in the USHL is nothing to scoff at, and showcases Klepov’s high-end offensive impact. His production ranked seventh in the USHL among U17 players that season.
Dominating the OHL
The past season, Klepov made the jump to the OHL for his draft year and was among the highest-producing CHL skaters across all three junior leagues. His 97 points in 67 games not only led the Saginaw Spirit, but also the entire OHL in scoring. Klepov finished with 13 more points than the next highest U18 skater in the OHL, Caleb Malhotra, who is currently a projected top-five pick. For his superb season, he was named the OHL Rookie of the Year.
Preston’s strengths
Playmaking
One of the standout strengths of Klepov’s game is his playmaking ability. He sees the ice at an extremely high level and is able to generate chances for his teammates at a much higher rate than most players in his draft class. When you watch him with the puck, he’s constantly faking out defenders with subtle movements and hesitations, opening up time and space for himself.
He’s an extremely patient player on the puck and is always scanning the ice and looking for the best possible play. There’s a reason he totalled 60 assists in 67 games. If he’s paired up with dynamic scorers, watch out. His playmaking ability also makes him a lethal setup man on a power play.
Creativity
Klepov is a very creative player. He’s the type of winger you love to watch with the puck when he’s feeling it, as he can make things happen out of nowhere. He knows how to pick apart opposing defences with ease, and constantly keeps defenders on their toes. While he isn’t considered an elite offensive creator, he’s really close. Among the second tier of forwards in this draft class, Klepov is right at the top when it comes to creating offence.
Klepov’s areas of weakness
Strength
Klepov isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas and doesn’t always get out-muscled, but he can certainly stand to add some size and strength to his frame. At under 190 lbs, he’s still a little frail and at times loses puck battles to bigger and stronger players. It also causes him to get pushed to the perimeter at times, which limits his effectiveness as an offensive winger. With added strength, it would likely give Klepov more confidence to go to the centre of the ice and have a more direct attack element in his game.
Skating
Although Klepov isn’t a weak skater by any means, he’s not a great one either. He has quick feet in tight spaces, but his overall skating mechanics aren’t the best, and he could benefit from refinement. With an improved stride, Klepov can add yet another tool to his game that would pair perfectly with his high-end playmaking ability.
Klepov’s comparables
A comparison I like for Klepov is Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti. The fellow Spirit alum has a similar skill set in playmaking and puck skills and is also great at creating opportunities for his teammates. Much like Perfetti, Klepov is a tier below a top-line winger, but is a solid complementary piece on a contender’s second line. With that said, Klepov may have a higher ceiling than Perfetti if he continues to develop.
Fit with the Flames
| Organizational need addressed | Right-shot dynamic winger |
| Realistic pick range | 15-25 |
| NHL timeline | 3-4 years |
| Fit verdict | Good fit |
While the Flames certainly don’t need more wingers in the organization, they don’t have many as talented as Klepov, which makes him a fit for the organization in my opinion. Klepov would immediately become the team’s top winger prospect outside of the NHL, and for a team desperate for offence, he would be a good fit.
Ideally, the Flames walk away with an LD and/or a centre in the first round, but Klepov’s talent is undeniable and is worth the pick even if he plays at a crowded position.
Summary
Klepov is a dynamic, playmaking winger and one of the top forwards available in the 2026 draft after the big names are off the board. While he doesn’t possess elite upside, he has very real 60-point potential one day. For a team in desperate need of high-end skill in their lineup, Klepov could be a great target for the Flames with Vegas’ pick if he’s still there.
Risk: 2/5
Reward: 4/5
Projection: Second-line playmaking winger