Just 24 hours after Michigan State hockey dropped their roster for the 2026-27 season, a bombshell hit: incoming freshman Nikita Klepov isn’t going to East Lansing after all. Instead, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Talk about a sudden plot twist, right?
Plans Just Went Sideways for the 15th Pick
This is a wild turn for Klepov, who was the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, coming out of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. Everyone expected him to play a year at Michigan State, get some college puck experience, then make the jump to pro. That was the whole plan, the smart move. But nope, those plans just got absolutely shredded. He signed that ELC, and it means he’s skipping the NCAA entirely. What a massive shake-up for both him and the Spartans program!
Anaheim Or Bust: The Pressure Is ON
Here’s where it gets even crazier for the young forward. According to multiple reports, Klepov isn’t eligible for the AHL this season. Think about that for a second. It means there’s no minor league ramp-up for him. It’s not like he can just sign the contract and go dominate in the minors. The kid has to make the Ducks’ NHL roster *right now*. If he can’t crack that big league squad, it’s back to Saginaw for him. That’s a ton of pressure for any prospect, let alone one who just flipped his whole career path in a day. It’s the NHL, or it’s junior hockey. No in-between. Every shift in camp for Klepov is gonna be do-or-die!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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