Sept. 29, 2026, 9:00 p.m. ET
Michigan State hockey thought that they were going to get the services of one of the best players in the 2026 NHL Draft Class. Instead, the Anaheim Ducks signed Nikita Klepov to an entry level contract, with Klepov forgoing his time in East Lansing.
Klepov, the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft, had his risk pay off. Announced to start this week, Klepov has officially made the Ducks 25-man active roster to begin the season.
A native of Deerfield Beach, Florida, while also carrying Russian citizenship, Klepov was a star with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League, where he gained the recognition of both the Spartans and the NHL.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy
Love crosswords? Explore the Crossword page and play the new MidGrid Crossword.