Rookie sensation Nikita Klepov is rewriting OHL history, chasing a rare scoring title last achieved by a future Hall of Famer.
Saginaw Spirit forward Nikita Klepov (98). Credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL ImagesRecently, Saginaw Spirit rookie Nikita Klepov broke Cole Perfetti's record for most points in a single season by a Spirit rookie. On Feb. 14, Klepov notched an assist on an Egor Barabanov goal, reaching the 75-point mark, eclipsing Perfetti's record of 74.
After having been held without a point in the next two games, the highly skilled Russian winger is back to firing on all cylinders, and at the time of writing this (Mar. 3), he leads the OHL in points and has the chance to do something the league hasn't seen since the 2006-07 season.
Future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane recorded 145 points (62 goals, 83 assists) in 58 games during the 2006-07 season. According to OHL's official website, dating back to the 1997-98 season, Kane is the only rookie in history to finish the season with the most points.
Now, it is important to note that Kane had two seasons developing with the United States National Team Development Program before he joined the London Knights for his draft season. Some wouldn't consider him a "true " rookie because he had seasoning already playing junior hockey.
The same can be said about Nikita Klepov, but to a lesser extent.
Klepov joined Saginaw this season after playing out the 2024-25 season in the USHL for the Sioux City Musketeers. However, as a 2008-born, he's only technically one year off from being considered a "true" rookie, so his play should still be applauded and recognized as a rookie, in my opinion.
With nine games left on the schedule, Klepov sits 15 points back from hitting the century mark. He would become just the seventh rookie to accomplish this feat (dating back to 1997), joining Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner, Alex DeBrincat, Nail Yakupov, Sheldon Keefe, and David Legwand.
The OHL recently named Klepov the league's Rookie of the Month for February, which is the third time he's taken home this award, tying Marco Rossi's record, and winning it in back-to-back months.
Klepov won't have to wait very long to hear his name called in Buffalo this summer. The question is: will he find out his NHL future on day one? Or on day two?
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