Anaheim Ducks Send First Round Pick Back to Junior

The Anaheim Ducks were one of just five teams to keep a 2026 draft pick in the NHL heading into the 2026-27 season, now they’re the first of those five to send their player back to the Canadian Hockey League. On Friday afternoon, the Ducks announced that forward Nikita Klepov, the 15th overall pick in this past summer’s NHL Draft, has been reassigned to the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. A Strange Start Often, when a young prospect is given an opportunity to stick in the NHL their team prioritizes their ice time and development.