Nikita Okhotiuk

Nikita Okhotiuk
Okhotiuk (left) with the San Jose Sharks in 2023
Born (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000
Chelyabinsk, Russia
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
PositionDefence
Shoots Left
KHL teamFormer teamsCSKA MoscowNew Jersey DevilsSan Jose SharksCalgary Flames
NHL draft 61st overall, 2019New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2020–present

Nikita Alexeyevich Okhotiuk (Russian: Никита Алексеевич Охотюк; born 4 December 2000) is a Russian professional ice hockeydefenceman for CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Playing career

Okhotiuk played in his native Russia as a youth with Belye Medvedi of the Junior Hockey League (MHL) before continuing his development in North America with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils with the 61st overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. In the following 2019–20 season, Okhotiuk was signed by the Devils to a three-year, entry-level contract on 30 December 2019.[1]

During his second professional season within the Devils organization in 2021–22, Okhotiuk was recalled from AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, and made his NHL debut for the Devils on 21 April 2022, and notched his first career NHL goal in a 5–2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.[2]

In the following 2022–23 season, Okhotiuk was traded by the Devils to the San Jose Sharks on 26 February 2023, as part of a multi-player deal, in which the Devils received Timo Meier.[3]

During the 2023–24 NHL season, on 8 March 2024, Okhotiuk was traded by the Sharks at the trade deadline to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick.[4]

On 26 May 2024, Okhotiuk signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), despite sanctions on the club by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) banning international transfers.[5] His contract was later confirmed by the club on 1 August 2024.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeam League GPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2016–17 Belye MedvediMHL1913437
2017–18Ottawa 67'sOHL53561171 50114
2018–19Ottawa 67's OHL 562151743 1811215
2019–20Ottawa 67's OHL 393161935
2020–21Binghamton DevilsAHL2824636
2021–22Utica CometsAHL 63391268 503311
2021–22New Jersey DevilsNHL51122
2022–23Utica Comets AHL 2024633
2022–23New Jersey Devils NHL 101012
2023–24San Jose BarracudaAHL 50114
2023–24San Jose SharksNHL 4317844
2023–24 Calgary FlamesNHL 90114
2024–25CSKA MoscowKHL6227930 60112
NHL totals 67391252
KHL totals 6227930 60112

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2016Russia U173rd place, bronze medalist(s)60004
2017RussiaIH184th 51234
2018Russia U186th 50226
Junior totals 1614514

References

  1. ^"RELEASE: Devils Sign Okhotyuk to Entry Level Deal". NHL.com. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. ^"Okposo, Tuch score short-handed goals, Sabres beat Devils". ESPN. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. ^"Sharks make blockbuster trade with New Jersey". San Jose Sharks. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  4. ^"Flames Acquire Nikita Okhotiuk". Calgary Flames. NHL.com. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  5. ^"Calgary Flames D Nikita Okhotiuk signs two-year deal with CSKA". The Sports Network. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  6. ^"CSKA has set a course for the return of Russian players from North America". cska-hockey.com. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.