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

Nikita Okhotiuk
Okhotiuk (left) with the San Jose Sharks in 2023
Born (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 23)
Chelyabinsk, Russia
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams
CSKA Moscow
New Jersey Devils
San Jose Sharks
Calgary Flames
NHL draft 61st overall, 2019
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2020–present

Playing career

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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

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 Belye Medvedi MHL 19 1 3 4 37
2017–18 Ottawa 67's OHL 53 5 6 11 71 5 0 1 1 4
2018–19 Ottawa 67's OHL 56 2 15 17 43 18 1 1 2 15
2019–20 Ottawa 67's OHL 39 3 16 19 35
2020–21 Binghamton Devils AHL 28 2 4 6 36
2021–22 Utica Comets AHL 63 3 9 12 68 5 0 3 3 11
2021–22 New Jersey Devils NHL 5 1 1 2 2
2022–23 Utica Comets AHL 20 2 4 6 33
2022–23 New Jersey Devils NHL 10 1 0 1 2
2023–24 San Jose Barracuda AHL 5 0 1 1 4
2023–24 San Jose Sharks NHL 43 1 7 8 44
2023–24 Calgary Flames NHL 9 0 1 1 4
NHL totals 67 3 9 12 52

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2016 Russia U17   6 0 0 0 4
2017 Russia IH18 4th 5 1 2 3 4
2018 Russia U18 6th 5 0 2 2 6
Junior totals 16 1 4 5 14

References

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  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.
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