Nikita Klepov’s spot on Anaheim’s roster hasn’t come with much ice time. The Ducks’ 15th overall pick in June has appeared in just two games this season, even after choosing to leave his college commitment when he was told he’d have a real shot to make the team.
That leaves Anaheim in a tricky spot. Head coach Joel Quenneville recently told reporters including Derek Lee of The Hockey News that he still doesn’t know whether the Ducks will keep Klepov in the NHL all season or send him back to junior at some point.
Because Klepov is not eligible for a full-time AHL assignment this year, the only options are for him to stay with Anaheim or be loaned back to OHL Saginaw. If he plays in nine or fewer games with the Ducks, his contract will slide and remain at three years heading into next season.
In Edmonton, the Oilers made a roster move of their own, assigning forward James Stefan to AHL Bakersfield. Stefan had opened the season on an injured/non-roster designation, but he has now been cleared to play.
The 23-year-old, who is the son of former NHLer Patrik Stefan, spent most of last season with ECHL Fort Wayne and posted 17 goals and 17 assists in 38 games. He also has three goals in 51 career games with the Condors as he enters the final season of his entry-level deal, with a qualifying offer in June still something he has to earn.
On the Kings’ side, Mats Zuccarello is traveling with the club on its five-game road trip. Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider reported that the winger has missed the last three games with an undisclosed injury and currently carries a week-to-week label.
Zuccarello has one assist in three games this season and is expected to come off injured reserve at some point during the trip, which runs through October 27th.
In Other News...
Oilers Finally Get Help Back As One Lineup Question Looms
The Oilers are finally getting some reinforcements back into the fold, with Zach Hyman, Colton Dach and Jake Walman all set to rejoin the lineup for the upcoming game against Utah. Its a welcome development for a team that has been juggling injuries and trying to keep the roster afloat while key pieces were missing.
Edmonton is still not close to being fully healthy, but the next stretch could bring even more relief. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is nearing his season debut, and Jason Dickinson is expected back soon after, giving the club a chance to steady its lines and sort out a lineup picture that has been in flux for weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Trade Radar Just Raised One Big Penguins Deadline Question
The Penguins have made it clear they are willing to move veteran pieces if it helps open the door for younger players, and that has put a familiar deadline name back on Edmontons radar. Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson and even Evgeni Malkin have all been mentioned as possible trade candidates, but from the Oilers side the fit question is really about which of those players best complements a contender already built around elite center depth.
Rust is the name drawing the most interest for a reason, with his pace and puck pursuit making him a natural fit in a top-six role alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Any serious pursuit would almost certainly have to come with meaningful futures attached, though, and the frameworks floating around center on draft picks and prospects rather than a simple rental-style swap. No deal is done yet, but the line between speculative deadline chatter and real trade pressure is starting to look thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Tristan Jarry Is Giving The Oilers A Goalie Decision To Make
Tristan Jarry has already forced his way into the early-season conversation for the Oilers after getting two starts in 2026-27. He opened with a 19-save effort against the San Jose Sharks, then followed it up with another solid outing against the Utah Mammoth as Edmonton continues to sort through a position that has too often been a problem area for this team.
The latest start only added to the sense that the Oilers have options now, which is a very different place for this group to be. Jarry did allow two goals against Utah, but he still came up with timely stops and helped Edmonton come away with the win, leaving the coaching staff with a real decision to make as multiple goalies are performing well. [Read more 🡒]