Ducks Nikita Nesterenko, on his debut and on bypassing the Wild and free agency

June 24, 2024

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The solo lap went off without a hitch. It marked Nikita Nesterenko’s first NHL game, and he didn’t want to fall or miss the net with his shot as the crowd filled in at Honda Center on Tuesday night.

Before his spotlight arrived, Nesterenko briefly met up with his father, Mikhail, who was able to catch a Monday night flight from New York as his mother, Tatyana Lozovaya, and two siblings were anticipating watching even with the three-hour time difference from their Brooklyn home. “He just said good luck,” Nikita said. “Have fun. He was excited for me.”

But what the former Boston College forward might take away most from his debut for the Anaheim Ducks was the opportunity he had in the second period. Jakob Silfverberg saw the 22-year-old darting to the net and found him with a nice pass. Calgary goalie Dan Vladar foiled his initial shot and turned away a follow-up chance.

A goal there would have pulled the Ducks back into the game. It didn’t happen and the Flames won going away, 5-1. But Nesterenko could be proud of his first NHL taste. He puts four of his five shot attempts on net, tying Frank Vatrano for a team-best. He skated well in his 13 minutes of action and injected some energy into his line. He wasn’t afraid to mix it up with Calgary’s Nazem Kadri in a board battle.

The Ducks signed Nesterenko to a two-year entry level contract March 15 after acquiring his rights from Minnesota as part of the trade that sent John Klingberg to the Wild. Nesterenko played three years at BC and is coming off his best season, with 13 goals and 21 assists in 36 games with the Eagles.

“I think he played real well,” said Silfverberg, who was a linemate Tuesday along with Isac Lundestrom. “Throughout the whole game, he had some good looks. Just didn’t manage to put the puck in. But overall, I think he should be happy with his game.”

The Athletic spent some time with Nesterenko afterward in a quiet Ducks locker room.

It’s easy for a young guy in his first game to defer to more established veteran teammates. But it looked like you didn’t just do that, particularly as the game went on. When you had your opportunities, you took them. Was that your thought process going in?

That’s a big credit to all the guys on the team. The coaching staff. They made me more comfortable. Just kind of said play your game. Take your chances. Be aggressive. I wasn’t trying to hold up. Just kind of go in seeing a chance and trying to take it. That’s what I was focusing on.

For those who aren’t or haven’t been as familiar with you and your career at Boston College, how would you describe yourself as a player and the game that you play?

I would say I’m more of a playmaker. Just trying to set up my teammates. But I’ve been trying to shoot it more especially in the second half of my career in college. I’m a taller guy. Not as big in the frame and definitely want to fill in. I’m trying to use my size a little more and my speed. Just kind of what I bring to the table.

You’re a pretty strong skater for your size (6-foot-2, 185 pounds). What do you credit that to? Is it in the genes? Power skates?

I did a lot of figure skating growing up. First three or five years, I’d focus on figure skating. Was out skating a lot and obviously you need to be a good skater to play the game. Did a lot of power skating. I guess credit it to that.

Does your family background play into that at all?

Not really. My dad was a goalie for a little bit until 13 in Russia. He wasn’t skating that much. I wouldn’t credit it to my parents. Maybe some good genes, I guess. They’re athletic.

This year at Boston College was a bit of a breakout for you. What do you think led to you putting up career-high offensive numbers?

More opportunity for sure. More experience obviously. You get older, you get more familiar with the pace. New coaching staff came in. Coach (Greg) Brown gave me a lot of freedom and let me kind of play my game. I have to credit the coaching staff.

Did you play on a line with Cutter Gauthier or were you guys on separate lines? What was that like having him as a teammate? He was a pretty high draft pick (No. 5 overall in 2022).

Cutter and I started together a little bit. We weren’t doing too well as a team. Kind of split up a little and then we finished the last half of the season together. We were kind of finding some chemistry. He’s a great player. He’s got an unbelievable shot. You kind of give it to him in open space and he’ll put it in. It’s easy playing with a guy like that.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said what he saw when scouting you this year was a noticeable jump in your compete level. Would you agree with that assessment?

Uh, yeah, I would agree with that. The BC coaches have been harping on that, getting me to compete obviously. You won’t stay in this league very long if you don’t compete. That’s where you got to start, the compete level, the effort. Just trying to do that. Obviously, these guys are all super strong on the puck. If you can’t compete with these guys, all the skill and all the other stuff won’t get you too far. I would agree with that assessment. Trying to work on that.

It had been four years since you were drafted, so you could have opted for free agency if you wanted. The trade obviously occurred. What made this situation right for you in terms of going ahead and signing that entry-level deal?

I had a really good conversation with Pat. He liked my game. He had a lot of belief in me, which was positive. The opportunity with this team obviously. I have a lot of buddies on this team. I train with (Anthony) Stolarz back home. Played with Z (Trevor Zegras) growing up a for a couple years. Couple familiar faces. That was comforting. It made my decision a little easier to sign with Anaheim.

Did you not see a path for you with the Wild? What went into your decision to let them know you were going to take a different path and not sign with them?

I don’t know. Their prospect pool is pretty good. They’re obviously going for a Cup run there. I didn’t see much opportunity getting in the lineup there in the next couple years. More opportunity with Anaheim. My agent and family thought it’d be better to just kind of explore the free agency route. And then once Anaheim traded for me, I looked into that and that was a great fit. Super happy to be here.

You played with Trevor Zegras as kids. What is that like to be back in the same dressing room with him? We know what kind of personality he has.

Yeah, he hasn’t changed much since he was little. It’s super comforting having a guy like that in the locker room, knowing him since you were young. He’s always someone you can talk to. Get advice from. Obviously a pretty good player. It’s nice having Z on your side.

(Photo of Nikita Nesterenko: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

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