Nikita Alexeev

Nikita Sergeyevich Alexeev, sometimes transliterated as Alexeyev, (, born December 27, 1981) is a Russian former professional ice hockey forward who last played in the Kontinental Hockey League with Severstal Cherepovets. He formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks. He was a first round pick, 8th overall in the 2000 NHL entry draft for the Lightning.

Playing career Alexeev came to North America in 1998 to play for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning 8th overall in the 2000 NHL entry draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2001-02 season, and split the next two seasons between the Lightning and AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.

Early in the 2003–04 season, Alexeev suffered a major shoulder injury which caused him to miss the rest of the season as the Lightning went on to claim their first Stanley Cup. Alexeev played a season in Russia before in the 2006–07 season, he returned to NHL and was a regular in the Lightning lineup. However, after 63 games, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline. The Blackhawks chose not to offer Alexeev a contract in 2007, making him a free agent.

Alexeev, unable to live up to his draft status, ended his NHL tenure and returned to sign with Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Alexeev won the Gagarin Cup as champion of the KHL twice with Ak Bars, and scored the cup winning goal in 2010.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1996–97 Krylya Sovetov–2 Moscow RUS.3 45 4 6 10 8 — — — — — 1997–98 Krylya Sovetov–2 Moscow RUS.3 61 11 4 15 36 — — — — — 1998–99 Erie Otters OHL 61 17 18 35 36 5 1 1 2 4 1999–2000 Erie Otters OHL 64 24 29 53 13 4 3 7 10 6 2000–01 Erie Otters OHL 64 31 41 72 45 12 7 7 14 12 2001–02 Springfield Falcons AHL 35 5 9 14 16 — — — — — 2001–02 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 44 4 4 8 8 — — — — — 2002–03 Springfield Falcons AHL 36 7 5 12 8 — — — — — 2002–03 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 37 4 2 6 8 11 1 0 1 0 2003–04 Hershey Bears AHL 14 0 1 1 8 — — — — — 2004–05 Springfield Falcons AHL 72 13 9 22 16 — — — — — 2005–06 Avangard Omsk RSL 40 6 4 10 10 5 0 0 0 2 2005–06 Avangard–2 Omsk RUS.3 6 5 1 6 4 — — — — — 2006–07 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 63 10 11 21 12 — — — — — 2006–07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 15 2 0 2 0 — — — — — 2007–08 Ak Bars Kazan RSL 37 3 2 5 26 5 0 3 3 0 2008–09 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 54 8 7 15 16 21 3 4 7 22 2009–10 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 33 1 1 2 14 22 4 3 7 3 2010–11 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 33 3 6 9 6 0 0 0 0 0 2011–12 Severstal Cherepovets KHL 7 0 1 1 0 6 1 2 3 0 2012–13 Severstal Cherepovets KHL 23 2 2 4 6 9 2 0 2 4 NHL totals 159 20 17 37 28 11 1 0 1 0 KHL totals 150 14 18 32 44 67 10 9 19 59

Awards and honours Award Year KHL Gagarin Cup (Ak Bars Kazan) 2009, 2010