Nikita Nesterov

Nikita Danilovich Nesterov (; born 28 March 1993) is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman for HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected in the fifth round, 148th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Nesterov has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames.

Playing career

Junior Nesterov was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fifth round, 148th overall, of the 2011 NHL entry draft. He was also drafted by the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)'s Traktor Chelyabinsk, who selected him in the first round, 22nd overall, of the 2010 KHL Junior Draft. He opted then to play two seasons with Chelyabinsk in the KHL.

On 30 April 2013, Nesterov was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the NHL's Lightning.

Professional On 31 December 2014, Tampa Bay recalled Nesterov from the Syracuse Crunch, the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. He had played in 32 games with the Crunch during the 2014–15 season, recording three goals and 14 points with a +4 plus-minus rating and 26 penalty minutes. Before his call-up, Nesterov has played in 86 career AHL games, all with the Crunch over the past two seasons. He has seven goals and 30 points with 65 penalty minutes.

On 31 December 2014, the same day of his call-up, Nesterov made his NHL debut in a 5–1 Lightning victory over the Buffalo Sabres. He was a +1 and logged over 15 minutes of ice time during the game. On 16 April 2015, Nesterov played in his first career NHL playoff game recording his first playoff goal and point. On 18 April 2015, Nestrov recorded his first NHL playoff assist in a Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

On 16 October 2015, the National Hockey League announced that it was suspending Nesterov for two games without pay for boarding Dallas Stars forward Curtis McKenzie. Nesterov was given a five-minute penalty and a game misconduct for checking McKenzie from behind for the incident that led to his suspension. As a result of the suspension, Nesterov forfeited $7,983.88 in pay.

On 26 September 2016, the Lightning announced the re-signing of Nesterov to a one-year contract worth $725,000. Nesterov appeared in 57 games the past season, recording three goals and nine points. He set career highs for games played, goals, assists, and points. He also appeared in nine 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording one assist and nine penalty minutes. Nesterov appeared in 84 career NHL games over two seasons with the Lightning, recording five goals and 16 points. Nesterov also appeared in 26 playoff games, recording a goal and seven points.

On 26 January 2017, the Lightning traded Nesterov to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jonathan Racine and a 6th-round pick in the 2017 NHL entry draft.

Rumors were started about Nesterov's return to the KHL began when Traktor Chelyabinsk placed his name on the roster on their website, his former team, which is based in Nesterov's hometown. On 6 July 2017, Nesterov's agent posted a tweet stating that Nesterov had decided that he was going to return to Russia to play in the KHL. The following day it was announced that Nesterov agreed to a three-year contract with a KHL powerhouse club, CSKA Moscow.

At the conclusion of his three-year contract with CSKA, Nesterov as a free agent, returned to the NHL and signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with Canadian club, the Calgary Flames, on 23 October 2020. In his return to the NHL after three years, Nesterov made 38 appearances in the pandemic delayed season, registering just four assists from the blueline as the club missed the post-season.

As a free agent, Nesterov opted to return to his previous club HC CSKA Moscow of the KHL, agreeing to a one-year contract on 20 July 2021.

International play

Nesterov has represented Russia in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and the World Ice Hockey Championships. On 18 July 2016, Nesterov was added to team Russia's 2016 World Cup of Hockey roster as a replacement for Slava Voynov. He is a member of the Olympic Athletes from Russia team at the 2018 Winter Olympics, this time together with Voynov.

On 23 January 2022, Nesterov was named to the roster to represent Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Personal life He has a son, Kirill Nesterov, the namesake of his godfather, Kirill Kaprizov, who spent time with the elder Nesterov in the KHL.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2009–10 Belye Medvedi MHL 9 5 2 7 8 4 0 0 0 6 2010–11 Belye Medvedi MHL 46 5 14 19 72 5 0 0 0 6 2011–12 Belye Medvedi MHL 41 11 20 31 66 — — — — — 2011–12 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 10 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 2012–13 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 35 0 1 1 14 19 0 4 4 6 2012–13 Belye Medvedi MHL 2 0 1 1 2 4 2 1 3 0 2013–14 Syracuse Crunch AHL 54 4 12 16 39 — — — — — 2014–15 Syracuse Crunch AHL 32 3 11 14 26 — — — — — 2014–15 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 27 2 5 7 16 17 1 5 6 8 2015–16 Syracuse Crunch AHL 10 1 3 4 4 — — — — — 2015–16 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 57 3 6 9 41 9 0 1 1 9 2016–17 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 35 3 9 12 20 — — — — — 2016–17 Montreal Canadiens NHL 13 1 4 5 4 2 0 0 0 0 2017–18 CSKA Moscow KHL 42 3 16 19 41 21 1 4 5 14 2018–19 CSKA Moscow KHL 41 4 14 18 20 20 2 9 11 4 2019–20 CSKA Moscow KHL 53 7 16 23 24 4 0 3 3 0 2020–21 Calgary Flames NHL 38 0 4 4 20 — — — — — 2021–22 CSKA Moscow KHL 41 5 28 33 26 22 3 8 11 6 2022–23 CSKA Moscow KHL 64 11 29 40 23 27 2 16 18 18 2023–24 CSKA Moscow KHL 59 11 25 36 36 5 2 2 4 2 2024–25 CSKA Moscow KHL 62 8 27 35 20 6 0 2 2 2 KHL totals 407 49 156 205 208 127 10 48 58 52 NHL totals 170 9 28 37 101 28 1 6 7 17

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2010 Russia WJC18 4th 7 2 0 2 29 2011 Russia WJC18 7 2 2 4 29 2012 Russia WJC 7 2 3 5 6 2013 Russia WJC 7 0 4 4 2 2016 Russia WCH 4th 1 0 0 0 0 2018 OAR OG 6 1 0 1 2 2018 Russia WC 6th 8 2 1 3 2 2019 Russia WC 9 0 1 1 4 2021 ROC WC 5th 5 2 2 4 6 2022 ROC OG 6 2 2 4 0 Junior totals 28 6 9 15 66 Senior totals 35 7 6 13 14

Awards and honors Award Year MHL All-Star Game 2012 AHL All-Star Game 2015 KHL All-Star Game 2018, 2019 Gagarin Cup (CSKA Moscow) 2019, 2022, 2023