LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings have upgraded their farm system with the acquisition of forward Nikita Alexandrov from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Akil Thomas .
Alexandrov will begin his time in the Kings organization with the Ontario Reign, Los Angeles' AHL affiliate.
He's a 25-year-old forward drafted 62nd overall by the Blues in 2019 and has played the majority of his career in the AHL, with brief stints at the NHL level with the Blues in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. In 18 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds this season, Alexandrov scored 14 points, tied for the team lead, with one power play goal and eight penalty minutes, per the Kings' press release.
St. Louis Blues center Nikita Alexandrov (59) plays the puck while defended by Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (29) during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena.
Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
St. Louis Blues center Nikita Alexandrov (59) plays the puck while defended by Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn (29) during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena.
In 188 AHL games, Alexandrov has recorded 143 points and 61 goals, including eight game-winning goals and 15 power play goals, all together earning him a cumulative plus-21 rating. He's coming off of a career-high season in the AHL last season, where he recorded 21 goals, 28 assists and a total of 49 points.
In Alexandrov's 51 career games at the NHL level, he's nine points between three goals and six assists.
Before reaching the professional level, Alexandrov played three seasons with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League from 2017-20. In those three seasons, Alexandrov scored 63 goals and 146 points in 172 games. He also has experience competing at the international level when he represented Russia in the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Junior Championships, scoring two goals and eight points in seven games on the way to a silver medal finish for Russia.
St. Louis Blues center Nikita Alexandrov (59) carries the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (34) trails the play during the third period at Nationwide Arena.
Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
St. Louis Blues center Nikita Alexandrov (59) carries the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (34) trails the play during the third period at Nationwide Arena.
Per his 2019 draft profile by TheHockeyWriters.com , Alexandrov is a "reliable two-way player and plays a responsible, consistent 200-foot game." Alexandrov's biggest drawback appears to be his inconsistent play, able to show flashes of brilliance and sharp scoring at times while entering long dry stretches at others.
He may not be an immediate call-up to the NHL level for the Kings, but more time and repetition at the AHL level with the reign could foster more development from the Russian forward and he'll be a reliable back-pocket option for the Kings, who have been strapped for offense this season at 27th in goals per game an average of 2.68 per game and 28th in total points with 186.
Thomas was drafted 51st overall by the Kings in 2018, playing the majority of his Kings career with the Reign and making brief appearances at the NHL level. Thomas appeared in 25 games last season for the Kings, scoring one goal and two assists.
