Nikita Nesterenko

Nikita Nesterenko (born September 10, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey center who currently plays for the San Diego Gulls in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected as the 17th pick in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild, the 172nd selection overall.

Early life
Born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of immigrants from Russia, he was raised in Coney Island.

Playing career
He played prep hockey for the Lawrenceville School, graduating in 2020. He played for the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey team.

For the 2020–21 season, Nesterenko was selected along with Josh Lopina as the Hockey East rookie of the year

During his junior season with the Eagles in 2022–23, in a trade with Minnesota Wild, the Anaheim Ducks obtained Nesterenko's draft rights, defenseman Andrej Sustr and a pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for John Klingberg on March 3, 2023. Having established a career best 13 goals and 34 points through 36 games at the conclusion of the season, Nesterenko ended his collegiate career by agreeing to a two-year, entry-level contract on March 16, 2023.

Immediately joining the rebuilding Ducks for the remainder of the season, Nesterenko made his NHL debut with the Ducks on March 21, 2023, against the Calgary Flames. He scored his first NHL goal in his third game, a 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, on March 25, scoring on a pass from Mason McTavish.