Klim Sergeyevich Kostin (Russian: Клим Сергеевич Костин; born 5 May 1999) is a Russian professional ice hockey winger for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Considered a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Kostin was selected 31st overall by the St. Louis Blues, and made his NHL debut with them in 2019. Kostin previously played for Dynamo Moscow and Avangard Omsk of the KHL. Internationally Kostin has played for the Russian national junior team at several tournaments.

Klim Kostin
KlimKostin2022.jpg
Kostin with the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2022
Born (1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 (age 25)
Penza, Russia
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 232 lb (105 kg; 16 st 8 lb)
Position Winger
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
San Jose Sharks
Dynamo Moscow
St. Louis Blues
Avangard Omsk
Edmonton Oilers
Detroit Red Wings
NHL draft 31st overall, 2017
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 2017–present

Playing career

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Kostin debuted for HC MVD in the Junior Hockey League (MHL) during the 2015–16 season. In 30 games for the team he scored 8 goals and 13 assists.[1]

Kostin was selected first overall in the 2016 CHL Import Draft by the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League (WHL), a major junior league in Canada, but he decided to stay in Russia with Dynamo Moscow for the 2016–17 season.[2] He was reluctant to play on a junior team in North America, instead preferring to play for a senior team, either in the NHL or American Hockey League (AHL), the top minor league affiliate for the NHL.[3]

Kostin only played 18 games in the 2016–17 season, split between Dynamo Moscow and their junior league affiliate Dynamo Balashikha, scoring one goal before he had to end his season due to shoulder surgery in January.[1] Despite this, he was ranked the No. 1 European skater by NHL Central Scouting, stating he has proved in earlier viewings that he has the necessary tools to excel at the next level. He was described as close to a complete package with a good combination of size and mobility.[4] Kostin was also described as a power forward, one who was both able to score and help others score.[3]

Through playing a limited number of games, Kostin was taken with the last pick in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. Initially thought to continue developing in Russia, Kostin was made a free agent after Dynamo Moscow were forced to release all of their players through a violation of KHL rules on 4 July 2017. The following day, Kostin agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues.[5] Kostin has said that he would prefer to play in the NHL for the 2017–18 season, though would not oppose going to the American Hockey League (AHL), the top minor league affiliate for the NHL; however he had no interest in playing in the WHL, or any junior league.[5]

Kostin scored his first career NHL goal with the St. Louis Blues during the 2019–20 season on 23 November 2019, in a 4–2 loss to the Nashville Predators.[6]

Approaching the 2022–23 season, his sixth year within the Blues organization, Kostin was unable to clinch a role on the opening night roster and was placed on waivers before he was re-assigned to AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. On 9 October 2022, Kostin was traded by the Blues to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for fellow Russian, Dmitri Samorukov. He was immediately re-assigned by the Oilers to continue in the AHL with affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.[7] On 9 November, Kostin was called up to the Oilers after left winger Evander Kane was injured.[8]

On 29 June 2023, Kostin as a pending restricted free agent was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, along with Kailer Yamamoto, in exchange for future considerations.[9] While initially not tendered to a qualifying offer by the Red Wings, Kostin was signed to a two-year, $4 million contract with the Red Wings on the opening day of free agency on 1 July.[10]

On 8 March 2024, Kostin was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Radim Šimek and a 2024 seventh-round pick.[11]

International play

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Medal record
Representing   Russia
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
  2019 Canada
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
  2016 Czech Republic/Slovakia

Kostin made his international debut at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships, serving as captain of the Russian U-18 team. He recorded four assists in five games as the team finished sixth.[1] Later that year he participated in the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, an under-18 tournament not sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation but considered a top tournament for the age group. Again captain of the team, he had four goals and three assists in five games as the team won a bronze medal.[1] He also played in the CHL Canada/Russia Series, an annual tournament between CHL All-Star teams and the Russian national junior team, scoring two points in five games.[1]

Personal life

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Kostin was born and raised in Penza. His family owns a butcher shop in the city. At the age of 12 Kostin moved to Moscow, living with his grandmother, in order to further his hockey career, and enrolled in the Dynamo Moscow program.[2]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2015–16 HK MVD Balashikha MHL 30 8 13 21 74
2016–17 Dynamo Moscow KHL 8 0 0 0 27
2016–17 Dynamo Balashikha VHL 9 1 0 1 4
2016–17 HK MVD Balashikha MHL 1 0 1 1 2
2017–18 San Antonio Rampage AHL 67 6 22 28 72
2018–19 San Antonio Rampage AHL 66 10 14 24 102
2019–20 San Antonio Rampage AHL 48 13 17 30 59
2019–20 St. Louis Blues NHL 4 1 0 1 0
2020–21 Avangard Omsk KHL 43 7 11 18 50 24 5 4 9 44
2020–21 St. Louis Blues NHL 2 0 1 1 0
2021–22 St. Louis Blues NHL 40 4 5 9 23
2021–22 Springfield Thunderbirds AHL 17 3 3 6 15 18 4 4 8 32
2022–23 Bakersfield Condors AHL 9 2 2 4 15
2022–23 Edmonton Oilers NHL 57 11 10 21 66 12 3 2 5 9
2023–24 Detroit Red Wings NHL 33 3 1 4 38
2023–24 San Jose Sharks NHL 19 5 5 10 15
KHL totals 51 7 11 18 77 24 5 4 9 44
NHL totals 155 24 22 46 142 12 3 2 5 9

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2015 Russia U17   6 2 3 5 16
2016 Russia U18 6th 5 0 4 4 4
2016 Russia IH18   5 4 3 7 29
2018 Russia WJC 5th 5 5 3 8 2
2019 Russia WJC   7 3 3 6 10
Junior totals 28 14 16 30 61

Awards and honors

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Award Year Ref
KHL
Gagarin Cup champion 2021 [12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Shwayder, Matt (20 June 2017). "Kostin Leads Draft's International Skaters". ColoradoAvalanche.com. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b Kennedy, Ryan (22 June 2017). "Klim Kostin is the great unknown of the 2017 draft". TheHockeyNews.com. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b Yerdon, Joe (13 June 2017). "Klim Kostin hoping to play in North America, but unsure where". NHL.com. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  4. ^ "2017 Draft: Nolan Patrick of Brandon ranked No. 1". NHL.com. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b Korac, Louie (5 July 2017). "Klim Kostin of Blues setting sights on NHL". NHL.com. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Predators snap 6-game losing streak with 4–2 win over Blues". ESPN. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Oilers acquire Klim Kostin from St. Louis". Edmonton Oilers. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Kane out 3–4 months for Oilers, 'on the mend' from cut wrist". NHL.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Yamamoto, Kostin traded to Red Wings by Oilers". NHL.com. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Kostin signs 2-year, $4 million contract with Red Wings". Detroit Red Wings. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  11. ^ "San Jose Sharks acquire forward Klim Kostin from Detroit Red Wings". NHL.com. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Avangard is crowned 2021 Gagarin Cup Champions" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by St. Louis Blues first round draft pick
2017
Succeeded by