Nik Antropov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nik Antropov
Antropov with the Winnipeg Jets in 2012
Born	(1980-02-18) February 18, 1980 (age 45) Oskemen, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight	245 lb (111 kg; 17 st 7 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Dynamo Moscow Toronto Maple Leafs Ak Bars Kazan Lokomotiv Yaroslavl New York Rangers Atlanta Thrashers Winnipeg Jets Barys Astana
National team	Kazakhstan
NHL Draft	10th overall, 1998 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	1996–2015

Nikolai "Nik" Alexandrovich Antropov (born February 18, 1980) is a former professional ice hockey player from Kazakhstan. He played the centre position in the National Hockey League (NHL) for teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets. He later became a Canadian citizen in 2007.

Hockey Career

Early Years and NHL Draft

Antropov started his career playing in a Russian hockey league for a team called Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk. He played so well that he got a lot of attention from NHL scouts. In one amazing international game against Iceland's team, he scored 11 goals and had 26 points.

Because of his skill, the Toronto Maple Leafs chose him in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 10th player picked overall, which was a very high rank. Before moving to North America, he also played for Dynamo Moscow in Russia's top league.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Antropov joined the Maple Leafs and began his NHL career. When player Owen Nolan joined the team in 2003, Antropov changed his jersey number from #11 to #80, which is the year he was born.

During the 2003–04 season, he played on a line with Joe Nieuwendyk and Alexei Ponikarovsky. Because all three players were very tall, their line was nicknamed the "Skyline."

Antropov scores a goal for the New York Rangers during the 2009 playoffs.

Antropov faced some challenges with injuries during his career. However, he always worked hard to come back. At the end of the 2005–06 season, he scored 15 points in the last 10 games. The next season, he often played on the top line with team captain Mats Sundin.

On December 6, 2007, Antropov scored a hat-trick, which means he scored three goals in one game, against the New York Rangers. He had a great season, finishing with a career-high 26 goals.

Rangers, Thrashers, and Jets

On March 4, 2009, the Maple Leafs traded Antropov to the New York Rangers. He played with them for the rest of the season.

Later that year, he signed a four-year contract with the Atlanta Thrashers. His first season in Atlanta was his best ever. He scored 24 goals and had 43 assists, for a total of 67 points.

Antropov playing for the Thrashers in 2009.

In 2011, the Atlanta Thrashers team moved to Canada and became the new Winnipeg Jets. On October 9, 2011, Antropov made history by scoring the very first goal for the new Winnipeg Jets team in a game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Return to the KHL and Retirement

On August 8, 2013, Antropov decided to return to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), a top league in Europe and Asia. He signed a two-year contract with Barys Astana, a team in his home country of Kazakhstan. After his contract ended in 2015, Antropov retired from professional hockey and moved back to Canada.

Playing for Kazakhstan

Medal record
Representing  Kazakhstan
Ice hockey
Asian Games
Gold	1999 Gangwon

Antropov represented his home country of Kazakhstan in many international tournaments. He played in the 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he scored eight points in six games.

He also played in the 2006 Winter Olympics, where he was the team captain and one of only two NHL players on the team. He proudly led his country on the world stage.

Personal Life

While playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Antropov became a Canadian citizen in May 2007.

He and his wife have three children. His oldest son, Danil, also plays hockey and was a forward for the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International