Nik Antropov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nik Antropov |
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Antropov with the Winnipeg Jets in 2012
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| Born | February 18, 1980 Oskemen, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union |
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| 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 |
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| National team |  Kazakhstan |
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| NHL Draft | 10th overall, 1998 Toronto Maple Leafs |
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| Playing career | 1996–2015 | ||
Nikolai Alexandrovich Antropov (born February 18, 1980) is a former professional ice hockey player. He was born in Kazakhstan and later became a Canadian citizen. Nikolai played as a centre, a type of forward, in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers, and Winnipeg Jets. He also represented his home country, Kazakhstan, in many international ice hockey tournaments.
Playing Career
Nikolai Antropov was a very talented young player. Many people thought he would be chosen early in the NHL draft. After a great season with Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk in Russia, he was picked tenth overall. The Toronto Maple Leafs chose him in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Before coming to North America, Antropov also played for HC Dynamo Moscow in Russia.
In March 2003, Antropov changed his jersey number. He switched from number 11 to 80. He did this because a new player, Owen Nolan, joined the Maple Leafs and wanted number 11. The number 80 was special because it was the year Nikolai was born.
During the 2003-04 season, Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn put Antropov on a line with Joe Nieuwendyk and Alexei Ponikarovsky. This group of tall players was nicknamed the "Skyline" line.
The 2004–05 NHL lockout meant there was no NHL season. During this time, Antropov went back to Russia. He played 36 games for two teams: Ak Bars Kazan and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He faced some injuries during this period.
When he returned to the NHL for the 2005-06 season, he played very well. He scored 15 points in his last 10 games. He was also one of the best players on the team for plus-minus, which shows how well a player performs when they are on the ice.
In the 2006-07 season, Antropov often played on the top line with team captain Mats Sundin. The Maple Leafs signed him to a new contract in June 2007. On December 6, 2007, he scored his second career hat-trick against the New York Rangers. A hat-trick is when a player scores three goals in one game.
On February 9, 2008, Antropov scored his 19th goal of the season. This was a new personal best for him at the time. He ended that season with 26 goals. On March 4, 2009, Antropov was traded to the New York Rangers.
After his time with the Rangers, Antropov signed a four-year contract with the Atlanta Thrashers in July 2009. His first year with the Thrashers was his most successful. He scored 24 goals and made 43 assists, totaling 67 points.
In the summer of 2011, the Atlanta Thrashers team moved to Winnipeg. They became the new Winnipeg Jets. On October 9, 2011, Nikolai Antropov scored the very first goal for the new Winnipeg Jets team. This was a special moment for the team and its fans.
On August 8, 2013, Antropov signed a two-year contract with Barys Astana. This team plays in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. He had played for them before during the 2012–13 NHL lockout. After these two years, Antropov decided to retire from professional hockey. He then returned to Canada.
International Play
| Medal record | ||
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Representing  Kazakhstan |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| Asian Games | ||
| Gold | 1999 Gangwon | |
Nikolai Antropov proudly represented Kazakhstan in many international tournaments. He played in the 1998 IIHF World Championship and the 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. In the 1999 World Juniors, he scored eight points in six games.
He also played for Kazakhstan in the 2006 Winter Olympics. He scored one goal in that tournament. Antropov was the captain of the Kazakhstani team in both the World Championships and the Olympics. He was one of only two NHL players on the team during the 2006 Olympics.
Personal Life
During his time playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nikolai Antropov became a Canadian citizen. He received his Canadian citizenship in May 2007.
Nikolai and his wife have three children. His oldest son, Danil, is also an ice hockey player. Danil played as a forward for the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League during the 2019-20 season.
