Focus on a Thrasher: Nik Antropov

In the summer of 2009, one of the most exciting signings for Blueland was that Nik Antropov. Thrashers fans hoped that the big (6'6" 240lb) right winger could bring his size and experience to the team and help beef up the offense.



Thrashers fans' hopes came to fruition as Nik had a great season. Nik played in 76 games and scored 67 points (24 goals 43 assists). Also, Nik finished the season at a +13, an accomplishment on a team that struggled at times and had one of the highest "goals against" in the league. Nik's hard work did not go unnoticed. He was chosen as the team MVP for the 2009-10 season.



I'm a big fan of Nik because he is the first person I played blackjack with at Casino Night. He's a great dealer! Very funny and personable.



Another reason I love Nik: his hair. He should be on a shampoo commercial. When it gets long he has some 70s wings going on, but he has great hair.



I'm not the only one that loves Nik!



So let's find out some stuff about the big man from Kazakhstan.


Nikolai Aleksandrovich Antropov was born on February 18, 1980 in Ust-kamenog, Kazakhstan.



Nik was drafted into the NHL in 1998. Nik was expected to be drafted early in the second round, but following an amazing year in junior hockey with Kaztsink-Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk, a second tier team in the Russian Superleague, he was drafted in the first round, 11th overall by the Toronto Leafs. One thing that caught the Leafs' eye, an international match against Iceland in which Nik scored 11 goals and 26 points.



Before making the trip to North America to play, Nik played in the Russian Super League for the Moscow Dynamo.



In 1999, Nik was ready to come to North America! Nik did play 2 games in the AHL affiliates of Toronto, the St. John's Maple Leafs, but he spent most of the season with the big club. On October 13, Nik made his NHL debut against the Florida Panthers. He scored an assist in his very first game!



Nik spent all of the 2000-01 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs scoring 17 points in 52 games.



After a less than stellar previous season, Nik split time between St. Johns and Toronto during the 2001-02 season. While in St. John's he had 13 multiple point games. An added complication, Nik suffered a season ending ankle injury on March 13 and had to miss the rest of the season.



The 2002-03 season saw Nik appear in his 200th NHL game. He tied for 15th in the NHL in game-winning goals (six) and finished third on the Maple Leafs in plus/minus rating (plus-11), third in game-winning goals, fourth in goals, fourth in penalty minutes and fifth in points … Established a career-high with a five-game point streak. He also set a career record for penalty minutes.



In the 2003-04 season Nik continued to play with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played 62 games and scored 31 points (13 goals 18 assists).



During the NHL Lock Out, Nik spent the 2004-05 season playing for the Kazan Ak-Bars and the Yaroslav Lokomotiv.



After the Lock Out, Nik spent the next three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. During these seasons, Nik saw several milestones. On November 11, 2007 he appeared in his 400th game. On December 6 of the same year, he scored a natural hat trick!



Nik started the 2008-09 season with the Leafs, but was traded later that season to the New York Rangers. While with the Rangers, Nik played 18 games and scored 13 points. He also appeared in 6 playoff games with the Rangers.



On July 2, 2009 Nik signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers!



Nik is married and has a son and a daughter. I had the pleasure of meeting his wife at Casino Night and I think she could be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in person. She was very nice, too. He and his family live in Toronto in the off season.


While in Toronto, he and teammate Alexi Ponikarosky were big friends. Check out this video. Who knew Nik was so funny?


In Russia it would be.......Burger King.