Klim Kostin Bio
Klim Sergeyevich Kostin is a Russian professional ice hockey winger who plays for Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Standing 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) tall and weighing about 232 lb (105 kg), he shoots left and is known for a power-forward blend of size and skill. Once considered a leading European prospect for the 2017 NHL entry draft, Kostin was selected 31st overall by the St. Louis Blues and made his NHL debut in 2019. His career has since spanned organizations in both the KHL and the NHL, including stops with the Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, and San Jose Sharks.
Early Life and Background
Klim Sergeyevich Kostin was born on 5 May 1999 in Penza, Russia, where he was raised. His family owns a butcher shop in the city, giving him a grounded upbringing in a mid-sized Russian industrial center. As a young athlete, he showed enough promise to relocate at the age of 12 to Moscow, where he lived with his grandmother in order to advance his hockey development. He then enrolled in the Dynamo Moscow youth program, a pathway that would shape his early career.
That early move separated him from his immediate family and immersed him in one of the country’s most established hockey systems. Training in Moscow exposed him to top-level coaching and competition at a formative age. The combination of family support from a distance and daily work in a competitive environment helped him mature quickly as a player and prepared him for professional hockey.
Path to Hockey
Kostin debuted for HC MVD in the Junior Hockey League (MHL) during the 2015–16 season, recording 8 goals and 13 assists in 30 games. The following year, he was selected first overall in the 2016 CHL Import Draft by the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League, a major junior league in Canada. Rather than move to North America, however, he stayed in Russia with Dynamo Moscow for the 2016–17 season, preferring to develop on a senior team.
Across 2016–17 he appeared in 18 games split between Dynamo Moscow and their junior affiliate Dynamo Balashikha, scoring one goal before shoulder surgery in January cut his season short. Despite the limited ice time, NHL Central Scouting ranked him the No. 1 European skater ahead of the 2017 draft, describing him as close to a complete package with size and mobility. He was also called a power forward capable of both scoring and creating chances for teammates.
Klim Kostin Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Kostin’s first taste of organized senior hockey came through HC MVD’s MHL program, where he produced 21 points in 30 games as a 16-year-old. That production placed him on the radar of scouts in North America and led to his selection first overall by Kootenay Ice in the 2016 CHL Import Draft. A shoulder injury in January 2017, however, limited him to 18 games for Dynamo Moscow and their affiliates, with just one goal.
Even with the abbreviated season, his reputation as a high-end European prospect remained intact. NHL Central Scouting’s evaluation praised his combination of size, mobility, and offensive tools. That blend of attributes made him a first-round target heading into the 2017 NHL entry draft, where he would eventually be selected by the St. Louis Blues with the 31st pick.
St. Louis Blues Era (2017–2022)
After being drafted, Kostin initially seemed likely to continue developing in Russia, but Dynamo Moscow were forced to release all of their players on 4 July 2017 due to a violation of KHL rules. The following day, Kostin agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues. He made his NHL debut with the Blues during the 2019–20 season, scoring his first career NHL goal on 23 November 2019 in a 4–2 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Approaching the 2022–23 season, his sixth year within the Blues organization, he was unable to secure a roster spot on opening night and was placed on waivers before being assigned to AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds. On 9 October 2022, the Blues traded him to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for fellow Russian Dmitri Samorukov, closing out his original NHL chapter.
Edmonton Oilers Era (2022–2023)
Immediately after the trade, the Oilers re-assigned Kostin to their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, to keep him playing regularly. He remained there until 9 November 2022, when an injury to left winger Evander Kane opened a spot on the NHL roster. Kostin was recalled to Edmonton and returned to the top league, getting another chance to prove himself in a competitive environment.
His time in Edmonton was brief, as the Oilers moved on at the end of the campaign. On 29 June 2023, with Kostin a pending restricted free agent, Edmonton traded him to the Detroit Red Wings along with Kailer Yamamoto in exchange for future considerations. The deal marked the second trade of his NHL career in less than a year.
Detroit Red Wings Era (2023–2024)
Although the Red Wings initially did not tender him a qualifying offer, the organization signed Kostin to a two-year contract worth $4 million on 1 July 2023, the opening day of NHL free agency. The deal reflected Detroit’s interest in giving him a longer runway to develop into a contributing NHL winger. He joined a young Red Wings group looking to add size and physicality to its forward ranks.
His stay in Detroit, however, lasted less than a full season. On 8 March 2024, the Red Wings traded Kostin to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Radim Šimek and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick. The trade moved him into a Sharks uniform for the closing stretch of the campaign.
San Jose Sharks Era (2024–2025)
In San Jose, Kostin settled into a depth role with the rebuilding Sharks and contributed in a variety of ways. On 29 November 2024, he produced a Gordie Howe hat trick in an 8–5 win over the Seattle Kraken, scoring a first-period goal, assisting on a second-period tally by Mikael Granlund, and fighting Will Borgen in the third. The performance highlighted the all-around style that has defined his career.
Avangard Omsk Return (2025–Present)
On 3 November 2025, Kostin returned to the KHL, signing a contract with Avangard Omsk for the remainder of the 2025–26 season. The move brought him back to Russian hockey after several years in the North American professional ranks. It also reunited him with a former KHL organization and offered a fresh start in a familiar league.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kostin plays a power-forward game built on his 6 ft 4 in frame and physical edge. Scouts have long praised his combination of size, mobility, and finishing ability, noting that he can both score and create chances for linemates. He has also shown willingness to engage physically, as demonstrated by his Gordie Howe hat trick with the Sharks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Kostin’s first NHL goal on 23 November 2019 against Nashville marked his arrival in the league. His Gordie Howe hat trick on 29 November 2024 against Seattle stands out as a career highlight that showcased his scoring, playmaking, and toughness in a single game.
Klim Kostin Career Wins
Klim Kostin’s win résumé is anchored by team success at multiple stops and individual milestones such as his first NHL goal and Gordie Howe hat trick. While the available sources do not provide a complete verified list of victories, his career includes playoff runs with the St. Louis Blues organization and contributions to the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings.
International and Other Performances
Internationally, Kostin captained Russia at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships, posting four assists in five games as the team finished sixth. Later that year, he captained the Russian entry at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, recording four goals and three assists in five games on the way to a bronze medal. He also played in the CHL Canada/Russia Series, scoring two points in five games.
Klim Kostin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kostin was raised in Penza, Russia, where his family runs a butcher shop. The business provided a stable, working-class environment for him growing up. His parents supported his hockey dream, which ultimately led to his move to Moscow at age 12 to live with his grandmother and train with Dynamo Moscow.
Personal Life
At the age of 12, Kostin left Penza to live with his grandmother in Moscow in order to pursue a more advanced hockey path. The decision required a young teenager to live away from his parents while integrating into a demanding training program. That early sacrifice has shaped his mature, team-first approach to the game.
2025 Season Performance
Kostin’s 2025 calendar year began with him in San Jose, where he had produced the memorable Gordie Howe hat trick in late November 2024. He continued in a depth role with the rebuilding Sharks through the early portion of the NHL schedule, providing physicality and secondary scoring. His play reinforced the all-around game that has defined his professional career.
On 3 November 2025, he signed a contract with Avangard Omsk of the KHL for the remainder of the 2025–26 season, returning to Russian hockey. The move offered him a leading role with a contender after several seasons of NHL depth assignments. Heading into the rest of 2025 and into 2026, he is positioned to be a featured winger for Avangard.
For fans, the 2025–26 campaign represents a reset and a chance to showcase the skills that once made him the No. 1 European skater in his draft year. With his size, offensive instincts, and physical edge, Kostin has the tools to play a meaningful top-nine role in the KHL. The stretch run of the 2025–26 season will determine whether the move re-establishes him as an impact player at the senior international level.