Path to stardom: Nikita Artamonov
KHL.ru continues telling stories of those who showcased an exceptional level of playing despite their young age with Torpedo’s Nikita Artamonov. The forward was traded last year from Neftekhimik, and had a tremendous rookie season in the KHL, playing in the first line for the Igor Larionov’s team.
Nikita Artamonov is a product of Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk’s youth system. He moved to Nizhny Novgorod at the beginning of the 2022-2023 season. His first full season in the JHL was successful: 29 points (11 goals and 18 assists) in 41 regular-season games and 10 (2+8) in 17 postseason games. The cherry on top was lifting the Kharlamov Cup. Nikita decided not to rest on his laurels and earned a call-up to the first team. Artamonov integrated seamlessly and productively into Torpedo, scoring 9 points (2 goals and 7 assists) in his first 18 games as a 17-year-old forward and regularly playing on the first line.
Despite being very successful at such a young age, Artamonov didn’t love hockey at first sight. “My brother played hockey at an amateur level, but as a child, I wasn’t interested in it at all,” the forward recalls. “When my dad first took me to a hockey rink, I cried. However, the next day, I said I wanted to play too. I immediately put on skates and skated without using a chair, and that’s how it all started.” It’s hard to imagine now, but Artamonov didn’t start playing forward. “I was seven, I played defense, but my style of defense was taking the puck and rushing towards the opponent’s goal. So, they moved me up,” he smiles.
In his first full-fledged season in the KHL, the forward had 23 (7+16) points through 54 regular season games. An impressive loot for a player of his age. “I'm surprised by how things have gone, but not too much,” Artamonov says. “I expected this from myself and prepared very well over the summer. We won the Kharlamov Cup with Chaika, so I actually didn’t get much rest. After two or three weeks, I started training because I knew I needed to make it to the KHL. I’m glad I succeeded.” The forward changed his approach in the offseason. “I increased my workload, rested less, and worked more. I started the preseason with Chaika and then joined Torpedo. Before the training camp, I took a week off to recover, so I approached the season fresh. Of course, I really wanted to enjoy the victory more, but I quickly adjusted and thought about the future, knowing that everything doesn’t end with the Kharlamov Cup.”
Artamonov hails from Nizhnekamsk, thus he needed to move quite young to join Torpedo in Nizhny Novgorod. “At first, I didn’t even understand what a trade entailed, since that season was supposed to be my first full one in the JHL. When I arrived in Nizhny Novgorod, I immediately integrated into the team and realized where I had landed: I started following the KHL more closely. I was happy with the trade.” However, moving at that age is never easy. “I’ll be honest, it was very tough,” he admits. “When I was traded, at first, I didn’t fully understand what was happening. At that time, I was 16 years old – not a child anymore, but definitely not an adult either. It was hard to grasp that I was going alone to a new city and a new club. Fortunately, the team welcomed me warmly, and I started scoring from the first games, which helped me integrate quickly.” Fortunately, he can still enjoy support from his family. “My parents watch all my games. We call each other before and after every match. I’m very happy to have such supportive parents, and I’m incredibly grateful to them! They can immediately tell if something is wrong, and even from a distance, they make a huge contribution to my well-being. I never talk about my problems, but my parents see and understand them.”
Things were hard not only off the ice, as Artamonov recalls. “At first, the training camp was tough because we played a bit differently during the winning playoffs with Chaika. But through the practices, everything clicked for me: I adapted successfully, understood what was expected of me from the first games, and kept up with the speed.” He always succeeded in creating plays in the offensive zone. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always preferred making a pass to scoring a goal, and this has carried over to the professional level. I'm glad that it's working out for me in the KHL, and I hope it continues to do so.”
Artamonov played most of the season on the club’s top line with Maxim Letunov and Nikolai Kovalenko. “we quickly found chemistry in our line,” he explains. “We scored many goals and always created numerous chances. They give me advice, and I listen because they have more experience.” However, the forward had his debut earlier, in February 2023, against CSKA. “Making my KHL debut was a significant experience,” Artamonov says. “Especially having my first shifts in a game against a team like CSKA. After the debut, Igor Larionov talked to me and explained what to do and how to prepare. I followed his plan, and it has all worked out.”
In the latest couple of years, the league became younger. Not only Artamonov and Silayev had their success with Torpedo, but several other players had their chances. “Yes, this process was noticeable right from the start of the season,” the forward says about the league getting younger. “Every KHL team has one or two very young players in its lineup. It’s great that young guys get these opportunities; the main thing is to make the most of them. It’s always especially nice to play against players of your own age and those who are older or younger because you already know them.”
Next year, Artamonov won’t be a rookie anymore, and he will need to use that experience to propel up his production. He started well, but he will need to be even stronger to avoid the second-year syndrome. And he has all the tools to overcome it.
