23-year-old New Jersey Devils draft pick retires to become Instagram Influencer
Here's something you don't hear very often. 23-year-old Nikita Popugaev, who was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the fourth-round in 2017, has decided to retire from hockey. His reason? He's dedicated to becoming an Instagram influencer.
"What's that smell, brother? A legendary day, a new day. I got 100 messages from you guys: where's the contract, where's the team, where are you going?," said Popugaev in Russian on Instagram. "It's official - I'm done, I decided to try something new. Really need support, so friends, if you can, leave comments, likes, repost - I will be very pleased. There's a new video coming out today, the first video. I`m waiting for your support and today we`re gassing up."
Popugaev also changed his instagram bio to "Ex-hockey player", adding "new life from scratch."
Popugaev spent last season split between Moscow Dynamo and Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik of the KHL. in 2019-20, he played with the Adirondack Thunder, New jersey's ECHL affiliate. The year before that, he played with the Binghamton Devils of the AHL.
This is certainly a bold move on Popugaev's part. We'll have to wait and see if it pays off. You can check out his Instagram profile here.
Source: Championat
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APRIL 23, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Bowen Byram | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Artturi Lehkonen | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Noah Ostlund | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Alex Laferriere | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Drake Batherson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Tanner Jeannot | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Adrian Kempe | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cale Makar | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Trevor Moore | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Brock Nelson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alex Tuch | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Quinton Byfield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nick Cousins | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Peyton Krebs | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Manson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Charlie McAvoy | - | 1 | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||