As a 16-year-old, Zykov played in the
MHL with CSKA-Krasnaja Armija Moskva, the junior affiliate for
HC CSKA Moscow of the
Kontinental Hockey League. Zykov was drafted in the second round (76th overall) of the 2012
CHL Import Draft by
Baie-Comeau Drakkar, and joined the QMJHL team for the
2012–13 season. As a 17-year-old, Zykov was added to Team Russia's roster for the
2012 Subway Super Series, and in his first QMJHL season Zykov racked up 40 goals and 35 assists for 75 points in 67 games played to win the
Michel Bergeron Trophy as the QMJHL's Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was further rewarded for his outstanding played by being named the
QMJHL Rookie of the Year. During the
2014–15 QMJHL season, Zykov was traded from Baie-Comeau to the
Gatineau Olympiques in exchange for
Václav Karabáček. After attending the Kings training camp, Zykov was assigned to begin his rookie professional season in
2015–16 with the
Ontario Reign of the AHL. Zykov compiled 7 goals and 14 points in 43 games with the Reign before he was traded by the Kings along with a conditional 5th round pick (if Los Angeles advanced to the 2016 Western Conference Final, failed) to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for
Kris Versteeg on 28 February 2016. Zykov played his first NHL game and recorded his first NHL goal on 9 March 2017, in a game against the
New York Rangers. Zykov was selected for the 2018 AHL All-Star Game after leading the league in goals scored and beating his own career high in goals. After recording his 30th goal of the season in a game against the
Hartford Wolf Pack, Zykov became the first Russian-born skater to score 30 goals or more in an AHL season since
Artem Anisimov did so during the
2008–09 season. He was recalled to the NHL for the second time during the
2017–18 season on 19 March 2018. Zykov was voted by fans as the Checkers' best forward of the 2017–18 season following the team's elimination from the
2018 Calder Cup playoffs. At season's end, Zykov led the league in goals with 33, and finished second in team scoring with 54 points. In the following
2018–19 season, Zykov made the Hurricanes opening season roster. As the club's reserve forward, Zykov was a frequent healthy scratch, and was reassigned on a conditioning loan back to the Checkers on 13 November 2018. He later returned to the Hurricanes and after 13 games having collected 3 assists, Zykov was placed on waivers by the Hurricanes and was claimed by the
Edmonton Oilers on 30 November 2018. Zykov appeared in just 5 games with the Oilers over the following month before he was returned to waivers and claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights on 29 December 2018. As a free agent from the Golden Knights, leading into the pandemic delayed season, Zykov remained un-signed. He later left North America and joined Swedish second tier club,
Modo Hockey of the
HockeyAllsvenskan on 12 February 2021. In his short tenure with Modo, he collected 2 goals and 4 points in 7 games. As a free agent leading into the season, Zykov returned to his native Russia and agreed to a contract with contending KHL outfit, SKA Saint Petersburg, on 12 October 2021. ==Career statistics==