As we count down to the start of Maple Leafs rookie camp next month, THN Toronto looks at the organization's top 10 prospects in their system.
There isn't much known about how Nikita Grebenkin will fare in his first season of North American hockey, but there should be some excitement about it.
From Aug. 12 to Aug. 23, I will highlight the top 10 prospects within the Maple Leafs organization. The rankings will be based on:
- Highest ceiling at the NHL level, under 23 years old
- Past season of play on their perspective team
- Closest to seeing an NHL game with the Maple Leafs
Nikita Grebenkin (Toronto, AHL) 21, LW, 6-foot-2, 192 lbs
Two years removed from being drafted by Toronto in the fifth round (135th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, Grebenkin has won the KHL's Rookie of the Year award and the Gagarin Cup with Magnitogorsk.
The 21-year-old played 67 games in the KHL last season, scoring 19 goals and 22 assists. He had three goals and three assists during Magnitogorsk's Gagarin Cup run. That's a substantial starting point for a player who was picked as late as he was in the draft.
Grebenkin signed a three-year, entry-level deal with Toronto on Apr. 29 after his season in the KHL concluded. That was the clear sign that his time playing hockey in Russia had ended and that he would continue his career in the Maple Leafs organization.
There is a lot of expectation and excitement for the young forward, who many hope can be a part of Toronto's NHL roster this season. Although many want that to be the case, I believe beginning his season in the AHL is the best option.
Grebenkin is a player who's strong off the rush. He's on the greater side of six feet tall and can skate very well for his size, making him dangerous with the puck as he moves through the neutral zone.
The forward often outsmarts the opposing defenders with his transition skating and playmaking abilities. Grebenkin is a strong passer, too, and can find his teammates in good spots for scoring chances.
"He's got good hands. His skating still needs to improve, but it's come a long ways, and he's not afraid to play physical. He fought a couple of times in the KHL, he'll mix it up. And he's a fun kid to be around as well," Maple Leafs assistant GM Hayley Wickenheiser said at Toronto's development camp in July.
While it's difficult to project what Grebenkin's ceiling at the NHL level could be, I do believe he'll start this season in the AHL with the Marlies. He's still playing against big, strong competition, but it's a league where you'll notice fairly quickly if he doesn't belong.
Grebenkin didn't participate in Maple Leafs development camp because he was rehabbing off the ice after his long playoff run in the KHL. It's unknown how serious the injury is, but Wickenheiser said in July that he was preparing to return to the ice.
"He's tough as nails. What he went through this year to win Rookie of the Year with the team [in the KHL]. And he's a strong boy, turning into a man, and I think he'll be very interesting to watch coming up."
Beginning the season in the AHL will allow Grebenkin to gain confidence in North America. Similar to Artur Akhtyamov, and Vyacheslav Peksa last year, he's coming to a new country, learning a different style of game, and learning what it's like to live in Canada.
There will need to be some patience with the player out of the gate. It might not click all at once, and that's okay. But if it does, and he can play an important role on the Marlies to start the year, the 2022 fifth-round pick could make the jump to the NHL sooner rather than later.
As Wickenheiser said, he'll be "very interesting" to watch this season with Toronto.
