Nikita Grebenkin was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Philadelphia Flyers in the deal that sent center Scott Laughton to Toronto at the NHL trade deadline.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikita Grebenkin. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Coming over from Russia as one of the KHL's top players, Grebenkin, 21, has played in seven games this season for the Leafs and has been a key player in the AHL for the Toronto Marlies, now in Philly's system as a top prospect for the team's future alongside friend and fellow Russian Matvei Michkov.
Now, Grebenkin has spoken on his personal feelings that he's no longer a member of the Leafs, and he's revealed his thoughts on the trade that moved him out.
Grebenkin admits that his trade from the Maple Leafs did not surprise him much.
Grebenkin told RG he felt he could be traded from Toronto: "I knew I could be traded. I wasn't completely sure, but there were signs."
Without a first-round pick in 2025 and reports of Grebenkin, along with fellow top prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten linked out, it was clear that the Leafs' top prospects were at risk of being on the way out.
Minten, who was traded to the Boston Bruins at the deadline in a deal for Brandon Carlo, said, similar to Grebenkin, that he thought he may be dealt. He told The Hockey News, "You can go on PuckPedia and see [the Leafs] don't have that many assets, so you know it's possible."
Grebenkin has been a fan favorite among Leafs fans for his sense of humor, something Grebenkin admitted; however, in the interview with RG, he struggled with wanting to be known for his hockey skill rather than his humor.
Grebenkin, who before the NHL came up in the Metallurg Magnitogorsk system, was a fifth-round pick of the Maple Leafs in the 2022 NHL Draft, 135th overall.
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