Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Nikita Grebenkin drops the gloves against rival Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs rookie forward Nikita Grebenkin was victorious in his unofficial first NHL fight against the Leafs rival, the Ottawa Senators.
Grebenkin dropped the gloves against Senators forward Adam Gaudette, with Grebenkin taking the win. Grebenkin was visibly pumped up after the fight, celebrating excitedly on the ice, showcasing his energy and embracing his physical side against the team's provincial foes.
Grebenkin is vying for a role on Toronto's forward group, up against fellow rookies Easton Cowan & Fraser Minten for a spot on the big team. Grebenkin, a fifth round pick of the Leafs in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, will play his first season of North American Hockey, either in the NHL or AHL.
A physically engaging two-way forward, Grebenkin was no stranger to this sort of hard-nosed style in the KHL, using it to his advantage in order to succeed against older players. Grebenkin, a right winger, would most likely play in a bottom-six role in that spot, a benefit to him potentially making the club given a lack of other depth forwards and prospects in Toronto who are a natural RW.
In 67 games for the KHL champions Metallurg, Grebenkin had 19 goals and 41 points, along with 6 points in 23 games for the Russian club.
| POLL | ||
Should Nikita Grebenkin make the Leafs roster? | ||
| Yes | 161 | 66.3 % |
| No | 82 | 33.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
