Why Nikita Grebenkin Deserves a Spot on the Maple Leafs' Opening Night Roster

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Chris Gerics
September 23, 2024 (3:11 PM)

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Nikita Grebenkin came out of nowhere this preseason to impress coaches and fans alike. He's making the case for the Maple Leafs to bring him in opening night.

The Maple Leafs took a bit of a chance on Grebenkin in the 5th round in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, and while they had high hopes for the winger in the future but little did they know he would be fighting for a spot in the opening night roster, and given his performance in his first preseason game, coupled with his professional experience; he should already have a spot. Though he may have taken fighting for a spot a bit literally:

With the Maple Leafs unfortunately falling to the Ottawa Senators 6-5 in their first preseason game, all eyes were on newcomers like Max Pacioretty, Chris Tanev and rookie Easton Cowan. However, one name that is turning heads with his grit, toughness, size and willingness to get down and dirty is Nikita Grebenkin; someone who Craig Berube needs to take a long, hard look at. Given the logjam already in their forward corps one would wonder why Grebenkin has earned the spot over Minten (who already has NHL experience) or Cowan (who was projected to make the Maple Leafs' opening night lineup) but if you look at not only the numbers, but what Toronto is trying to accomplish, it's hard to think he doesn't deserve a spot. He was one of the hardest working forwards out there, he consistently tried to get the offense moving, and with someone like John Tavares or William Nylander at center, Grebenkin could find himself on the scoresheet a bunch too.

He scored 19 goals for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the NHL last season, and added a 15 point leap when it came to point production. Not too shabby, and for a player the size of Grebenkin (HockeyDB has him listed at 6'1, 190 pounds) he plays with a lot bigger body than people would initially think. If you look at the likes of who the Maple Leafs are going to employ on their 4th line, it may behoove the team to shift Calle Jarnkrok down to the 4th line and put Grebenkin on the wing. He would provide as much scoring potential as Jarnkrok, and allow the youngster to gain chemistry with Tavares/Nylander; he certainly gives the Maple Leafs more upside and production compared to David Kampf, Ryan Reaves, Pontus Holmberg and Jarnkrok; at a fraction of the cost. Dumping Jarnkrok/Reaves would open up a lot more cap space for Toronto while not really losing much production. The Maple Leafs' goal is to win the Stanley Cup and those names on the list don't offer as much potential as Grebenkin.

Grebenkin endeared himself to fans and coaches alike with his willingness to face off with Ottawa's Adam Gaudette, and while it seemed like a stalemate between the two, he held his own and also wanted to fire up the team and the crowd. It's been a long time since we've seen this; it almost felt like the Russian Darcy Tucker at points, scrappy but talented. If he was able to endear himself like Tucker could in his time with Toronto, he could be a name we talk about for a long time. He's oozing charisma, incredibly young, got the talent and dedication that head coach Craig Berube desires; he's the total package for Toronto.

If the Maple Leafs wanted to make a serious run in the playoffs and fix their scoring depth woes while also not losing the grit, toughness and fighting ability of others? Grebenkin may be the Russian Resolution.