21-year-old Leafs prospect may play more NHL games this season than Cowan, Minten
Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten may have the inside track to an NHL roster spot out of training camp, but another prospect may play more NHL games than both of them this season.
With the NHL regular season just over a month away, many are speculating on which players will make the lineup out of camp, and the Toronto Maple Leafs themselves are no exception.
In a recent article on Sportsnet, NHL writer Luke Fox addressed a fan's question about which Maple Leafs prospect -- Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, Dennis Hildeby, or Nikita Grebenkin (Grebyonkin) -- will play the most games this season.
Fox surprisingly chose the Russian winger Grebenkin, despite the strong performances of the other prospects.
Good puzzler.
In a perfect, full-health world, the Maple Leafs would prefer Fraser Minten, Grebenkin, and Dennis Hildeby (still fourth on the goalie depth chart) to all ripen their skills with the AHL Marlies. But we could see a scenario where all of them get a callup at some point.
Let's throw a dart and say Grebenkin, the oldest skater on the list. Maybe that'll light even more fire under Cowan - not that he needs it.''
This choice is surprising because Minten and Hildeby already have some limited NHL experience -- Minten having made the team out of camp last year and Hildeby having practiced with the big group and dressed as a backup last season.
Cowan won multiple OHL awards after his London Knights won the OHL championship last season. Additionally, Cowan opted to commit to Maple Leafs camp rather than reporting to Knights camp, so his primary goal is obviously to make the big club this season.
The 21-year-old Grebenkin is coming off a very impressive KHL season, where he accumulated 41 points in 67 games with the Magnitogorsk Metallurg franchise.
Although Cowan may have more upside than Grebenkin, the Russian winger has demonstrated that he is ready to compete against seasoned professionals and contribute at the NHL level.
Whichever Maple Leafs prospect plays the most games this season, their contribution will be welcomed by a Maple Leafs squad seeking playoff success, as the team only has one series win in the Core 4 era.
Source: Sportsnet
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Source: HockeyDB
Nikita Grebenkin Statistics
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 4 | 206 ANSWERS 21-year-old Leafs prospect may play more NHL games this season than Cowan, Minten Will Maple Leafs prospect Nikita Grebenkin make the NHL team out of camp? | ||
| Yes | 55 | 26.7 % |
| No | 73 | 35.4 % |
| No, but he will play in NHL games | 78 | 37.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
