Leafs draft pick turning heads in the KHL
When the Leafs had announced the name of their 5th round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft as 19-year-old over-ager Nikita Grebyonkin, most people had no idea who he was and what he was all about. Now, he's opening more than a few eyes.
After spending the last couple of years with Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk in the MHL (the Russian Junior league, equivalent to the CHL), with very brief looks in the KHL and the VHL (Russian equivalent of the AHL), Grebyonkin finds himself on loan with Amur Khabarovsk of the KHL this season and, my oh my, what a year he's had so far.
Already having recorded 4 goals and 9 assists for 13 points in his first 26 games this season, Grebyonkin added a power play goal, bringing his total up to 14 points in 27 games this season. While this doesn't seem overly impressive, it truly is. It's been historically very tough for young players to earn playing time in the KHL and even tougher for them to produce. Not only is Grebyonkin producing - he is now tied for the most points by a U20 player in the entire league.
While it still may be a bit premature to call the 6'2, 176-pound Grebyonkin a steal by the Leafs in the 5th round, it's certainly not too early for Leafs fans to be excited about the progress he is making in his first full pro season in one of the best leagues out there.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 5 | 76 ANSWERS Leafs draft pick turning heads in the KHL Will Nikita Grebyonkin be an NHL player? | ||
| Yes | 26 | 34.2 % |
| No | 11 | 14.5 % |
| Who? | 39 | 51.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
