Leafs Hopeful Nikita Grebenkin Gains Popularity Among Teammates, Coach After Annual Muskoka Trip
Nikita Grebenkin has become extremely popular among teammates, head coach Craig Berube following the Maple Leafs' annual Muskoka trip.
As training camp nears its conclusion, the final roster cuts for the Toronto Maple Leafs are imminent. One player who has made the latest round of cuts is rookie forward Nikita Grebenkin. He has shown a strong performance during camp, displaying a combination of grit, agility, and solid puck skills. While it may still be a long shot for him to secure a spot on the Maple Leafs out of camp, his progress as a player is certainly encouraging.
Grebenkin appears to have won over some of his Maple Leafs teammates-not solely through his playing style but also because of his engaging personality.
David Alter reported on X that the Leafs' new head coach, Craig Berube, had this to say about the Russian winger:
Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Mitch Marner also praised Grebenkin, commenting on the 21-year-old's sense of humor and one-liners, as per Terry Koshan's tweet on X:
Grebenkin possesses a quality that many NHL rookies lack, which is experience with grown men. He is coming off a strong season in the KHL with the Magnitogorsk Metallurg, where he recorded 19 goals and 22 assists for a total of 41 points in 67 games. With that performance, he could easily be a valuable addition to the Maple Leafs, capable of producing immediately in an NHL role.
However, Grebenkin faces significant competition for wing positions in Toronto. The Maple Leafs have yet to sign PTO players Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz, in addition to Bobby McMann and Calle Jarnkrok returning from injury. As a result, there may not be a spot for him at this time, although his future in the NHL looks promising.
