Maple Leafs Make Unexpected Game Day Decision Leading to NHL Call-Up for Nikita Grebenkin

The Maple Leafs have been banged up to begin this season, there's just no two ways about it. Not only are they currently missing four NHL regulars in Auston Matthews, Calle Jarnkrok, Max Pacioretty and David Kampf -- now they're also missing Max Domi, who was placed on injured reserve this morning, retroactive to November 16th.

Domi has been playing banged up for at least the past week, missing a pair of practices last week before competing in Saturday's thriller against the Edmonton Oilers.

However, when a door closes, it leaves a window open, creating an opportunity for someone else on the roster. Earlier this week, the Leafs recalled rookie center Fraser Minten from the AHL's Toronto Marlies. Now, with the latest development with Domi, fellow rookie forward Nikita Grebenkin, has officially been recalled as well.

Grebenkin has been sensational for the Marlies to kick off his rookie season, notching 4 goals and 6 assists, totalling 10 points across 13 games thus far. He has also displayed his physicality, which the Leafs could use, especially with Ryan Reaves out of the lineup for at least the next 5 games, due to his lengthy suspension for his questiomable hit on Edmonton's Darnell Nurse.

Grebenkin was a standout in the early stages of Maple Leafs training camp, with some suggesting that he had played well enough to earn a roster spot. Of course, the team disagreed, and knew that beginning with the Marlies was the right course of action for the Gagarin Cup champion.

The Leafs have not officially announced whether Grebenkin will make his NHL debut tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights, but all signs point to that being the case, with the Leafs being bitten hard by the injury bug.