Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nikita Grebyonkin is a nominee for the 2023 KHL Rookie of the Year award. Stepan Nikulin and Bogdan Konyushkov are the two other nominees.
Grebyonkin is an unsigned winger measuring in at 6’2, 176 Lbs. The native of Serov, Russia, got selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL draft with the 135th overall pick.
The Leafs have until the end of the 2023-24 season to sign him to an entry-level contract.
The 20-year-old Grebyonkin spent time in all three of Russia’s hockey leagues this season. He played one game for Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk in the MHL and recorded three assists. In the VHL, he recorded one goal and two assists for three points in four games with Yuzhny Ural Orsk. In the KHL, he recorded zero points in seven games for Metallurg Magnitogorsk but registered nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points in 46 games for Amur Khabarovsk.
(Stats from eliteprospects.com)
Grebyonkin is expected to play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL next season. Many teams consider drafting Russian players to be risky. There is no guarantee that those players will leave Russia to play in North America. It is unknown whether Grebyonkin will sign with Toronto or not. Failure to sign him will result in him becoming an unrestricted free agent (UFA) who can sign with any NHL team.
Other Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect News
The Toronto Marlies announced on May 10th that prospect Ty Voit is being reassigned to them by the Maple Leafs from the Sarina Sting in the OHL.
The Marlies are in the third round of the AHL playoffs in a North Division final against the Rochester Americans. The Americans currently lead the best-of-five series 2-0. Game three will be on Wednesday, May 17th.
Voit registered 24 goals and 81 assists for 105 points in 67 games for the Sarnia Sting in the OHL this season. He also recorded 16 points in 16 playoff games.
Voit will join the Toronto Marlies next season as he begins his pro career.
The 19-year-old Voit is proving to be a steal for the Toronto Maple Leafs from the 2021 NHL draft. He is producing better than expected for a player chosen in the 5th round.
Voit is signed until the end of the 2025-26 season for $817,778.