4. Nikita Grebyonkin
Age: 21
Height/Weight: 6'2",210 LBS.
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Draft: 5th round,135th overall, 2022
Nikita Grebyonkin seemingly came out of nowhere to capture the hearts of Toronto Maple Leafs fans at this year's training camp. He was ultimately cut and sent to the Marlies, but Grebyonkin sure looks like a future NHL player, maybe even a star.
The solidly build potential power-forward was drafted in the 5th round of the 2022 draft, and played the last two seasons on the KHL, which means he's already played and been successful playing pro-hockey against men.
Grebyonkin didn't just make the KHL, in his second season he scored 19 goals and 41 points. A full season in the KHL is only 67 games, and their highest scorer had 41 goals. Grebyonkin's 19 goals ranked him 31st, and his total points ranked him 41st. (eliteprospects.com).
So far, he has five points and two goals in seven AHL games, and there is a real possibility that he makes his NHL debut this season. He will for sure be an NHL player, and his KHL success has him rocketing up the Leafs prospect charts.
As if Nick Robertson needed more pressure to succeed, but next year's Leafs look like they're going to have to find room for Grebyonkin, Minten and Cowan.
Bottom line on Grebyonkin: with 19 goals in the KHL and already scoring near a point-per-game in the AHL, he could play in the NHL today. His potential to be another Matthew Knies type power forward for the Leafs is extremely exciting.