A Prospect Maple Leafs Fans Aren't Talking About But Really Should Be

There is a lot of discussion on how the Toronto Maple Leafs will look this fall. Barring any trades, the roster looks largely set besides a question mark at forward. If Nick Robertson decides to stay with the Leafs, every forward is accounted for.

If Robertson still insists on being traded, an opportunity opens up for one of the Toronto Marlies to step in. While everyone is discussing players like Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten and even Alex Nylander, there is a young prospect that may contend for that spot real soon. I am, of course, referring to Grebyonkin.

Grebyonkin is a 21-year-old winger who just finished his final season in the KHL, winning a Gagarin Cup with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. The 2022 fifth round pick is a left shot winger who can play either side. He already has NHL size and strength, standing at 6'2 and 192 pounds. He has also showcased flashes of the type of skill that it would require to make a splash at the NHL level.

Last season, Grebyonkin had 19 goals and 41 points in 67 KHL games, making him one of the top young forwards in the league. His production and ice time also went up as the games got more important, becoming a key forward for his team in the playoffs.

What scouts really like about him, and what suggests he may make the NHL relatively quickly, is his willingness to play physical. Grebyonkin doesn't shy a way from contact. He uses his size and frame to protect the puck and works tirelessly to retrieve the puck when he doesn't have it.

This is a player that wants to make things happen on the ice. He skates fast, has a decent shot, throws the body and is a well-rounded forward who could start in a depth role. The potential for Grebyonkin to become a top 6 forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs is very real.

While he likely continues his meteoric rise this fall on the Toronto Marlies, don't be surprised if he gets a call-up this season. Perhaps he'll be lifting a different cup above his head in the coming years.

Source for stats: Elite Prospects
Nikita Grebyonkin stats and bio