Former Maple Leafs Prospect Nikita Grebenkin Speaks Out About Volatile Market in Toronto
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski - Imagn Images
With the dust having settled, former Leafs prospect Nikita Grebenkin opens up about his trade and the pressures of playing in a hockey hotbed like Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the trade deadline as buyers, and with that title, prospects and picks were up for sale, including forward Nikita Grebenkin.
The 22-year-old Russian prospect only had a brief 7-game stint with the club at the end of November, but he left a lasting impression with his physical play, chippy attitude, and personable post-game interviews. He was later moved to Philadelphia in a deal for Scott Laughton.
In a recent interview he had with Fyodor Nosov of Sport-Express, Grebenkin opened up about his time with the Leafs and what he saw from veterans like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner from their skill, preparation before the game, and their work ethic.
"For the first two or three weeks, I was in shock at how high their level was -- their preparation, their practices. But I'm glad I got to play on the same team with those guys. I understand now how prepared they are and how hard they work."
He was later broached with a question on a topic that has been talked about all summer relating to the pressures of playing in a market like Toronto.
"The pressure is huge. Hockey is broadcast on every radio and TV channel. It's a big club for the city and for the country, so everyone watches and supports the Leafs. A lot of people are positive about you at first, but that can change quickly. It's a daily grind. You might play one good game and one bad game, and the talk about you shifts immediately. You have to be mentally ready for that. It can be tough to adjust, but with hard work and commitment, it gets better."
Grebenkin was also asked about his viral post-game interview, where he noted his famous phrase "forecheck, backcheck, paycheck".
"If that had happened on an American team, it wouldn't have caused such a stir. But in Toronto, they replayed it on TV for a whole week. A lot of people recognized me on the street and brought it up. It was a bit unusual for me. In Russia, people recognize me because of hockey - over there, it was because of that interview."
Now as a member of the Flyers, Grebenkin has his sights set on becoming an NHL regular as he looks to solidify a spot heading into training camp, albeit in a less intense market compared to Toronto.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 20 | 2856 ANSWERS Former Maple Leafs Prospect Nikita Grebenkin Speaks Out About Volatile Market in Toronto How would you rate the Scott Laughton/Nikita Grebenkin trade for the Leafs? | ||
| A | 260 | 9.1 % |
| B | 975 | 34.1 % |
| C | 1090 | 38.2 % |
| D or lower | 531 | 18.6 % |
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