Former Fan Favorite Nikita Grebenkin Sounds Off After Trade from Leafs

Grebenkin was traded from the Leafs to the Philadelphia Flyers in the deal that sent center Scott Laughton to Toronto at the NHL Trade Deadline.

Coming over from Russia as one of the KHL's top players, Grebenkin, 21, has played in seven games this season for the Leafs, and has been a key player in the AHL for the Toronto Marlies, now in Philly's system as a top prospect for the team's future alongside friend and fellow Russian Matvei Michkov.

Now, Grebenkin has spoken on his personal feelings now that he's longer a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he's revealed his thoughts on the trade that moved him out.

Nikita Grebenkin admits that his trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs was not much of a surprise to him.

Grebenkin told RG that he felt it was possible he could be traded from Toronto:

Without a first round pick in 2025 and reports of Grebenkin, along with fellow top prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten linked out, it was clear that the Leafs top prospects were at risk of being on the way out.

Minten, who was traded to the Boston Bruins at the deadline in a deal for Brandon Carlo, said similar to Grebenkin that he thought he may be dealt, telling 'The Hockey News':

Grebenkin has been a fan favorite among Leafs fans for his sense of humor, something Grebenkin admitted however in the interview with RG he struggled with, wanting to be known for his hockey skill rather than his humor.

Grebenkin, who prior to the NHL came up in the Metallurg Magnitogorsk system, was a fifth round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, 135th overall.