Top Leafs prospect Nikita Grebyonkin breaks silence on substance use during the playoffs
One of the top prospects in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, Nikita Grebyonkin, exposed the dark side of playoff hockey in a recent interview.
Grebyonkin won the Gagarin Cup in the KHL last season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He gained a lot of valuable experience during that run, but unfortunately, there was also a dark side to it.
The 21-year-old forward was playing with injuries to the lower body and the shoulder, which forced him to take painkillers to keep helping his team.
In a recent interview, he opened up about this topic, stating that many players on the team were doing it.
Check out what he said:
Most professional athletes don't hesitate to take painkillers to continue playing, but it's something that's often kept hidden from the media.
Drafted 135th overall in 2022 by the Leafs, he signed his entry-level contract in Toronto this summer and is currently pursuing his recovery with the Leafs' medical staff.
He also shared an update on that topic:
Set to play for the Leafs or the Marlies next season, fans hope that the painkiller use won't become a problem for Grebyonkin.
He has a bright future in the NHL, and we've seen many players throw it all away because of substance abuse.
If he manages to overcome this challenge, he could be on his way to having a great career in North American hockey.
Source: Hockey News Hub
Update on Nikita Grebyonkin
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