It was nearly one year ago when popular Russian forward prospect Nikita Grebenkin was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Philadelphia Flyers. Ahead of his first game against the Maple Leafs on Monday, Grebenkin spoke to reporters, including TSN’s Mark Masters, to reflect on his time in Toronto.
He also revealed that well after the trade to Philadelphia—which saw Grebenkin and a first-round draft pick go to the Flyers in exchange for forward Scott Laughton—he had to shut down his Instagram account because of all the Leafs fans sending him messages.
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“I like to speak and talk to people and I don’t like if a guy texts me [and] I [can’t respond] to him, but it’s hard always; 100 messages and I don’t use this now,” he explained.
Selected by the Maple Leafs at 135th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, Grebenkin got off to a great start with the Toronto Marlies, recording 10 points in his first 13 games. During his preseason debut in September of 2024, he got into a fight with then-Ottawa Senators forward Adam Gaudette. Immediately after the scrap, Grebenkin called for noise from the crowd, and they certainly showed the love back.
Grebenkin was among the final cuts during 2024 Leafs camp, joining the veteran players for their annual late preseason trip to Muskoka. He became an instant favorite for his personality. “Off the ice, he’s a lot of fun to be around, likes to joke around. He’s not shy… He’s definitely been making a lot of friends,” Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said of Grebenkin at the time.
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Grebenkin made his NHL debut on Nov. 20, 2024, and after the game, he delivered a now-viral postgame moment. “Team spoke to me: Backcheck, forecheck, and paycheck,” he said of the advice he received. The response got a massive laugh from everyone in attendance, including himself, and the delivery of the quote became a classic that immediately endeared him to the Leafs fanbase.
On March 7, 2025, Grebenkin was traded to Philly, thus ending his tenure in Toronto. Earlier in the season, when the Leafs visited the Flyers, Grebenkin politely declined to be interviewed as he was looking to be more serious and focused on performing well with his Flyers team. It was understandable, given he wanted to ensure he made a good impression in his first full season with his new club.
In 46 games this season, Grebenkin has four goals and eight assists. Grebenkin logged 8:44 of ice time and was a minus-1 in his team’s 3-2 overtime win against the Leafs on Monday.
