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CHECK OUT RUSS COHEN’S NHLDRAFTBUZZ.COM FOR INFO ON PROSPECTS AND NEWS IN THE HOCKEY WORLD
The Toronto Maple Leafs organization has drafted and developed a number of youngsters currently playing in the NHL (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander), but the focus of prospect development under former GM Kyle Dubas and the last few seasons under Director of Amateur Scouting Wes Clark seemed to be on skill players, while GM Brad Treliving has begun to transition with a focus on young players with size.
As we did last year, we will rank the club’s top prospects over the upcoming weeks based on their progress in either the NCAA, CHL, Europe, ECHL or AHL and their potential to make the Leafs roster and contribute in the future.
Youngsters like Bobby McMann, Joseph Woll, Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, and top-rated Matthew Knies have graduated, but here is a list of players eligible for the list who have not played more than 40 NHL games and are 25 years old or younger:
#40 - Wyatt Schingoethe – C (Western Michigan – NCAA)
#39 - Zach Solow - RW (Toronto - AHL)
#38 - Semyon Kizimov - RW -(Yekaterinberg - KHL)
#37 - Robert Mastrosimone – LW. (Toronto – AHL)
#36 - Marko Sikic – RW (Sarnia – OHL, Newfoundland/Norfolk – ECHL)
#35 – Jacob Bengtsson – D (Boston College – NCAA)
#34 – Nicolas Mattinen – D (Straubling – Germany-DEL)
#33 – Matthew Barbolini – F (Miami(OH) – NCAA, Toronto – AHL)
#32 – Nathan Mayes – D (Spokane – WHL)
#31 – Braeden Kressler – C (Flint/Ottawa – OHL
#30 – Jacob Frasca – C (Barrie/ Sault Ste. Marie.- OHL)
#29 – Chas Sharpe – D (Mississauga – OHL, Toronto – AHL)
#28 – Hudson Malinoski – C (Providence – NCAA)
#27 – John Fusco – D (Dartmouth – NCAA
#26 – Semyon Der-Argushintsev (Chelyabinsk Traktor – KHL)
#25 – Ty Voit – RW – (Newfoundland, ECHL, Toronto – AHL
#24 – Mikko Kokkonen – D – (Toronto – AHL)
#23 – Matt Lahey – D – (Nanaimo – BCHL)
#22 – Sam McCue – LW (Peterborough/Owen Sound – OHL)
#21 – Victor Johansson – D (Leksands Jr. – Sweden)
#20 - Alexander Plesovskikh - LW (Yugra - VHL)
#19 - Miroslav Holinka – C (Trinec Ocelari HC U20 – Czechia)
#18 – Roni Hirvonen – C (Toronto – AHL)
#17 – Timofei Obvintsev – G (CSKA Red Army Jr. – MHL)
#16 – Vyacheslav Peksa – G (Newfoundland – ECHL)
#15 – Cade Webber – D (Boston University – NCAA)
#14 – Ryan Tverberg – C (Toronto – AHL)
#13 – William Villeneuve – D (Toronto – AHL)
#12 – Alex Steeves – C(Toronto – AHL / Toronto – NHL)
#11 – Joe Miller – C (Harvard – NCAA)
#10 – Nick Moldenhauer – C (Michigan – NCAA)
#9 – Nick Abruzzese – C (Toronto – AHL)
#8 – Ben Danford – D (Oshawa – OHL)
#7 – Artur Akhtyamov – G (Neftyanik Almetievsk – VHL / Ak Bars Kazan – KHL)
#6 – Noah Chadwick – D (Lethbridge – WHL / Toronto – AHL)
#5 – Dennis Hildeby – G (Toronto – AHL)
#4 – Nikita Grebenkin – W (Metallurg Magnitogorsk - KHL)
The Maple Leafs traditionally go to Europe in the later rounds because of the longer development window and have had good luck in drafting the likes of Andreas Johnsson, Pierre Engvall, Carl Gunnarsson, and Pontus Holmberg. At the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, former GM Kyle Dubas and his scouting staff selected Russian winger Nikita Grebyonkin in the fifth round (135th overall).
Toronto possibly took advantage of the chilling effect of drafting Russians after the invasion of Ukraine. Grebyonkin was not selected in his first eligible draft in 2021, but gained notice as the linemate for Minnesota first-round pick Danila Yurov, posting more than a point-per-game (17 goals, 47 assists in 58 games) with the junior-level Stainye Lisy in the Magnitogorsk system last season.
After playing seven KHL games with Magnitogorsk, Grebyonkin was loaned out to a lower level KHL club in Amur Khabarovsk, where the young winger thrived, scoring 26 points (9 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games.
Nikita Grebenkin in the KHL last year vs Nikita Grebenkin in his first preseason game as a Leaf.
“Nikita has a rare blend of deception, elusiveness, and puck-handling ability that makes sure he doesn’t have to rely on his frame too often.” the Hockey Prospect Black Book said in 2022. “(He) has some of the best inside and outside edges available in this class. He was the only player we viewed this season, who threw a defender off balance with over three feet of space between them. That hopefully gives you a sense of how fast he can pivot and force weight shifts out of opposing players. His edgework is compounded by an efficient and fluid skating base that’s mechanically sound.”
The 21-year-old vaulted to a higher level on the Leafs prospect list after an impressive year with Magnitogorsk, finishing second behind Yurov in points (41) and goals (19) on a club that won the Gargarin Cup in a four-game sweep over Lokomotiv, and signed him to a three-year entry-level deal in April.
Grebyonkin has good skating ability, and is known mostly for top-end playmaking, superior edge work and excellent hockey IQ. The fact that he produced so well at such a young age is a promising sign that the Leafs may have found a diamond in the rough. Those skills have been displayed at training camp over the last few weeks and along with his size (6’2”, 209 lb.), and he has impressed head coach Craig Berube.
With the Leafs roster crunch, Grebyonkin will undoubtedly start the season in the AHL, but he could get a look at some point during the season.
Nikita Grebenkin's popularity soared with the #Leaf during the Muskoka trip.
Berube: "Grebenkin is one funny guy. He's quite a character, this kid. He's got a real bright future in this league. He's close. He's impressed me just with his play and he's a good player obviously and…
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