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Maple Leafs Rookie Shares Mindset Heading into Wednesday's NHL Debut

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Devon Platana | Last updated Nov 20, 2024 2:37 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a new face in the lineup when they host the Vegas Golden Knights tonight.

With Max Domi (lower body) joining the likes of Auston Matthews and Max Pacioretty on the injured reserve, the Maple Leafs recalled Nikita Grebenkin from the American Hockey League on Wednesday morning, per The Hockey News' Steven McGoey. The 21-year-old forward was drafted 135th overall by the club in 2022.

Grebenkin moved to North America during the offseason, meaning tonight's affair will mark his NHL debut. It's normal for a rookie to be filled with nerves ahead of their first outing and that feeling is often amplified in Toronto due to the Maple Leafs' popularity.

Following Wednesday's practice, the Serov, Russia native shared what's going through his mind ahead of his NHL debut.

"Hard working every day," Grebenkin told TSN reporters about his mindset. "Please give me a chance, I go work."

Leafs rookie Nikita Grebenkin is only focused on getting the win ahead of his NHL debut pic.twitter.com/deFU0n7P8m
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 20, 2024

Grebenkin worked hard to reach this stage of his career. The 6-foot-2 forward competed against men as a teenager in the Kontinental Hockey League and didn't look out of place, recording 28 goals and 67 points across 112 games in his last two KHL seasons.

Like many other players, making the NHL was always Grebenkin's dream. However, simply skating in his first Maple Leafs game won't mean much to him if his teammates aren't standing tall once the final whistle blows.

"Not win, I not enjoy," Grebenkin said about Wednesday's possible outcome. "A win today, it's enjoy."

The good news for the Russian rookie is that Toronto is brimming with momentum at the moment. Even though the Maple Leafs have been without captain Auston Matthews since Nov. 3, they've managed to accumulate a 5-1-0 record in his absence.

After going pointless in three NHL preseason games, Grebenkin has hit his stride in the AHL. The promising goal-scorer has scored four goals in 13 games and ranks second on the Toronto Marlies when it comes to assists (six) and points (10).

With the Golden Knights projected to be Stanley Cup contenders, the Maple Leafs will hope that Grebenkin can live up to the hype and help lead them to victory in his first taste of NHL action.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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