Maple Leafs sign Nikita Grebyonkin to entry-level contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed a prospect right in the middle of the postseason.

On Monday, it was announced forward Nikita Grebyonkin has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team, which begins immediate for the 2023-24 season.

Chris Johnston of The Athletic first broke the morning news, with Grebyonkin’s agent, Dan Milstein, confirming the signing shortly thereafter.

Since Grebyonkin was placed on the Maple Leafs’ reserve list before the trade deadline, he is eligible to play in the playoffs, should the team elect to insert him into the lineup.

Grebyonkin is coming off a great season in the Kontinental Hockey League. The Serov, Russia native helped Metallurg Magnitogorsk win the franchise’s third Gagarin Cup, and first since 2016. Grebyonkin scored a career-best 19 goals and 41 points in 67 games, including six points in 23 playoff appearances.

The KHL announced on Saturday that Grebyonkin’s contract with Metallurg was terminated on a mutual agreement.

The 21-year-old came onto the prospect’s radar after a great 2021-22 campaign with Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk of the MHL, and was taken by the Leafs in the fifth round in that year’s NHL Draft.

The following season, Metallurg loaned him to Amur Khabarovsk. After posting 26 points in 45 games, he was named the KHL’s best rookie.

Grebyonkin has represented his country in the past, playing on Russia’s Under-16 and Under-17 teams, as well as being a member of the Russia U25 team this past season.

As a result of the signing, Toronto has 33 standard player contracts signed through next season, with the team projected to have less than $18 million in cap space.

On the ice, Leafs are fighting for their playoff lives. Facing elimination, they take on the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals on Tuesday night.