TORONTO — The advice the Toronto Maple Leafs gave to Nikita Grebenkin ahead of his NHL debut was simple and to the point, much like a Craig Berube pep talk.
"Team speak me: Backcheck, forecheck, and paycheque," Grebenkin shared after a gritty 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Russian rookie — sporting his hockey flow beneath a backwards cap — laughed through his missing tooth, spreading a contagious joy.
For young Maple Leafs, life is good. Laughter comes easily. Opportunities are plentiful. And even with Auston Matthews away, the wins keep coming — now 6-1 since the captain went on injured reserve.
To be clear: John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander were all exceptional again in Wednesday’s tough, patient win. Veteran defensive pair Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe were rock solid, and Joseph Woll earned a 31-save shutout.
But it was the injection of fresh talent into a depleted lineup that gave this victory a different energy.
Fraser Minten, called up after a brief stint with the Marlies due to David Kämpf’s injury, seamlessly took over the Leafs’ third line. He was moved to the top line when Tavares served offsetting penalties and even contributed to the penalty kill and top power-play unit by the game’s end.
Berube was right to trust the sharp 20-year-old, as Minten didn’t just score his first NHL goal but also described the thought process behind it:
“It’s a dream come true to be out here,” Minten said, following his celebratory twirl as one of the game’s three stars. “It’s years of hard work. It’s for all my family members, my coaches, my friends over the years. It’s so much more than me, and it feels amazing.”
Minten, having recovered from a high-ankle sprain, feels stronger, more mature, and better prepared for the NHL than during his brief four-game stint last fall.
“You can fit in and be effective,” Minten said, noting how his confidence has grown.
Minten’s teammate, Grebenkin, was equally effective — not just with his forechecking but also with his infectious energy.
Grebenkin, who has loved hockey since he was 7, received cheers during his rookie lap and thanked his teammates, coaches, and the city of Toronto after 11 minutes of hard-nosed play.
Though he’s not quite Matthew Tkachuk — his role model — Grebenkin made his mark with personality, grit, and a few scoring chances.
“He was a factor. You noticed him,” Minten said. “Coming from another country, with a different language, it’s not easy, but he did amazing.”
Woll added that Grebenkin was the first Leaf to arrive at the rink on Wednesday, always smiling.
“Most of the read on his personality is from non-verbal cues,” Woll chuckled. “I wish I knew more of what he’s saying, because he’s so positive and happy. Great energy.”
And that energy was key.
Perhaps aided by a rare three-day break or the urgency of facing a worthy opponent with six forwards missing, the Leafs brought a fresh intensity to this midweek matchup.
"Resilient. Battled. Competed. It was a heavy game, as we thought,” Berube said, proudly. “Vegas is a very good team. They don't give you a lot. You have to play smart. Our guys played smart. It was a battle. We battled hard. Really hard.”
It was Berube’s Blues team that edged Bruce Cassidy’s Bruins in Game 7 of the 2019 Cup Final. Cassidy knew he was facing a different version of the Leafs this time.
“They’re tighter defensively in front of their net,” Cassidy said pre-game. “They’re going to play hard and play together.”
That togetherness was especially evident after Zach Whitecloud’s controversial neutral-zone hit on Matthew Knies, who left the game with an upper-body injury. The hit went unpenalized, and no Leafs player publicly disputed it.
Even without enforcers Ryan Reaves and Max Domi in the lineup, the Leafs stood their ground. From Tavares to Oliver Ekman-Larsson to Conor Timmins, they fought back and remained tough.
"Well, it’s not good that he’s hurt, but it definitely sparked some energy in the team,” Woll said. “Anger and those things can drive you through a game. I was pretty pissed after it, so I tried to harness that as well as I could.”
Minten and Grebenkin did just that, seizing their opportunity.
“Team win, best moment,” Grebenkin smiled, working through his post-game interview in his second language.
“I long time wait to NHL play.”
Fox’s Fast Five:
-
Golden Knights backup Ilya Samsonov had dinner with Magnitogorsk pals Grebenkin and Ivan Barbashev on Tuesday night, but sadly, was benched for his return to Toronto. Reflecting on his time with the Leafs, Samsonov said, “I had a great two seasons with the Leafs. We didn’t win the Stanley Cup, but we had a nice group. Good time.”
-
GM Michael "Pinball" Clemons and some members of the Toronto Argonauts brought out the Grey Cup for a ceremonial puck drop. A random Leafs fan yelled “ARRRR-Goooooos!” during the quiet moments.
-
Simon Benoit registered a game-high eight hits and was the first Leaf to step up for Knies after his injury, earning a double roughing penalty for his efforts. "He was excellent tonight," Berube said. "More aggressive than he’s been, skating well, and advancing the puck."
-
Former Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo, now with the Golden Knights, smiled when recalling Berube’s coaching style: “I got nothing but respect for Chief. He challenged me every day to be my best.”
-
The debate continues in Leafland: Should the team re-sign the red-hot Marner in-season, or wait for a ninth postseason run with the core? Marner added two assists to his tally, continuing his impressive performance without Matthews.