Leafs prospect Grebyonkin adopts new spelling of name upon NHL arrival

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Hunter Bowman
May 1, 2024 (8:26 PM)

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward prospect Nikita Grebyonkin has wrapped up his season in the KHL and is now officially part of the team. While he won't hit the ice for the Leafs this season, he's still making headlines, notably for a change in the spelling of his last name.

Local reporter Kyle Cushman was quick to spot the change, pointing it out as Grebyonkin's jersey debuted with the number 71. Instead of the expected "GREBYONKIN," his nameplate read "GREBENKIN."

This prompted some initial confusion among fans, but Cushman broke down the reasoning clearly: The Russian alphabet doesn't convert directly into English, and players often adjust their names' spelling to help English speakers pronounce them more accurately.

This spelling adjustment coincides with Grebyonkin, or Grebenkin, signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Leafs after a robust season with Metallurg in the KHL, where he scored 19 goals and 41 points in 67 regular season games, adding another 3 goals and 6 points in 23 playoff outings.

The 21-year-old winger, a fifth-round pick just two years ago, is projected to join the Leafs' bottom six forward group next season, an encouraging step in his development trajectory.