Nikita Grebenkin, the 23-year-old Russian forward prospect acquired by the Flyers in the March 2024 trade that sent Scott Laughton to the Toronto Maple Leafs, is indeed waivers-exempt. This status gives the Flyers flexibility to assign him to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms without needing to pass him through NHL waivers, avoiding the risk of another team claiming him off the waiver wire. Could he be the odd man out because of such?
Grebenkin came to camp in great shape, and he has outperformed his competition that includes, Jett Luchanko and Rodrigo Abols. The problem is, he is waivers exempt. Abols would have to pass through waivers, and the Flyers seem reluctant to send Luchanko back to the OHL for his last season with the Guelph Storm. More than likely, the writing is on the wall for a nine-game tryout, at the very least, for Luchanko.
With teams like the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders, specifically, Abols could very well get scooped up by either team. Both of those said teams are familiar with him, as both teams played twice against the Flyers in the Pre-Season. With the Flyers already being thin down the middle, depth wise, I honestly can envision this team sending Grebenkin back to Lehigh for a brief stint, to get this Flyers roster to 23 players, by the deadline of Monday, October 6th at 5:00 p.m.
The team sent Emil Andrae back to Lehigh earlier in the week, even though he outplayed his competition on the back end, so anything is possible, even with Grebenkin outplaying Abols and Luchanko thus far. A small technicality could very well stand in between Grebenkin, and making the opening night roster.
- Current Roster Spot: He wasn’t among the 10 players released the other day, which included top prospects like Emil Andrae and Alex Bump being sent to the AHL, with forward Anthony Richard placed on waivers.
- Performance Highlights: Grebenkin has been a standout in camp. He’s impressed with his puck protection, physicality (6’3, 205 pounds), and net-front presence, earning prime ice time alongside veterans like Sean Couturier and Matvei Michkov. Head coach Rick Tocchet has praised his “flash” and grind-it-out style, noting input from former Leafs coach Craig Berube. In a recent preseason game against the Boston Bruins, he scored in overtime during a 4-3 loss.
- Roster Bubble: With forward spots opening up due to cuts, Grebenkin is in a strong position to compete for a bottom-six NHL role. Other bubble forwards include Rodrigo Abols and Jett Luchanko. Analysts see him as a “dark horse” candidate to break camp
“He’s a sticky guy,” Flyers’ Head Coach Rick Tocchet said after the Islanders game last night in a post-game press conference. “You always need those corner guys that come up with the puck. If we can teach him to play that way. That burst to speed, that’s good stuff, hope you get more from that.”
Circling Back: Why Waivers-Exempt Matters
Under NHL rules, players like Grebenkin (fewer than 30 NHL games and under 24 years old at signing) don’t require waivers for AHL assignment. This contrasts with players like Helge Grans, who lost exempt status and obviously faced higher stakes. It allows the Flyers to “set him down” (demote him) risk-free if needed, while keeping his development on track.If he sticks around for the final preseason game this week, his odds of starting in Philly skyrocket.
Fans are already buzzing about his personality (remember his viral “backcheck, forecheck, paycheck” quote from his Leafs debut?), and he’s got that classic Flyer grit. Keep an eye on tomorrow’s updates—roster decisions could come fast as the season opener approaches.
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