James: Nikita Grebenkin Has Earned His Spot On Top of the Bubble

The Flyers have been in training camp for just under a week now, and Nikita Grebenkin has already impressed. In fact, he has been one of the more eye-catching players at training camp.

Grebenkin entered camp on the bottom side of the bubble. It seemed that between Jett Luchanko, Alex Bump, and Grebenkin, Luchanko and Bump would end camp in the NHL. Now, you can’t be so sure.

There is always the world of possibility in which all three players end up in the NHL. If the team decides to go 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goalies, all three should make the roster.

We’ve already talked about the roster battle. Now let’s talk about why Grebenkin has the edge.

If Camp Ended Today, Grebenkin is on the Roster

Plain and simple, if the NHL season started tomorrow, I think it’d be a unanimous decision that Grebenkin makes the team. He has by far been the best of the bubble players thus far. The winger has stood out with his play, for sure. However, his energy and intensity on the ice are something that help him stand out.

While I don’t see a world where he plays with Michkov in the NHL, not yet anyway, the two players have definitely built some chemistry throughout camp. Grebenkin has good scoring skills, but also a good sense for setting up his teammates.

There was the notion last season that his condition was still too poor to have a chance at making the NHL. Grebenkin has since put that to rest. He showed up to camp, worked hard, and has his conditioning up to par with those NHL guys around him.

During rookie camp, Grebenkin was easily one of the most impressive players on the ice, both as a playmaker and a scorer. He put himself higher in the conversation early on.

Then, once NHL camp started, he picked right up where he left off, giving him a chance. Now, after a handful of practices, scrimmages, and a preseason game, it feels more likely than ever that Nikita Grebenkin will be on the Flyers roster opening night.

What Does He Still Need to Do

There is still plenty of time left for things to change. Players on the bubble now could end up falling out of contention. There are still six preseason games left. That is plenty of opportunity for other players to earn their keep.

With that, what does Grebenkin need to do to keep his spot on the top of the bubble?

Well, the first thing is the obvious: don’t take your foot off the gas. A player who becomes comfortable can find themselves falling back to where they started camp. For Grebenkin specifically, I would want to see two things.

First of all, I’d like to see him build chemistry with people he is more likely to be skating with in an NHL game. The Flyers are giving him every chance to make the roster, playing him with Michkov, Sean Couturier, and even Trevor Zegras during the first preseason game. I’d like to see him playing with guys like Garnet Hathaway, Christian Dvorak, maybe Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink. The top six minutes are a stretch for Grebenkin, so let’s see what he can show us with some of the bottom sixers.

The second thing: keep scoring. Don’t cool the hot hand, right? If Grebenkin can continue to be found on the score sheet. It will be hard to take him away. He did not earn a point during the first preseason game – though he still looked impressive. We know he can score; We saw it during the rookie series and the scrimmage. Let’s see him get that going again. For me, I’d like to see Grebenkin score a goal or two or pick up a handful of assists.

If the season started today, I do believe Grebenkin deserves to be on the team. What do you think he has to do to earn it?

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