The Flyers have locked in one of the players who helped shape their surprising playoff push last season.
On Thursday, the team signed forward Nikita Grebenkin to a two-year, $2.2-million contract, according to general manager Daniel Briere.
Grebenkin, a native of Serov, Russia, was one of several Philadelphia freshmen who made a positive impact on coach Rick Tocchet’s team. The 23-year-old just completed his first full NHL season in 2025-26, finishing with four goals and 14 points in 55 games for the Flyers.
His road to Philadelphia has moved quickly. Grebenkin spent part of the 2024-25 season in Toronto, where he played seven NHL games and added 39 games with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. He was then acquired by the Flyers on March 7, 2025.
After the trade, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward made his mark with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, posting three goals and seven points in 11 AHL games. He also chipped in one goal and four points over seven Calder Cup Playoff games.
Grebenkin originally entered the league when Toronto picked him in the fifth round, 135th overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Before arriving in North America, he spent parts of three seasons in the KHL from 2021-24, putting up 28 goals and 67 points in 120 career games. His best stretch came in 2023-24, when he finished second on his team with 19 goals and 41 points in 67 games, earned a spot in the KHL All-Star Game, and helped his club win the KHL Gagarin Cup Championship.
He also picked up the Alexei Cherepanov Award after his first full KHL season in 2022-23, recognizing him as the league’s top rookie.
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