Greb & flow: Flyers turn to Grebenkin for larger role after Foerster injury

PHILADELPHIA -- At the Flyers morning skate at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Wednesday, in preparation for their nationally televised game against Buffalo later that same night, coach Rick Tocchet had the team working on 2-on-1 drills. 

At one point, Nikita Grebenkin came into the zone, and fired a shot on goalie Sam Ersson. He didn't score, but Tocchet was pleased. 

"Atta boy Grebby," Tocchet yelled, as the drill went on. 

It was a small motivation in the hopes of unlocking more from the young Russian. 

The Flyers are going to need Grebenkin, among other players, to step up to make up for the loss of Tyson Foerster, who will be sidelined for 2-3 months with a right shoulder injury. 

Grebenkin, who has alternated between playing on the fourth line and being a healthy scratch for the predominance of the season, will be the first guy that gets a look in the Flyers top nine forwards. He'll be playing with Noah Cates and Bobby Brink against the Sabres and the Flyers will take it from there.

"I think he's ready for it," Tocchet said of Grebenkin. "There's a process to it - the way you practice. The way you take in information. ... Perfect example - last game. In practice, when he has 2-on-1s, he slows down and tries to pass the puck. (In the game) he had all day to go in and fire the puck. But he waited, he tried to make a pass and it got picked off. 

"So we talked about it, and today his 2-on-1s were outstanding. Hopefully he can apply that to a real game. That's the information that a player has to take to be an NHL player. Hopefully he gets a 2-on-1 tonight and he moves his feet. I think he will because he did it today."

It's why Tocchet was so vocal in practice letting him know that's exactly what he and his staff want Grebenkin to do. 

It's a challenge for Grebenkin, who is in his first full year in the NHL, to assimilate to playing at the highest level. But the Flyers think there's a top-9 forward in there. They were trying to take him along a little more slowly, but now he's being forced into more action because of the injury to Foerster, and Grebenkin is welcoming the opportunity. 

"Maybe more time is good for me and its a big chance for me and I want to help the team every time," Grebenkin said. "I am excited for every game, but today, maybe more."

Just 22 years old and still working on his English communication skills, Grebenkin remains work in progress, but one that the Flyers believe can ultimately be impactful.

"We hope so, but at some point the player has to take the ball and run with it, too," General Manager Danny Briere said on Snow The Goalie's Press Row Show on Monday. "There's been a lot of teaching with him. The language is a little bit of an issue here and there, but he's getting better. The coaches are working with him on the proper routes and proper positioning. It feels like anybody's spent a lot of time with him (previously) on that stuff. ... I like the progression, but we still have to be a little more patient. But eventually we have higher hopes than the fourth line for him."

And Grebenkin has those same hopes as well. 

"Sometimes good play, sometimes bad play," Grebenkin said, describing his season so far. "I want to play better and better. I don't want to be (mediocre). If I'm (mediocre) then I want to be be better. The coach spoke with me (about it). I understand. It's hard sometimes, but I want to be better than this."

Now, he'll get some runway to prove it.