The Toronto Maple Leafs and general manager Brad Treliving have recalled a fan-favorite player from the AHL and sent down Marshall Rifai in exchange. The Maple Leafs called up fan-favorite forward Nikita <a href='https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-recall-nikita-grebenkin-assign-marshall-rifai-to-ahl/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Grebenkin from the Toronto Marlies on Thursday morning</a>, returning defenceman Marshall Rifai to the AHL in exchange. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1867219254434533528'> </a></blockquote></div> It remains to be seen if <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/nikita-grebenkin-8483733' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Nikita Grebenkin</a> plays, let alone where he'll fit, but it's a promising move after fans took a shine to him in an instant. Brought up on an emergency basis to fill in with <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/max-domi-8477503' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Max Domi</a> out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, Grebenkin didn't have a point in his seven-game tenure with the big club. His motor skills, humility, and charisma resonated with a number of fans, however. Down-to-earth <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/fan-favorite-nikita-grebenkin-involved-in-a-legendary-street-interview-following-his-first-viral-outburst' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Grebenkin was even seen outside of the rink with other fans, casually chatting</a>. His famous paycheck interview was what led fans to fall in love with him. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/PuckReportNHL/status/1859452876885520506'> </a></blockquote></div> A fifth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Grebenkin was considered an under-the-radar prospect coming into the year but has been quite the revelation with the Marlies this season, putting up 10 points in 13 games thus far. The physicality, endless energy, and willingness to drop the gloves take it to a whole new level and truly make him an extremely valuable asset. It's projected that he could start on the fourth line but could see time up with fellow rookie Fraser Minten and potentially be on a top-line combination down the road. The Leafs are banking on Grebenkin to bring in some much-needed energy and offense until the team knows if internal solutions could present themselves before looking elsewhere. With Toronto clearly trusting Grebenkin and it seemingly appearing that coach Craig Berube liked what he saw of him his first time around, the youngster gets yet another shot at trying to prove himself. The Leafs hope this gamble pays off in their search for offensive firepower.