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Grigo Staying; Kaleta, Larsson Injured |
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Rochester Amerks training camp officially opens on Monday. Mikhail Grigorenko won't be heading east down the I-90 to attend the camp in the Lilac City. Instead, the former 12th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft will be practicing with his Sabres teammates at First Niagara Center. One month ago, it appeared to be a foregone conclusion that Grigo would play in Rochester this season with the emergence of center Samson Reinhart in Buffalo.
The narrative went something like this:
Grigorenko will not be able to up his game to the point where he makes Tim Murray and Ted Nolan choose the Russian centerman over the second overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.
Grigo entered training camp with the deck stacked against him. The heavy odds were placed on Samson Reinhart to earn a roster spot in Buffalo's top six. Ted Nolan has been Grigorenko singing the praises of Grigorenko in the past two weeks. The head coach is finally seeing the commitment level and the work ethic that Grigorenko failed to bring on a nightly basis in his previous two NHL stints.
I love how the kid has tuned out all of the negativity and noise associated with his first two seasons of pro hockey. While the haters be hatin, Grigo be hittin the gym and flexing the pecs. Grigo has added 10 pounds of muscle to his 6'3" long frame. He now plays at 220 lbs. And he has acclimated very nicely by leaning on opponents. He us also protecting the puck and shielding bit better with his new found size and strength. His coaches and teammates are certainly impressed with his attitudinal and physical transformation.
Nolan has spoken glowingly about Grigorenko ever since tryouts began two weeks ago. And, rightly so. The former Quebec Rempart star has been one of Buffalo's most noticeable forwards in Ted Nolan's tryouts. Grigo's back check has been equal to or better than his fore check. He's been physical and has played with the puck on his stick quite a bit more than he had in his first two tours of duty in Buffalo.
I know that Nolan is sold on Grigorneko because he started Grigo at center on the top line between Chris Stewart and Cody Hodgson.
Grigo was on the ice for the first shit and he also was on the ice in the final 90 second of play in the third period of a 2-2 tie, on the road. It didn't phase Grigo at all. Nolan also skate Grigo in the final 69 second of play in regulation.
That, in a nutshell is respect. Nolan is getting the most out of every guy in the Buffalo room right now, including Grigorenko. Reinahart has had a fine training camp and has played well. It appears to me that the 18 year old center is at the same point in his development that Grigorenko was at when he was drafted a supremely skilled 18 year old in June 2012. Grigorenko struggles at times with the speed and physicality of the NHL game. Since then, the young Russian has worked extensively on his skating stride and has added 14 pounds of muscle this past summer. Grigorenko now appears to be the total package of skill, speed and offense. Looking back, it wasn't such a bad thing to have the Sabres send the high achieving junior star back to Quebec City, then later to AHL Rochester for further seasoning and development.
On Sunday night in Toronto, Grigorenko put on a show.
At the :25 second mark of the first period, Grigo and Cody Hodgson connected on a freak show goal that saw Hodgson feather a backhand sauce to Grigo whil ethe slick Russian darted to Bernier's blue ice. Grigo had the presence of mind to bunt the puck out of mid air, settle it , then deposited it behind Bernier.
Just wow!
Thanks, Leafs TV
Grigo also scored this beautiful shootout goal on Bernier.
I truly believe that Grigo has played his way onto the Buffalo roster. He's done everything that's been expected of him, and then some, this summer. In July, he reported to rookie development camp with a positive attitude and in the best physical condition of his professional hockey career.
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The Sabres lost two forwards to injury in the Toronto game on Sunday night.
Pat Kaleta blocked a shot with his face, then sprinted to the Buffalo room for repairs. He suffered a cheekbone injury and didn't return to the game.
Johan Larsson was clipped in the face by Leafs young D prospect Granberg. Larsson didn't finish the game.
Both players will be evaluated in Buffalo on Monday morning.
***
The Leafs suffered two more injuries to key players on Sunday night:
Leafs D Cody Franson was injured on Sunday night. Its a lower body, non-weight bearing injuring that occurred when the Leafs D got tangled up with Sabres forward Torrey Mitchell behind the net.
David Booth suffered an injured foot and didn't finish the game on Sunday night. Its believed that Booth injured his foot blocking a shot with his skate while penalty killing.
Leafs forward David Clarkson is scheduled to see a specialist Monday for his cheekbone injury suffered in a fist fight with Buffalo heavyweight Cody McCormick on Friday night.
Leafs blue liner Henrik Tallinder is awaiting further results on his dislocated shoulder suffered against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
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Ted Nolan was rolling heavy with vets in Friday night's 6-4 Toronto win in Buffalo.
The game featured four fights and a lot of truculence and pugnacity.
David Clarkson and Hank Tallinder were injured in the game. One wonders if the Leafs will be looking for a bit of revenge on the Sabres.
Tonight, Nolan will be giving his kids the opportunity to make an impression on the coaching staff.
Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth will sit this one out. Andrey Markov will get the net for Buffalo with Nate Lieuwen serving as his back up.
Forwards:
Hodgson – Grigorenko – Stewart
Dalpe – Mitchell – Brian Flynn
Deslauriers – Larsson – Armia
Ellis – Schaller – Kaleta
Defense:
Weber – Ristolainen
Petrecki – Andrej Meszaros
Bagnall – Strachan
Net:
Makarov
Lieuwen
Randy Carlyle will roll out a largely veteran lineup for the home fans to admire on Sunday night.
Here are their projected lines.
Forwards:
JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Nylander-Kadri-Leivo
Booth-Holland-Frattin
Kozun-Carrick-Orr
Defense:
Rielly-Franson
Gardiner-Granberg
Percy-Holzer
Net:
Bernier
Buffalo Forwards:
Hodgson – Grigorenko –Stewart
Dalpe – Mitchell – Flynn
Deslauriers –Larsson – Armia
Ellis – Schaller – Kaleta
Buffalo Defense:
Weber – Ristolainen
Petrecki – Meszaros
Bagnall – Strachan
Buffalo Goalies:
Makarov
Lieuwen
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