My Twitter friend, Slava Malamud ( @slavamalamud ) is a Foreign Correspondent for Sport-Express, Russia's sports daily. He's also sn NHL.com contributor.
Slava spoke directly with fellow Russian and newly minted Sabres centre, Mikhail Grigorenko, after the NHL Draft in Pittsburgh.
According to Slava, Grigorenko is serious about wanting to wear #89 in Buffalo as an homage to former Sabres sniper Alexander Mogilny.
Here's an excerpt from Malamud's piece on Grigorenko for Sport-Express:
Mikhail Grigorenko: "Maybe my" Buffalo "will give the 89th number?"
The 12th overall pick number 2012 forward, "Buffalo" Mikhail Grigorenko, shared his impressions of the NHL draft, has compared himself to Alexander Mogilny, and also spoke about his new club.
- Not surprised that you have so low?
- So in other rankings because I was a 20-m, 17 m. So it's still a good idea ... All of their opinions. Eleven teams have not taken. Well, so much the worse for them. But now I do not care up to 29 NHL teams. All I want - to prove the "Buffalo", that they were not mistaken in me.
- When the time came, "Washington" - creep up internally?
- No. I know they will not take me. With "Washington", I never even met. They're Kuznetsova could not sign it. And Semin seems to be going. Maybe they are afraid of Russian now?
- You know, what is common between you and Alexander Mogilny?
- Of course! I'm going to follow in his footsteps - from Khabarovsk to CSKA Moscow, CSKA Moscow of the "Buffalo." After so many years. I hope that now, as he will score 76 goals. Maybe I will give it the 89th number?
- And what about the "Buffalo" you know?
- What is it in America, that near Niagara Falls, what's Dominik Hasek played there ... If the weather like in Toronto, I am happy. I love it when the city has all four seasons. Somewhere in Miami, I probably would have not been able to live the whole year - quoted Grigorenko, "Sport-Express" .
" I hope that I was going in the footsteps of Mogilny. We had one of the city, and both of CSKA Moscow moved to America. I want to, as he did, scoring 76 goals per season said Grigorenko.
“Mikhail Grigorenko wants to know whether he can wear # 89 in Buffalo, in honor of his hometown hero Alex Mogilny.”
Mogilny was a rock star in Buffalo. Grigo has some huge skates to fill if he wants to wear Superman's cape. I like the kid's candor and his confidence. I also love that he'll be playing with a huge chip on his shoulder. He'll be looking to silence all of his critics who say that he players only when he wants to play, and that he picks his spots.
Mark my words, if Grigo vibes with Vanek and Pominville. and makes an immediate impact on the top line during training camp and in exhibition games, I say he sticks and stays in Buffalo for at least 10 games. Look what Luke Adam did at the beginning of last season for evidence that Ruff wants his kids to play their dues in the AHL. Tyler Myers took the fast track to the NHL, too. There are exceptions to every rule. Even Ruff's Rule.
Malamud also reports that Grigorenko has stated that he has no desire to explore the KHL option that exists. The kid says he's not even listening to the KHL chatter that surrounds he and other Russian-born kids who have been recently drafted into the NHL.
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@SlavaMalamud: "I won't even speak to KHL. I can guarantee I will be in Buffalo in October" - Grigorenko #Sabres
The one thing that I love most about Grigorenko is that he is a fan of Lindy Ruff's coaching style. Sure, he's a rook and he's never had to endure the wrath of Ruff quite like Afinogenov, Vanek, Roy, Pominville, Miller, et al have. His day will come when he's parked in Chateau Bow Wow for non-compliance with Ruff's system.
Grigorenko's take on his future bench boss:
"He's a tough coach, but Roy wasn't soft either. If a coach doesn't demand a lot, he isn't good coach" #Sabres
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Tim Panaccio has his ear to the train tracks on the Bobby Ryan trade demand. Panotch says that the Flyers would have to part with players the caliber of Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier, and Braydon Coburn. Ryan, a native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey has a soft spot in his heart for the Flyers.
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