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Report: Grigorenko Sent Back To Remparts

November 18, 2013, 11:09 PM ET [52 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT



The Buffalo Sabres, as presently constructed are the youngest team in teh NHL. Their roster averages 26.4 years of age. Thats all about to change. The Sabres are going to be getting older as a group.

There is a report out of RDS in Quebec that the Sabres have sent center Mikhail Grigorenko back to the Quebec Remparts.

If true, the news is no surprise as Grigorenko has been a freqeunt flyer in the press box for the last week. He cannot help his team win game isf he is dressed in a Hugo Boss suit on game nignt.




On Monday, Ted Nolan told the media that he thought that the Sabres have too many young players on the current roster. The Sabres have been playing with four teeagers and a 21 year old in the lineup all season long. Mikhail Grigorenko (19), Nikita Zadorov (18), Rasmus Ristolainen (18) and Zemgus Girgensons (19) have been played the mahority of games, while Johan Larssson (21) has played many games as well.


“You see good organizations and how they go about it. You don’t force feed somebody and then say, "we’re rebuild." Rebuild is important, but how you rebuild is really important,” Nolan said. “Like I said, Patty and I have been talking here since we got involved. I think you can have some young kids, a few of them, not as many as we have."

"Everything is up for change right now and we’re going to try to get this thing on a proper footing going forward and putting people in a position of success versus force-feeding them.”


Nolan noted that he and Sabres President of Hockey Operations Pat LaFontaine have talked about shaking up the organization by promoting some of the deserving young pros from the Rochester Americans like Luke Adam and Brayden McNabb to the Sabres.


Zadorov will likely be sent back to his London Kinights junior team.

Ristolainen can be sent to Rochester.

Grigorenko cannot be sent to Rochester, therefore, he's a prime candidate to be sent bacl to Phillipe Boucher and the Quebec Remparts. Grigorenko has been a healthy scratch for the past three games and will likely be a scratch for the foreseeable future. Its best to pack him up and send him back to the Remps where he can play 22-25 minutes per game sand play in all situations (5-v-5, PP, PK). Its a better solution than making him a healthy scratch in Buffalo.


In 15 games this season, Grigo has 2 goals and an assist and is -3. He's taken 18 shots on goal.

In 40 career games with the Sabres, he's scored 3 goal sand added 5 assists for 8 points.


Might as well let him go back to Quebec and start assaulting opposing goalies in "The Q". If the report is true, I hope he scores 50 goals this season and starts having fun again on the rink.

His first foray into the NHL has been an emotional roller coaster at times. Having to watch his first two NHL head coaches and his first NHL GM get fired in the past 9 months must be dizzying and confusing for a 19 year old kid. Being benched is never a fun experience either.


More to come....


***


The Russian Ice Hockey Federation likely won't be upset if Grigorenko and Zadorov are sent back to their junior clubs. Each player would be eligible to participate for Russia at the 2014 IIHF Wold Junior Hockey Championships.


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Jaro Halak appears to be on double secret probation right now. The St. Louis Blues' starting goalie finds himself trapped in a place that he doesn't want to be in, and that is Ken Hitchcock's crap list.

Halak's play has slipped in the month of November after he thrived October.


On Sunday night, Halak allowed 3 quick goals on 6 shots in just 15 minutes of play. Halak was given the quick hook after Hitchcock had seen enough of the madness.

The word around First Niagara Center today was that Halak will be the starter in Buffalo on Tuesday night.

Halak's win/loss record is deceiving. He's 10-3-2 this season, however, Hitchcock is reportedly concerned with Halak's escalating goals against average and his falling save percentage. In October, the former Montreal Canadiens net minder allowed just 19 goals on 228 shots that he faced. He finished October with a .916 save percentage. The goal light has been flashing quite frequently in November. Halak has allowed 16 goals on just 121 shots faced ( .867 save percentage).


Halak's last three performances have been iffy. He has a bloated 3.95 GAA and a concerning .816 save percentage.

The scouting report on Halak is that he is experiencing a crisis in confidence right now. He's been giving up fat rebounds that are leading to increased scoring opportunities against the Blues.


Bottomline:

Halak's 2.48 GAA is respectable, however, it is a high as it's been since his first season in St. Louis in 2009, his save percentage is .900 overall. Hitchcock is a patient man, however, he's not interested in having a good goalie. Hitch wants Halak to get his act together now. Good isn't good enough for Hitchcock, who's Blues have been punted from the Stanley Cup playoffs by Jonathon Quick and the L.A. Kings the past two post seasons.

Halak's back-up Brian Elliott is 3-0-1 with a 1.94 GAA and .927 save % this season.

Halak better get his act together, or else. Ryan Miller may well be the superstar goalie that Hitchcock has been longing for. The Blues have been scouting the Sabres in Buffalo and on the road for the past few weeks.


Halak and Elliott are both UFAs-to-be. Miller will become UFA in July 2014.


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