But were they? Who has underperformed in preseason that hasn't already been sent back? Who's spot should he have gotten? Sure, you could probably take out a guy like McCormick, but do you want Grigorenko on the 4th line?
- HonkFortheGoose

reinhart's...in order for an 18 yr. old to stick he should have some kind of impact other than "he looks like he belongs" or "he's extremely intelligent"...he's not physically ready for the nhl...

That would be the dumbest thing ever...another chance for this damn mess??? Ugh.
- stashu

Not necessarily. Look at the Subban deal. Ultimately, "prove it long term, and you're going to get paid", ends up being exactly what happens for the most part.

Pun intended?
- buffalofan19

lol was waiting for someone to catch that.

Nolan - 18 year olds do not belong in the nhl unless their name is crosby.

reinhart's...in order for an 18 yr. old to stick he should have some kind of impact other than "he looks like he belongs" or "he's extremely intelligent"...he's not physically ready for the nhl...
- Michael Pachla

But did he underperform? Because I wouldn't say that. And if he did, then shouldn't Grigorenko, who has quite a bit more experience at this point have blown him out of the water? He ended up with 1 assist more than Reinhart.

I'm fine with Grigorenko going down in favor of giving Reinhart his chance. Grigorenko got his chance 2 years ago. It's Reinhart's turn. And if he doesn't end up performing any better, then they can still send him down to Jr and bring Grigorenko back up. Does that really harm anyone? Because I don't think so.

Some players play better with better players around them. Some players play better when the games actually matter (and it's not always about laziness either).

Like I said, I like what Grigorenko's done, but ultimately, I'm not sure this team is that much better or worse with him in the lineup instead of Reinhart.
- buffalofan19

grigo scored with hodgson on his wing...reinhart did not

jk....


this whole thing makes for some good banter though

It doesn't answer my question, because I specifically said "Not Reinhart." Grigorenko got his chance a few years ago, so why shouldn't Reinhart get his now because Grigorenko decided he needed to be better this year? It's not fair to Reinhart. So for everyone clamoring about how this isn't fair for Grigorenko, why is it fair to send Reinhart down without getting his shot?

Grigorenko can come back up at any point this season. If they send Reinhart down now, he cannot come back from Jr until his team has finished their season.
- HonkFortheGoose

My post laid out where I saw Grigorenko in the lineup. If Reinhart didn't earn his spot and Grigorenko did, pretty simple to me.

Gotta catch a flight to Baltimore. Play nicey nice in the sand box.

I know the Nolan guys will will jump all over this to defend. Nolan confuses me..
Talks a lot of crap about earning a spot.
Grigo in my opinion from the offseason till today has done everything that was asked and maybe more to earn a spot.
Reinhardt has looked at best shaky in the preseason at best. Gets to stay.
Great message in the locker room.
yukkkk.

But did he underperform? Because I wouldn't say that. And if he did, then shouldn't Grigorenko, who has quite a bit more experience at this point have blown him out of the water? He ended up with 1 assist more than Reinhart.

I'm fine with Grigorenko going down in favor of giving Reinhart his chance. Grigorenko got his chance 2 years ago. It's Reinhart's turn. And if he doesn't end up performing any better, then they can still send him down to Jr and bring Grigorenko back up. Does that really harm anyone? Because I don't think so.
- HonkFortheGoose

imo, this isn't about turns, goosie

But outside of 1 goal Reinhart hasn't produced a single point including Traverse City.

Grigorenko has at least produced frequently on the scoresheet.

While Reinhart skates better than Grigorenko did 2 years ago, he still looks out of place and gets knocked off the puck way too easily.
- sbroads24

Frequently? In pre-season he has 1 more point than Reinhart had.

I can see your point, but i think grigorenko's a lot mentally tougher than we believe, guess we'll see.




Edit: or not


Grigorenko's facebook status: "...."
- Sabresfan-365

That just points as a maturity issue if he does stuff like that. Not cool.

imo, this isn't about turns, goosie
- Michael Pachla

I still don't see how Grigorenko out performed Reinhart though. And that, to me, is the key here. I think both deserve to get a chance, but the roster limitations say otherwise. And since they have a bit more flexibility with Grigorenko, I think that's why this is the decision they made.

Plus, I don't think it's a bad thing for Grigorenko to play in Rochester with Armia. They seem to have pretty good chemistry together, so developing that in the meantime is a bonus, IMO.

It doesn't answer my question, because I specifically said "Not Reinhart." Grigorenko got his chance a few years ago, so why shouldn't Reinhart get his now because Grigorenko decided he needed to be better this year? It's not fair to Reinhart. So for everyone clamoring about how this isn't fair for Grigorenko, why is it fair to send Reinhart down without getting his shot?

Grigorenko can come back up at any point this season. If they send Reinhart down now, he cannot come back from Jr until his team has finished their season.
- HonkFortheGoose

Because Grigorenko shouldn't have been here to begin with. And they admitted that. Now he belongs, while Reinhart simply doesn't.

grigo scored with hodgson on his wing...reinhart did not

jk....


this whole thing makes for some good banter though
- Michael Pachla

It does. I just don't see this as that big of a deal. My line of thinking has always been, "does this player make my team better with him on it?". And, while I'm as impressed with his improvement as the next guy, I'm still not sure the answer is yes, and if it is, it's not by that much. The same goes for Reinhart as well, but if they would have reversed this decision, I still wouldn't make a big deal. I still think they could have figured out a way for both to be here, at least for nine games anyway, if they really wanted to, but clearly they don't.

Frequently? In pre-season he has 1 more point than Reinhart had.
- stashu

I believe he also had 2 points in Traverse City, while Reinhart had 0.

But did he underperform? Because I wouldn't say that. And if he did, then shouldn't Grigorenko, who has quite a bit more experience at this point have blown him out of the water? He ended up with 1 assist more than Reinhart.

I'm fine with Grigorenko going down in favor of giving Reinhart his chance. Grigorenko got his chance 2 years ago. It's Reinhart's turn. And if he doesn't end up performing any better, then they can still send him down to Jr and bring Grigorenko back up. Does that really harm anyone? Because I don't think so.
- HonkFortheGoose

Grigorenko got a chance because Darcy never got a third center. Oh well its the sabres...

I still don't see how Grigorenko out performed Reinhart though. And that, to me, is the key here. I think both deserve to get a chance, but the roster limitations say otherwise. And since they have a bit more flexibility with Grigorenko, I think that's why this is the decision they made.

Plus, I don't think it's a bad thing for Grigorenko to play in Rochester with Armia. They seem to have pretty good chemistry together, so developing that in the meantime is a bonus, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

Exactly. Reinhart did not look out of place during the preseason. He just didn't do anything spectacular. And, other than show a change in attitude, neither did Grigorenko.

I still don't see how Grigorenko out performed Reinhart though. And that, to me, is the key here. I think both deserve to get a chance, but the roster limitations say otherwise. And since they have a bit more flexibility with Grigorenko, I think that's why this is the decision they made.

Plus, I don't think it's a bad thing for Grigorenko to play in Rochester with Armia. They seem to have pretty good chemistry together, so developing that in the meantime is a bonus, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

Are you going to bring the Goose back sometime this year?

I still don't see how Grigorenko out performed Reinhart though. And that, to me, is the key here. I think both deserve to get a chance, but the roster limitations say otherwise. And since they have a bit more flexibility with Grigorenko, I think that's why this is the decision they made.

Plus, I don't think it's a bad thing for Grigorenko to play in Rochester with Armia. They seem to have pretty good chemistry together, so developing that in the meantime is a bonus, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

now you're talking...pretty sure this is why they did it...same could probably be said with McCabe...plus...

Rochester will be much better off with grigo down there...although I think armia will be with on the top-line with adam and varone...

It does. I just don't see this as that big of a deal. My line of thinking has always been, "does this player make my team better with him on it?". And, while I'm as impressed with his improvement as the next guy, I'm still not sure the answer is yes, and if it is, it's not by that much. The same goes for Reinhart as well, but if they would have reversed this decision, I still wouldn't make a big deal. I still think they could have figured out a way for both to be here, at least for nine games anyway, if they really wanted to, but clearly they don't.
- buffalofan19

my thing this year is, what's best for their development?

imo, both would benefit from another year at the developmental level

my thing this year is, what's best for their development?

imo, both would benefit from another year at the developmental level
- Michael Pachla

And who's to say they both won't be there? We're talking about a nine game tryout, not the entire year.

now you're talking...pretty sure this is why they did it...same could probably be said with McCabe...plus...

Rochester will be much better off with grigo down there...although I think armia will be with on the top-line with adam and varone...
- Michael Pachla

I would say that the biggest mistake they could make would be sending him down and not giving him the #1 pivot spot.

And who's to say they both won't be there? We're talking about a nine game tryout, not the entire year.
- buffalofan19

agreed...that's my point...both should be there...as well as grigo has played, he still needs to work on his consistency which is best done at the ahl level...

and for reinhart, he needs to get physically stronger

my thing this year is, what's best for their development?

imo, both would benefit from another year at the developmental level
- Michael Pachla

Agreed and in a slight way i think that the fact Grigo started to make the first positive strides we've seen thus far allows everyone to quickly jump on the bandwagon. Especially after that shootout goal. I also think it's good to see how Reinhart completes in an extremely difficult first nine games. He'll have to faceoff against players like Toews, Kopitar, Getzlaf plus young prospects like barkov and johansen. Should be good for him to see what this game demands

I believe he also had 2 points in Traverse City, while Reinhart had 0.
- sbroads24

According to a sabres.com link Grigorenko wasn't on the roster.