Updated:
Buffalo Sabres GM only offered Mikhail Grigorenko a two-way contract. Murray said "prove it to me".
Grigorenko wanted more than what Buffalo was willing to offer. Hence, the blockbuster trade that sent Grigorenko, Nikita Zadorov, JT Compher, and the 31st pick in the draft to Denver in exchange for Ryan O'Reilly and Jamie McGinn.
The Colorado Avalanche have signed him to a one-way, one year contract for $675,000.
Really happy and proud to have signed with the Colorado Avalanche!!!))))
Posted by Mikhail Grigorenko on Thursday, July 16, 2015
Grigo gets a one year, one-way deal from Patrick Roy
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 16, 2015
Mikhail Grigorenko is no longer an RFA. Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic have signed the big Russian center to a one-year contract for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
Grigorenko, who was a restricted free agent, was acquired from Buffalo on June 26 along with defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forward J.T. Compher and a second-round pick (31st overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft. In exchange, the Avalanche traded forwards Jamie McGinn and Ryan O’Reilly to Buffalo.
Grigorenko, 21, was Buffalo’s first-round choice (12th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. He split this past season between the Sabres and their American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester. Grigorenko appeared in 25 games for Buffalo, tallying six points (3g/3a). The 6-foot-3, 209-pound center has played in 68 career NHL games, notching 14 points (6g/8a).
A native of Khabarovsk, Russia, Grigorenko won medals for his country at the 2012 (silver), 2013 (bronze) and 2014 (bronze) IIHF World Junior Championships. Prior to turning pro, Grigorenko played parts of three seasons of junior hockey for the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), who were coached by current Avalanche Head Coach/Vice President of Hockey Operations Patrick Roy. In his first season with Quebec in 2011-12, Grigorenko was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team, QMJHL All-Rookie Team and named the Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year.
In addition to Grigorenko, the Avalanche also announced today the signing of forward Andrew Agozzino to a one-year contract and defenseman Mat Clark to a two-year deal.
Grigo is living and training this summer in Quebec City.
335 front squat this morning before going to my power skating))
Posted by Mikhail Grigorenko on Tuesday, July 7, 2015
On Wednesday, Grigornko told RDS that he is eager to report to Colorado training camp in September. He said that he knows what to expect of his Quebec Remparts head coach Patrick Roy who also knows Grigo very well.
Grigo says that it's important for him to make a strong first impression with his new Avs teammates on Days 1 and 2 of their training camp.
VIDà‰O : La nouvelle chance de Mikhaà¯l Grigorenko
http://t.co/xU0FKbF2S5 pic.twitter.com/RxbheLgmDo
— RDS (@RDSca) July 16, 2015Mikhail Grigorenko is no longer an RFA. Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic have signed the big Russian center to a one-year contract for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
Grigorenko, who was a restricted free agent, was acquired from Buffalo on June 26 along with defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forward J.T. Compher and a second-round pick (31st overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft. In exchange, the Avalanche traded forwards Jamie McGinn and Ryan O’Reilly to Buffalo.
Grigorenko, 21, was Buffalo’s first-round choice (12th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. He split this past season between the Sabres and their American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester. Grigorenko appeared in 25 games for Buffalo, tallying six points (3g/3a). The 6-foot-3, 209-pound center has played in 68 career NHL games, notching 14 points (6g/8a).
A native of Khabarovsk, Russia, Grigorenko won medals for his country at the 2012 (silver), 2013 (bronze) and 2014 (bronze) IIHF World Junior Championships. Prior to turning pro, Grigorenko played parts of three seasons of junior hockey for the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), who were coached by current Avalanche Head Coach/Vice President of Hockey Operations Patrick Roy. In his first season with Quebec in 2011-12, Grigorenko was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team, QMJHL All-Rookie Team and named the Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year.
In addition to Grigorenko, the Avalanche also announced today the signing of forward Andrew Agozzino to a one-year contract and defenseman Mat Clark to a two-year deal.
Grigo is living and training this summer in Quebec City.
335 front squat this morning before going to my power skating))
Posted by Mikhail Grigorenko on Tuesday, July 7, 2015
On Wednesday, Grigornko told RDS that he is eager to report to Colorado training camp in September. He said that he knows what to expect of his Quebec Remparts head coach Patrick Roy who also knows Grigo very well.
Grigo says that it's important for him to make a strong first impression with his new Avs teammates on Days 1 and 2 of their training camp.
VIDà‰O : La nouvelle chance de Mikhaà¯l Grigorenko
http://t.co/xU0FKbF2S5 pic.twitter.com/RxbheLgmDo
— RDS (@RDSca) July 16, 2015Grigo gets a one year, one-way deal from Patrick Roy
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) July 16, 2015
Sabres GM has re-signed three of his RFAs to two way contracts today in forward Tim Schaller, D-man Jerome Leduc, and goalie Nathan Lieuwen. That brings to five the number of RFAs that Murray has inked this week. Yesterday, he reached a two year agreement with D-man Mark Pysyk. On Monday, he re-sgned forward Phil Varone to a two way contract.
**
In the event that Murray swings and misses on Franson, look for him to hit the trade market. Here are five D-men to watch:
Cam Fowler, Matt Carle, Simon Despres, Torey Krug, and Justin Falk.
All five D-men are young, gifted and play the left side.
When Ducks GM Bob Murray traded for Kevin Bieksa earlier this month, it sent up caution flags regarding Fowler's playing time. Bieksa plays high minutes and is a top four D. He is a 35-40 point per season D. Fowler (6'1 and 210 lbs.) was the 12th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft and is at risk of having his role reduced with the Ducks who failed to beat the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Fowler can give you 21-23 solid minutes and maybe more per game. The Ducks have added veteran leadership to their D corps to offset the youth of Fowler, Sami Vatanen, and Hampus Lindholm. The Game 7 loss to the eventual Stanley Cup winning Hawks still sticks in the craw of Bruce Boudreau and Bob Murray. The Ducks were so close but yet so far from making it to the Finals. Fowler will earn $4 million per season for the next three seasons. Fowler was rumored to be headed to Buffalo in a trade for Tyler Myers early on in the 2014-15 season.
Matt Carle is a 30 year old veteran D who can help the Sabres. Steve Yzerman has a plethora of veteran D and some tasty prospects. His surplus of NHL quality D make him a trade partner for Tim Murray. Where will Matt Carle fit in this season with the emergence of Victor Hedman, Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison, Braydon Coburn, Nikita Nesterov, Andrej Sustr?
Yzerman needs to create salary cap space.
The Tampa Lighting have only $812,000 in cap space right now. Carle is earning $5.5 million for the next three seasons. Carle is a reliable lefty who can run a PP and play 29+minutes in a top four role.
Despres (30th overall 2009) was traded to Anaheim from Pittsburgh at the March trade deadline. Dan Bylsma is very familiar with Despres from their days together with the Penguins organization. Depres is 6'4 and 215 lbs. He is hard to play against and likes to play the heavy game. He plays with more bite in his game than Fowler. Despres has one year remaining at $900,000. He will be RFA next July. If Bob Murray extends Despres to a long term pact, Fowler will have to move on from Anaheim. If the Ducks hold on to Fowler then Despres would end up their odd man out. I don't see Vatanen or Lindholm.
Torey Krug is a known quantity to Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma. The 24 year old puck distributor has one year remaining on his deal at $3.4 million. He has scored 79 points in his 160 regular season games in Boston. He has also added 16 points in 27 Stanley Cup playoff games. He will be in line for a nice pay bump. Yeah, how did that work for former Bruin blue liner Dougie Hamilton?
Justin Falk is 26 years old and he plays a smart, steady two-way game. He is 6'5 and 215 lbs. Falk won't wow you with his offense. He is best known for his footwork and physicality. He and Krug played for Bylsma at the IIHF World Championships in May. He will earn $600,000 this season.
What currency does Tim Murray have to shop with?
He has a second rounder and three third rounders in the Buffalo-hosted 2016 NHL Draft.
Murray also has veteran D-man Mike Weber and grinding forward Johann Larsson to include in a trade.
***
Really happy and proud to have signed with the Colorado Avalanche!!!))))
Posted by Mikhail Grigorenko on Thursday, July 16, 2015
Mikhail Grigorenko is no longer an RFA. Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic have signed the big Russian center to a one-year contract for the upcoming 2015-16 season.
Grigorenko, who was a restricted free agent, was acquired from Buffalo on June 26 along with defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forward J.T. Compher and a second-round pick (31st overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft. In exchange, the Avalanche traded forwards Jamie McGinn and Ryan O’Reilly to Buffalo.
Grigorenko, 21, was Buffalo’s first-round choice (12th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. He split this past season between the Sabres and their American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester. Grigorenko appeared in 25 games for Buffalo, tallying six points (3g/3a). The 6-foot-3, 209-pound center has played in 68 career NHL games, notching 14 points (6g/8a).
A native of Khabarovsk, Russia, Grigorenko won medals for his country at the 2012 (silver), 2013 (bronze) and 2014 (bronze) IIHF World Junior Championships. Prior to turning pro, Grigorenko played parts of three seasons of junior hockey for the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), who were coached by current Avalanche Head Coach/Vice President of Hockey Operations Patrick Roy. In his first season with Quebec in 2011-12, Grigorenko was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team, QMJHL All-Rookie Team and named the Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year.
In addition to Grigorenko, the Avalanche also announced today the signing of forward Andrew Agozzino to a one-year contract and defenseman Mat Clark to a two-year deal.
Grigo is living and training this summer in Quebec City.
335 front squat this morning before going to my power skating))
Posted by Mikhail Grigorenko on Tuesday, July 7, 2015
On Wednesday, Grigornko told RDS that he is eager to report to Colorado training camp in September. He said that he knows what to expect of his Quebec Remparts head coach Patrick Roy who also knows Grigo very well.
Grigo says that it's important for him to make a strong first impression with his new Avs teammates on Days 1 and 2 of their training camp.
VIDà‰O : La nouvelle chance de Mikhaà¯l Grigorenko
http://t.co/xU0FKbF2S5 pic.twitter.com/RxbheLgmDo
— RDS (@RDSca) July 16, 2015