Updated:
Photo courtesy, Dan Hickiling
We are a week away from the NHL Draft and the Grigorenko situation is heating up.
Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray said Thursday morning that he feels that pending RFA center Mikhail Grigorenko needs to spend more time in the minors before he plays in the NHL. Murray also noted that he has heard the chatter about Grigorenko and the KHL.
“We feel he needs time in the minors, whether that’s 10 games, a half a year, whatever it is,… Murray said. “That will depend on what kind of summer he has.…
Grigorenko, is seeking a one-way contract. The big Russian acquitted himself rather well when he scored 14 goals and added 22 assists for 36 points in 43 games played in Rochester last season. A knee injury forced him to miss a chunk of games towards the end of the season. He rebounded nicely and chipped in four points in 10 games in Buffalo to end the 2014-15 season. He scored 3 goals and 3 assists in 25 games during Buffalo’s tanking season of 2014-15. Grigorenko has shown glimpses of his true talent at various points of his development over the past three seasons.
Grigorenko’s NHL body of work is incomplete at the three year marker due to the many detours that he has taken en route to Buffalo. Don't hate on the kid that the Sabres decided to burn a year of his entry level contract during the 48 game NHL lockout shortened season of 2013. Blame former Sabres GM Darcy Regier for that decision. Was the kid ready for the rigors of the NHL at age 18? No. But Regier and Lindy Ruff were hopeful that the youth exuberance of Grigorenko in the lineup would inspire more offense from veterans Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominvile, Tyler Ennis, Steve Ott, Cody Hodgson, and Ville Leino. The 2013 Sabres needed more than just Grigorenko to help them qualify for the playoffs. In hindsight, that team wasn't very good in terms of consistency and offensive production. Nor was the 2013-14 Sabres squad that finished 30th overall in the NHL standings. Ditto the 2014-15 Sabres.
Looking back, it might have made better sense for Grigorenko to stay and play in the NHL for more than a nine game stint at a time. A full season in Buffalo last season would have shown Tim Murray and the Sabres brass exactly the type of player that he is. That Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn got steady gigs in Buffalo while Grigo was riding buses in Rochester is still puzzling to me. If the stated goal was to lose as many games as possible in the standings, then why not do it with the kids that you drafted in the nightly lineup? I call it on the job training. Had that been the approach taken with Grigorenko last season, he would have a larger sample size of game that 68 (over 3 seasons) for Murray to evaluate.
Grigorenko has scored 6 goals and 14 points in 68 NHL games. He has encountered enough adversity to fill an NHL hockey net to the cross bar. Grigo’s NHL and AHL experience has been a wild roller coaster ride. One day he started his career in the NHL, weeks later he was sent back to the QMJHL only to be recalled to the AHL. Then, it was back to the NHL. Through it all, Grigorenko, 21, has kept a smile on his face and his skates on the ice. He has done everything that has been asked of him by his Buffalo and Rochester superiors past and present. In the past three seasons, Grigorenko has been led by Darcy Regier, Lindy Ruff, Ron Rolston, Chadd Cassidy, Pat LaFontaine, Ted Nolan, and Tim Murray. Dan Bylsma will be Grigorenko’s fourth head coach in his three year Buffalo career.
Grigorenko wants a shot to make the Buffalo roster this season. He also wants a one-way contract. Murray is reportedly only offering a two-way deal and he is placing all of the onus on Grigorenko to make the NHL roster. Murray said Thursday that the kid needs more time spent in Rochester.
“They tell me he’s ready to play,… Murray said. “I don’t know why they’d be afraid of a two-way contract. I’m baffled, actually“.
On a two-way contract, Grigorenko would have to pass through waivers in order to get through to the Rochester Americans. In the event that Grigorenko is exposed to waivers, the process wouldn’t last long. A dozen or more NHL GM’s would snatch the 6’3… 225 pound sniping Russian off waivers in a Western New York minute. Seriously. Grigorenko would get scooped up just like that and Tim Murray would get zero compensation in return for the 12th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. Murray knows how the waiver process works on two-way deals. Is he hoping that Grigorenko flies under the radar and avoids being plucked off waivers NHL front office types like Patrick Roy, Darcy Regier, Don Maloney, Chuck Fletcher, Jim Rutherford, Ken Holland and other notables who would immediately be drawn to Grigorenko’s undeniable skill set and hockey pedigree.
It begs the question:
Why not qualify the kid on a one-way contract? That way the Sabres would be steering clear of all of the waiver anxiety and fatigue.
“We’re not arguing by any means. It just a difference of opinion on a qualifying offer that has an AHL component to it versus a one-way deal,… Murray said. “Does he have the ability to be an NHL player down the road if he does things right?…
“Absolutely.… Murray said.
“At this point, I haven’t changed my mind,… he said. “We’re leaning toward qualifying him.…
Murray can also trade Grigorenko at the NHL Draft.
The Sabres will be investing their second overall pick in generational center Jack Eichel. Dan Bylsma has a surplus of centers right now with Tyler Ennis, Zemgus Girgensons, Samson Reinhart, and Johann Larsson.
Where does Grigorenko fit into Buffalo’s plans? Why not maximize the asset and trade Grigorenko to another franchise this week in exchange for another asset or two?
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It’s push comes to shove time in Colorado.
Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy held a conference call on Thursday to update the state of their Colorado Avalanche heading into next Friday’s NHL Draft in Sunrise, Florida. The Avs are owners of the 10th overall pick in the draft.
As predicted the name of Ryan O’Reilly was featured prominently during the media conference. One of the highest priorities in Denver right now is to get Ryan O’Reilly’s signature on a new contract extension. The two sides appear to be in no man’s land right now in terms of coming together on a new contract extension that will keep the dynamic power center in the Rockies for the next 8 seasons.
Despite negotiations with O’Reilly’s agent, it appears more and more likely that Sakic will be trading O’Reilly. In the near future. Word out of Denver today is that the team and the player’s agents haven’t spoken in some time.
Sakic reiterated Thursday that he would like to get an extension wrapped up with O’Reilly so that he can head into the NHL Draft and NHL free agency with one less thing hanging over his head.
"We know where they are, and I'd like to have him signed by the start of the season, hopefully, but right now is a time where we're focusing on the draft and free agency," Sakic said.
O'Reilly signed a two-year, $12 million contract last summer that paid him $5.8 million in 2014-15 and will pay him $6.2 million this season. O’Reilly’s name is generating a metric ton of trade chatter as the NHL Draft draws nearer.
Special players like O’Reilly don’t grow on trees. They are not readily available on the trade market. Teams draft guys like O’Reilly and then lock them up to rich contracts long term. O’Reilly and the Avs have had an acrimonious relationship to say the least. Through it all, the player has remained focused on making himself a better player and leader while dragging his teammates into the battle 82 nights a season. The Avs failed to make the playoffs this season after making it to the postseason following the 32013-14 regular season. “The Factor… is not part of the problem in Denver. He is part of the solution. However, the Avs just are not willing to budge off their best contract offer to O’Reilly. The Avs will have to pay O’Reilly in the $6.5 million AAV contract range over 6-7 seasons. That mega-money too rich for their blood right now. Sakic must re-sign his star player Nathan MacKinnon, all star D Erik Johnson and steadying force on D Tyson Barrie to contract extensions. All three are entering the final year of their current contracts. Johnson will be UFA after the season, while Barrie and MacKinnon would be restricted free agents.
"I like Ryan a lot. He's a very valuable player and part of our corps," Sakic said. "My first priority would be to sign him. Obviously, we'll see where it all goes."
Sakic sounds like a broken record. He said the same thing about O’Reilly back in April. The two sides have had three months to come to an agreement and have not succeeded in doing so.
My take:
If a mutually beneficially contract could have been agreed to, it would already be signed, sealed,, and delivered.
Point blank: Sakic will have to trade O'Reilly if/when he and ROR’s agents cannot come to an agreement. Sakic has said that he doesn’t want the O’Reilly matter being a "distraction" to the Avs team this season. Sakic and Roy are also of wary of slamming headlong into another Paul Stastny crisis this summer like they did last summer. Stastny left the Avs via free agency and signed with the St. Louis Blues. The Avs received zero compensation when arguably their most important voice in the room skated to St. Loo.
"I like Ryan a lot," Sakic said. "He's a very valuable player, a part of our core. My first priority would be to sign him. We'll see where it all goes. I'd prefer him not playing (the season) out. I think distractions alone. I don't think the team needs it, I don't think he needs it. That's why it's important for us that we have something done."
Patrick Roy said Thursday that he would like to add a left-shooting D-man or two either via the NHL Draft or free agency. Trading Ryan O’Reilly could fetch Roy some exquisite lefty D help. The Buffalo Sabres have left-handed D depth in the form of former first round draft choice Nikita Zadorov and veteran banger Mike Weber. Tim Murray could package these two D with former 14th overall pick centerman Mikhail Grigorenko and the 21st overall pick in exchange for Ryan O’Reilly.
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Tim Murray has a list of goalie candidates and he checks it daily. He is closing in on reeling in his next starting netminder. Murray admitted Thursday that he has spoken with five NHL GMs about goaltending. He will continue the talks until they come to fruition in the form of a starting goalie. Murray has a profile and preference. He has an aggressive strategy.
“To find a goalie. That’s the basic plan. But there’s different ways, right. I mean, I’ve talked to five teams about goalies they have. We’ve got a list of free agent goalies. So the basic plan is we have to get a goalie. That’s for sure.
“But it’s always a moving plan. The plan always moves. I said that all along. We would love to trade for a goalie. We would love to trade for a youngish goalie. If that doesn’t work, we would trade for a real good short-term goalie. Who’s older. If we could sign the best or second best free agent goalie we’d be happy with that too.
“You’re working it every day, and you’re trying to figure out first of all the goalies that are available via trade – what the price is. Then can you afford that price. If, at the end of the day you can’t, then you have to move on to Plan B.… Here's my guess at the five teams that he has spoken with about goaltending help:
1. Ottawa 2. Calgary 3. Vancouver 4. Anaheim 5. NY Rangers
The Sens will be trading youngish goalie Robin Lehner whom Murray is very familiar with from his days in Ottawa and Binghampton. Craig Anderson is also available for a steep price (top 6 F and draft choice).
Brian Burke will be moving on from his tandem of Jonas Hiller and youngster Karri Ramo. I see Burke trading for Ottawa's Craig Anderson.
Jim Benning will be keeping Ryan Miller and will be moving on from either Jakub Markstrom or Eddie Lack.
Freddy Andersen took the Ducks deep into the Western Conference Finals only to lose to Chicago. Andersen's emergence makes youngster John Gibson a tradeable commodity.
It remains to be seen if Glen Sather will decide to move Cam Talbot at the draft.
Murray admitted that his goalie quest has been a process. He needs three goalies. Chad Johnson has one year left on his current deal and will remain in Buffalo. Murray needs his Buffalo starter, a Rochester starter, and another puck stopper. With Linus Ullmark on the mend from double hip surgery and Matt Hackett a UFA, he needs a starter in Rochester.
Watch Murray and Bylsma here:
Thanks, Sabres.com
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Dan Bylsma has hired two veteran NHL coaches on Thursday.
Terry Murray and Dave Barr will serve as Bylsma's assistant coaches.
Bylsma said that he is very pleased to be able to add Murray and Barr to his coaching staff.
Terry Murray is Tim Murray’s uncle. After the presser, Tim said the decision to hire Terry was totally Bylsma's call. Tim Murray joked after the presser that Uncle Terry is a U.S. citizen now and hasn't been home to Shawville in the past 25 years.
Murray has an impressive hockey coaching resume having spent 15 seasons as an NHL head coach. He coached Philadelphia’s AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley in 2014-15.
Murray is adept at developing young defenseman.
“ (There is ) a ton of experience in both guys,… Bylsma said. “Terry is a guy who’s been a head coach in this league. He’s been an assistant coach in this league. He’s been a head coach at the American Hockey League level. He’s coached with and under some other great coaches in other great systems, organizations. Terry’s bringing that to our team. I think it’s going to be a huge part of our development".
Barr most recently was an assistant coach in New Jersey. He played 614 NHL games. He previously served as a head coach in the AHL and OHL.
Barr is a special team maven. The Sabres need help rebuilding their power play and penalty kill.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, start your Jack Eichel and Samson Reinhart engines!
The Buffalo Sabres will be holding its annual summer development camp from July 6-12 at First Niagara Center. This will mark the fourth year in a row the ice will be installed during the summer and the development camp will be held at the home of the Sabres.
On-ice camp sessions throughout the week will be open to the public and an intra-squad “Blue & Gold Scrimmage… will take place on Friday, July 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the scrimmage will cost $10 and will go on sale on June 26, with an exclusive presale for season ticket holders starting on June 22. Tickets can be purchased at the Sabres box office and at Sabres.com.
An intra-squad 3-on-3 tournament will highlight the final day of camp on Sunday, July 12. A complete schedule with practice times will be announced at the end of June and posted at Sabres.com.
The camp will feature approximately 40 Sabres prospects, including the team’s 2015 NHL Draft picks, all of whom are scheduled to participate in camp. A preliminary development camp roster will be available in early July.
Attendees will take part in both on-ice and off-ice workouts. The goals of the camp are to show prospective players the fundamental ideas of the Sabres’ playing system and expose them to the conditioning programs of an NHL player. Camp participants will also study and examine NHL rules and the successful techniques a player must possess to become a professional athlete.