Inquiring minds want to know.
Now that the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships have concluded, what now becomes of Mikhail Grigorenko? His wacky NHL journey began a year ago, and what a long, strange trip its been. Last January, he found himself in a similar situation when he made a name for himself and played an impressive brand of hockey at the 2013 WJCs in Ufa, Russia. When it was all said and done, the lockout had just ended, and Grigo was fast-tracked to Buffalo where he began his NHL career. Looking back, perhaps the best thing for him would have been to send him back to Quebec City to continue his scoring dominance in The Q. In the past year, he has played for three different head coaches, seen a GM fired, and played on a fourth line with John Scott. He’s gotten a glimpse of NHL press boxes. He’s been back to Quebec City and gotten an introduction to Rochester. In the end, all roads have led him back to Buffalo, NY.
The Sabres have two options with their bronze-medal winning centerman:
They can send him to juniors or they can welcome with open arms back into his locker stall at First Niagara Center.
Grigorenko’s AHL “conditioning assignment… was vehemently vetoed by the NHL in early December which left the Sabres with no other choice than to send the kid home.
In the end, the kid ended up where he belonged, and that was back in Russia, playing with his U-20 Team Russia squad at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Ted Noland and Pat LaFontaine gave Grigorenko their blessing and they encouraged him to go home, have fun, play inspired hockey, and lead his team to a medal while battling against the best teenagers in the hockey world. He kid found his swagger and was rewarded for his hard work. Grigorenko graded out as an A+ at the WJCs, as he led his Russian club to their second straight bronze medal by knocking out team Canada for the second tourney in a row. Grigo didn’t disappoint, scoring 5 goals and chipping in three assists for 8 points in 7 games played. He was +6 in the tourney. He buried a PPG to kick off the scoring in the bronze medal game versus Canada on Sunday. His Team Russia coaching staff voted him their best forward in the tourney. I watched quite a few of his WJC games and I must tell you that he impressed me with his play on the defensive side of the puck just as much as he impressed on the scoring sheet. His skating appeared to me to be improved, especially on the 200 by 100 international sheet of ice.
With center Cody Hodgson, Ville Leino, and Drew Stafford nursing injuries, the Sabres could slide him back into their six forward group. The team could use an infusion of offense. Grigo may be the tonic to heal what ails. His spirits will be high and he’ll likely be hungry to impress Nolan and LaFontaine and prove that he belongs in the NHL. Sending him to Quebec won’t be easy as the Remparts are already maxed out at their three import-player limit. Remps GM Phillipe Boucher would have to make a trade to accommodate Grigo.