Originally Posted by tlureb
The Toronto-centric, media-spearheaded 'spin' machine to have a shot at Grigorenko at the number 5 slot.*
I reckon Brian Burke wishes to re-'Matt Sundin-ize' the Toronto franchise, ...at the expense of a very possible Montreal 'Béliveau-like' renewal era. He's counting on the Habs neophyte GM's naivety and edginess to wrest the big prize away, and as supplementary benefits go, steamroll the Habs' future with a 'grand-theft' larceny.
You push the classic Russian narrative with the massive help of friendly media (the TSN Maple Leaf cohort in particular) , ...in the realistic expectations that people's prejudices will take over and in due time, hand over...at the number five slot... the generational, the prize Hockey player that is a healthy Michaïl Grigorenko.
We're witnessing completely made-up, make-believe character assassination here, a cynical operation worthy of the worst Hack the murky world of Politics has been capable of successfully bringing to fruition. Brian Burke doesn't believe a word of what's being spewed on Grigorenko. He'll amply prove it when he rides Grigorenko's coattails, and 'laughs' it all off when a Habs' fan suggests in retrospect that the hate fest had been Burke-engineered to steer the Habs' glorious legacy to a richly deserved ...Toranna rest area.
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wasn't grigorenko worth the risk for burke at 5, given his calls for a big center
wasn't grigorenko worth the risk for burke at 5, given his calls for a big center
Grigorenko is the kind of player that is an automatic bust in market like Toronto and Montreal. He lack work ethic and character, crucials elements for teams list above. This the reason Montreal didn't went his way. Maybe he will be better than Gally in Buffalo. But Gally/Montreal vs Grigo/Montreal, Gally is the best choice. Montreal Fans an Medias don't like soft talented player. We had enough.
But Grigorenko remind me of an other Quebec Remparts star : Angelo Esposito. Esposito put on 98 pts in 57 games at 17 years old. Grigorenko: 85 pts in 59 games, at 18. Esposito was supposed to be a top 10 pick but fell to 20th spot. Everyone in Pittsburg was calling him a real steal but look how he turn out. Passion and work ethic is crucial, player without it should always have huge question mark aside their name.
What makes you question is work ethic? I've watched him play quite a bit. Roy has nothing but good things to say about him. Its the perceived Russian=Lazy thing that made him fall nothing else. Tell that to Malkin or Ovi.![]()
If thats the case why didn't Yakupov fall?
If thats the case why didn't Yakupov fall?
What makes you question is work ethic? I've watched him play quite a bit. Roy has nothing but good things to say about him. Its the perceived Russian=Lazy thing that made him fall nothing else. Tell that to Malkin or Ovi.![]()
Because his stats were so high even without a playmaking center that no matter if he was Russian or not he was worth the risk. 170 points in 107 games is to good to not take first.
But 85 points in 59 games as well as 10 points in 11 games is not good enough. People saying he had a bad playoff... lawlz
Yakupov also had an extra year of adjustment to North American game. And played in the OHL.
Even then, Yakupov's rookie jr season was more impressive than Grigorenko's...
With all due respect, not quite sure what you're point about the OHL is though?
Because his stats were so high even without a playmaking center that no matter if he was Russian or not he was worth the risk. 170 points in 107 games is to good to not take first.
But 85 points in 59 games as well as 10 points in 11 games is not good enough. People saying he had a bad playoff... lawlz
10 pts in 11 games is bad for a guy of his talent. Mackinnon had 28 pts in 17 games. And he is 1 year younger.
of course Roy will say good thing about him, Grigo is in his team for at least another season.
Do you live in our province? When did you see him play? Youtube? Anyway, of course Roy will say good thing about him, Grigo is in his team for at least another season. If people say he's lazy is because he look like it, not because he's russian. He takes lot of shifts off. He was supposed to lift his team in the playoff, but did'nt. Yeah, 10 pts in 11 games is good. But he should have done a lot better. He didn't play like Huberdeau or Mackinnon did. And I hate the story about his mono. Very easy too say AFTER a bad playoff performance and BEFORE your draft.
The biggest concern IMO is not Grigorenko. It's Lindy "can't coach a Russian" Ruff. Seriously, do Sabres fans remember him screaming at Kalinin during practice to "show more emotion", or him benching Afinogenov during the last game of the season after we were already eliminated from the playoffs? Ruff better not screw this up.![]()
Buffalo Sabres @BuffaloSabres
He signed! pic.twitter.com/UKSNJGWO
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Link: https://twitter.com/BuffaloSabres/status/225579587755716608
Shawn Stepner @StepnerWKBW
#Buffalo #Sabres have signed 12th overall pick center Mikhail Grigorenko to his entry-level contract #NHL