C Mikhail Grigorenko - Quebec Remparts, QMJHL (2012 draft) III

[start winnin]

Just to be clear, Grigorenko can play five games without burning an ELC year in this shortened season. If he plays in 6+ games, he'll burn a year, but anything less and he won't. Anyways, the Sabres had a scrimmage earlier tonight on their second day of camp. Grigorenko wore #25 in white in the following clips and centered Leino and Ott.



He beats Miller glove-side 0:15 in, but catches iron.



He has a breakaway 0:20 in, but Ehrhoff pressures and Miller stops his deke. He also one-times an Ott pass at the 0:42 mark, but Miller saves again.

He has a chance at the 0:07 mark, but can't get the Leino cross-crease pass out of his feet. He also tried to beat Miller blocker-side in his shootout attempt at 1:05, but was denied.

Gotta say, he looks good in that uniform.

 

[KevinRedkey]

in a full season it's the same...but for this year (i.e. a partial season) they've reduced it to 5 games

Good to know - thanks

 

[sharks9]

What are the odds he makes the team this year?

 

[Bure]

Steve Ott with very high praise for Grigo during the first intermission. They are currently linemate's along with Leino.

 

[Stanley Cup]

I might root for the Sabres this year if Grigo makes the team

 

[tsujimoto74]

What are the odds he makes the team this year?

Seem pretty good right now. Ruff seems to like what he's seeing ("He didn't look like a junior player out there" re: Monday's scrimmage; he's also said he "moves well" and "looks big").
I feel fairly certain he'll at least get his 5 game try-out.

 

[Bure]

Yeah I think it'll be up to him to perform in the 5 games.

 

[Jtown]

I think he may be there best center already.

 

[Chainshot]

Gotta say, he looks good in that uniform.

He was the best White player in the scrimmage last night. Most chances, most zone time for his line, second best hit (he topple Weber during a late forecheck behind the Sabres net). If he keeps that up, the 5-games are a lock and probably more.

 

[Paxon]

I think he may be there best center already.

That's certainly pushing it, though I hope you're right and it not be because Ennis and Hodgson take steps back. The kid needs to prove he can play through it in the NHL before we can say he's better than two young guys who have proven themselves NHL-worthy in "middle 6" line roles.

 

[1972]

He will be in the NHL this year, at least to start anyway.

 

[pigpen65]

He has a chance at the 0:07 mark, but can't get the Leino cross-crease pass out of his feet. He also tried to beat Miller blocker-side in his shootout attempt at 1:05, but was denied.

LOL @ Leino in the shootout. Christ he's terrible.

 

[Chainshot]

LOL @ Leino in the shootout. Christ he's terrible.

He was the second most dangerous player on White last night, like it or not. He had solid chemistry with Grigorenko, who set up in the seams nicely, getting shots away on a number of feeds from Leino.

 

[start winnin]

He was the second most dangerous player on White last night, like it or not. He had solid chemistry with Grigorenko, who set up in the seams nicely, getting shots away on a number of feeds from Leino.

Yeah, but you gotta admit the shootout attempt was lame!

It really looks like Leino Grigs and Otter had some chemistry going, hopefully that continues, that line compliments each other very well IMO.

 

[LongWayDown37]

LOL @ Leino in the shootout. Christ he's terrible.

Were you there for the whole thing? I know its the easy thing to rip on the guy, but I actually came away quite pleased with how he played. He did screw up the shootout, but outside of that he was pretty good last night. He wasn't terrible at all... Grigorenko's good play was definitely partly a result of Leino.

 

[BuiltTagonTough]

Not to derail the thread but yeah Leino was actually pretty good last night.

Hopefully some of the chemistry we saw last night between Ott-Grigs-Leino sticks and we get to see the kid for the full season. If not, he'll at least get his tryout to make the team.

At this point, though it is early, I think he makes it.

 

[MacOfNiagara]

What are the odds he makes the team this year?

IMO 90%

Regier already stated that he doesnt care about burning a year. He stated that if Grigorenko makes the Sabres a better team then he will stay up. IMO there is little question that he makes them a better team.

 

[hockeyGod]

Didn't Buffalo tell Roy he would be in Quebec for the whole year?

 

[EichHart]

Didn't Buffalo tell Roy he would be in Quebec for the whole year?

That was confirmed by Darcy in the latest interview to be false and he did not say that at all. I guess it was a rumor.

 

[Woodhouse]

One of Grigorenko's shootout attempts from today's practice, via Andrew Peters:

 

[Woodhouse]

Sabres’ Ruff waiting to determine Grigorenko’s roster status (Bill Hoppe – Olean Times Herald):

Coach Lindy Ruff likely won’t reveal the Sabres’ plans for first-round pick Mikhail Grigorenko until Friday, when teams must have their rosters set by 5 p.m.

Still, questions about Grigorenko’s status will be asked all week.

So, Lindy, will he receive the five-game trial available for junior players?

“It’s too early to say,” Ruff said this afternoon following practice inside the First Niagara Center. “He had a good scrimmage (Monday). He had a good practice. Obviously, you like his hands. So far, his compete inside practice drills is good. His compete (Monday) was good. So there’s a lot of things to like about what he’s done so far.”

Ruff said the 18-year-old center has “come a long ways.”

“Even from a year ago,” he said. “I think even from the start of the year until now he’s grown as a player. There are two schools of thought with that. It’s put him in play or make sure that he’s ready.”

 

[Paxon]

One of Grigorenko's shootout attempts from today's practice, via Andrew Peters:

Very similar to his scoring shootout attempt against Switzerland in this year's WJC.

 

[Moskau]

I think he may be there best center already.

I think Hodgson will surprise some people this year. He's legit.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

I think he may be there best center already.

If he is, they're in trouble...

 

[Mit Yarrum]

If he is, they're in trouble...

He isn't. The notion is absurd. He has zero NHL games played, and has two recent 1st round pick centers ahead of him on the depth chart (Ennis, Hodgson).