Mikhail Grigorenko

Mikhail Grigorenko

With the Sabres in 2013
Born (1994-05-16) 16 May 1994
Khabarovsk, RUS
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Colorado Avalanche
Buffalo Sabres
NHL Draft 12th overall, 2012
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2010present

Mikhail Olegovich Grigorenko (Russian: Михаил Олегович Григоренко; born 16 May 1994) is a Russian professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Born and raised in Russia, Grigorenko moved to North America in 2011 and joined the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. After one season in Quebec he was selected twelfth overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by Buffalo. He made his NHL debut with the Sabres in 2013. Grigorenko was also selected by CSKA Moscow in the first round (8th overall) of the 2011 KHL Junior Draft.[1] Grigorenko represented Russia at the 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament where Russia finished second.

Playing career

Mikhail Grigorenko (25) in the center celebrating a goal with Quebec Remparts' teammates

Junior

In June 2011, Grigorenko was selected second overall in the CHL Import Draft by the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL.[2] NHL Hall of Famer Patrick Roy, the owner, general manager and head coach of the Remparts, liked Grigorenko so much that he traded up in the Import Draft in order to select him.[3]

Grigorenko played in 59 games during the 2011–12 season, his first in North America, and recorded 40 goals and 45 assists for 85 points. He led all rookie players in the QMJHL in goals and points, and was second for assists. He also finished fifth overall in goals scored and was tied for eighth overall for points while playing the fewest games of any player who was in the top ten in points.[3]

On 20 March 2012, Grigorenko was nominated as the top professional prospect to play in the QMJHL during the 2011–12 season.[4]

The 2012–13 NHL lockout meant that Grigorenko started the season back with the Remparts, where he played 32 games and recorded 50 points during the season prior to the lockout ending in January. At the time he was leading the Remparts and fifth in the QMJHL with 29 goals, and his 50 points were second on the team.[5]

Professional

When the lockout ended in January, he was invited to the Sabres training camp, where he made the roster for the start of the season.[6] After playing five games with the Sabres, the team decided to keep Grigorenko for the remainder of the season rather than send him back to the Remparts; had they done so it would not have counted as a year on his entry-level contract.[7] On 29 January 2013 Grigorenko scored his first career NHL goal against James Reimer of the Toronto Maple Leafs.[8]

After 22 games with the Sabres, where he recorded one goal and four assists, Grigorenko was reassigned to the Remparts on 15 March 2013.[9] Grigorenko went on to lead the Remparts in playoff scoring with 14 points in 11 games, before being recalled by the Sabres on 16 April 2013. [10]

After starting the 2013–14 season with the Sabres, the team sent Grigorenko back to juniors on 11 January 2014. He reported to the Remparts several days later after initially refusing to do so.[11]

At the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Grigorenko was traded by the Sabres in a package that included, Nikita Zadorov, J. T. Compher, and the 31st pick in the draft to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Ryan O'Reilly and Jamie McGinn on 26 June 2015.[12]

Personal life

Grigorenko was born in Khabarovsk, located in the Russian Far East near the border of China. His older brother, Yuri, also played hockey, and spent five seasons in the minor leagues of both Russia and Belarus.[3]

In 2011, after being selected by the Remparts in the CHL Import Draft, Grigorenko moved to Quebec City with his mother and Yuri.[3] While he initially didn't understand English, Grigorenko took classes five days a week with a Russian teacher and by the end of the season he was able to conduct interviews in English without the aid of a translator.[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Krasnaya Armiya MHL 43 17 18 35 22 10 1 4 5 4
2011–12 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 59 40 45 85 12 11 3 7 10 4
2012–13 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 33 30 24 54 8 11 5 9 14 0
2012–13 Buffalo Sabres NHL 25 1 4 5 0
2012–13 Rochester Americans AHL 2 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Buffalo Sabres NHL 18 2 1 3 2
2013–14 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 23 15 24 39 6 5 1 8 9 6
2013–14 Rochester Americans AHL 9 0 4 4 0 5 0 0 0 2
2014–15 Rochester Americans AHL 43 14 22 36 27
2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL 25 3 3 6 2
2015–16 Colorado Avalanche NHL 74 6 21 27 8
NHL totals 142 12 29 41 12
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
2014 Malmo
2013 Ufa
2012 Canada
IIHF World U18 Championships
2011 Germany

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Russia U17 4th 6 4 6 10 10
2011 Russia WJC18 3rd 7 4 14 18 18
2012 Russia WJC 2nd 6 2 3 5 0
2013 Russia WJC 3rd 7 2 4 6 2
2014 Russia WJC 3rd 7 5 3 8 0
Junior totals 33 17 30 47 30

References

  1. Eliteprospects.com: 2011 KHL Draft
  2. CHL Import Draft Results
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kimmelman, Adam (19 March 2012). "Seamless transition to North America for Grigorenko". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  4. "Draft prospect Grigorenko up for QMJHL most valuable player award". Winnipeg Free Press. The Canadian Press. 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  5. NHL.com (7 January 2013). "Roy says Grigorenko will attend Sabres camp". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  6. Battaglino, Mike (18 January 2013). "Grigorenko, Kovalev make opening-night rosters". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  7. Zwolinski, Mark (29 January 2013). "Buffalo Sabres keep teenager Mikhail Grigorenko". Toronto Star (Toronto). Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  8. Ryndak, Christ (29 January 2013). "Leafs beat clock and Sabres, 4–3". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  9. NHL.com (15 March 2013). "Sabres return top pick Grigorenko to junior team". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  10. "Sabres recall Mikhail Grigorenko". The Globe and Mail. 16 April 2013. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  11. Peters, Chris (11 January 2014). "Sabres send Mikhail Grigorenko back to junior for second straight year". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  12. "Avalanche trade O'Reilly to Sabres". The Sports Network. 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-06-26.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Joel Armia
Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick
2012
Succeeded by
Zemgus Girgensons
Preceded by
Nail Yakupov
Winner of the CHL Rookie of the Year Award
2011–12
Succeeded by
Valentin Zykov
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