Buffalo Sabres Roster Report: Centers
By Tim Redinger
Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
C. Russia. Mikhail Grigorenko. 1. player. 12. A troubled youth for the Buffalo Sabres who has been mishandled by the organization and his own immaturity, it is time for <strong><a href=
Mikhail Grigorenko isn’t going to be with the organization long – but if he is going to stick around and compete with the big boys, he has to show that the skill he exhibited in the minors can translate over to the NHL. He is going to have a lot of work cut out for him to build this position up – he will be fighting not only Zemgus Girgensons in camp for the number one center role, but newcomer and highly touted prospect Sam Reinhart.
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The maturity level has grown – and Grigorenko has shown that. He knows a role won’t be handed to him. He knows he is going to have to earn whatever comes his way.
The time has come however, and the time is now – for Mikhail Grigorenko to own the number one center role and keep the spot warm for Sam Reinhart. With his growth and conditioning up, Mikhail is ready to join the Buffalo Sabres full time and prove he is everything that was claimed to be when he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres with the twelfth overall pick in the 2012 draft.
Working against Mikhail Grigorenko is he has 43 NHL games to his credit with the Buffalo Sabres, and has failed to produce at the NHL level. He has only tallied eight points, with three goals and five assists. He refused to report to the juniors last year when the Buffalo Sabres demoted him.
The difference between this year and previous years however, is the Rochester Americans are a viable option for Mikhail Grigorenko should he not make the cut for the NHL.
This is the final year of his three year entry level contract, and regardless of how the season plays out, Grigorenko will be a restricted free agent, and a candidate for an offer sheet. I can really see the Buffalo Sabres trying to part ways with the young Russian forward.