Buffalo Sabres Prospects: Mikhail Grigorenko Falls Flat Again

The Buffalo Sabres prospects are among the deepest talent pool in the NHL, but Mikhail Grigorenko is drowning in that pool. The 20-year-old has a big upside, but it seems the Sabres may be getting tired of his lazy play. One would think this season any player lucky enough to be called up would take advantage of this season, but Grigorenko has time and time again been shown he is not ready to be a part of the NHL.

Mikhail Grigorenko is a pending RFA and has not shown much of anything for the Sabres to work with. On the upside he is only 20 and was mishandled early in

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his career. At 6’3″ 201 pounds the prospect could become a dominant power forward in the league, but only his he can start getting his legs moving and start using his size.

Currently Grigorenko calls the Sabres AHL team the Rochester Americans home and with 32 points in 39 games there is a spark to work with. One concern for the Sabres is the KHL. If Mikhail decides its NHL or nothing time there is the chances he heads home and hones his skills in the KHL. There has been no indication that Grigorenko will head home, and he as he said the NHL is the only league that matters.

From a contract and future standpoint I’d be tempted to sign him to a two-year deal, but possibly more tempting could be a trade at the deadline. I get the feeling that the Sabres could easily find a team willing to take the underachieving center. His size and potential could be enough to bring in a second round pick. Buffalo doesn’t need another pick but after Grigorenko’s most recent attempt to stick in Buffalo I have serious doubts about his future.

Sabres head coach Ted Nolan has full control of who plays and who doesn’t and he went on record saying “We could have argued and said, ‘Hey, let’s keep him here,’ ” Nolan said. “But he didn’t give us enough of that to argue for.”