Not sure if his dirtbag agent Mark Lapush is headed with him, but Igor Grigorenko’s days in the United States--and as a member of the Organ-I-zation--have drawn to a disappointing close. According to the anti-digger, Bruce MacLeod, it was eventually the Hasek hip “irritation” that forced the decision. When the Wings brought up Howard, someone had to go and Uncle Mike’s too pleased with Ellis or Downey to send them down.
What an ironic lesson for Grigorenko, if you think about it. Two gritty scrappers work their tails off to stay on the team and you’re headed home because you don’t have the ethic to compete on a consistent basis.
The team assigned him to Grand Rapids after Friday’s win over San Jose and Grigorenko refused to report as is his contractual right. Grigorenko’s contract has an out-clause allowing him to play in Europe if he stays longer than three weeks in the minor leagues ... and he’s already spent three weeks in Grand Rapids.
Grigorenko will play in the Russian Superleague with Ufa Salavat Yulayev and the Red Wings will maintain his rights. The Russian, who doesn’t speak English, shook hands with teammates after Friday’s game, nodding his goodbyes.
A sad scene, the head nodding. The farewells, the silence because Grigorenko doesn’t know how to say “see ya” in English. Never learned it. Blame the “I”, blame the kid, blame the leach of an agent. Whatever the case may be, whoever gets the blame, there was a missed opportunity along the way here. Someone failed. And away he goes. But, let’s be clear about something else here too. He doesn’t have to go to Russia. He could choose to stick it out in GR, pay his dues, prove that he’s willing to work hard and learn the North American game.
But he’s not. You don’t think Igor Grigorenko and his family want to stay in the States? You think he’s relieved to go back to Russia?
Or does he not realize he has a choice. The biggest question of this whole episode, to me, will always remain...what the hell has his agent been really telling him?
Holland hopes Grigorenko comes back to training camp next season in better shape and said he needs to work on his quickness.
“He would like to be a Red Wing,” Holland said. “We’ve told him we’re going to watch him all winter. He now knows what the NHL is all about.
“I think if he gets in better shape and gets a quick step ... he’s got hands, he’s got hockey sense. But he’s got to give himself a chance to play to his strengths. If you can’t get to the puck ... “
Pavel Datsyuk, serving as a translator for Grigorenko, who does not speak English, said Grigorenko wasn’t angry about the turn of events. Datsyuk said Grigorenko didn’t want to return to Grand Rapids because he thought he would play more in Russia and “now he knows” what is expected.
Does Grigorenko intend to return for training camp next season?
“Him dream of come back,” Datsyuk said. “He work more harder and try to come back and make the team next year.”
Speaking through teammate Pavel Datsyuk, Grigorenko’s interpreter, Grigorenko said he now understands what to expect from the NHL.
“The speed and the small rinks,” said Grigorenko, of what he felt the biggest adjustments were. “I need to work harder and get more speed.”
Grigorenko said he intends to come back next season and try the NHL again.
WOW! I have several thoughts on this.
1) I think Grigorenko is a good guy. He may not be the smartest guy in the room, but he really wanted to play in the NHL. He never had a bad word to say about Babcock, or his teamates, or the organization. I think he tried as hard as he could, once he got here. I enjoyed the one fight he got into, as did his teamates!
2) Babcock did the right thing in making up his mind and keeping Ellis, Downey, Hudler et al. Grigorenko did not earn a spot on the team. He had to go. A weaker organization would have kept him, and that would have rotted the team from the inside out.
3) I do not blame Grigorenko for going back to Russia. Heck, for a million bucks a year, I would go to Russia! The guy must go back, for the sake of his family. Good luck to him. I wish him well. We will all follow his career.
4) I really do hope he comes back next year ready to play. I think the odds of this are about 1 in 10. I see his potential as a wide body bruiser in front of the net, like Homer.
5) IWO says:
“What an ironic lesson for Grigorenko, if you think about it. Two gritty scrappers work their tails off to stay on the team and you’re headed home because you don’t have the ethic to compete on a consistent basis.”
I partially disagree. I think Grigs had no idea about the work ethic, the level of fitness required, or the speed of the NHL. Now he does. Does he have the the ethic to compete on a consistent basis? He just might. Now that he knows what it takes, let us see whether he does or not.
I do think it is a fantastic statement by Babcock and Holland to the Red Wings as a team; and to every player, rookie and veteran, individually: “You earn your spot in the lineup. There is no sacred place on this team for anyone.”
6) The Russian press and his agent will have a field day with this. They are old-school commies, you know. They will spin this as The Red Wing Organization is stupid, ignorant, biggoted, cheap, and nasty...It should be fun to read, actually.
7) There is no blame here whatsoever to Ken Holland. It was the right year to bring him over, and they gave him every chance to succeed. (Except, perhaps, a translator in Grand Rapids, whereas he had Pasha in Detroit).
So the Wings can bring this sad chapter to a close, and focus on the task at hand. Good. _
Posted by w2j2 on 10/27 at 08:14 AM