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RWC: Grigorenko’s Chance To Come Next Fall

by IwoCPO on 01/23/07 at 07:36 AM ET
Comments (2)

It’s been seven years since we first started reading reports out of Russia about a phenom who would soon be turning heads in Hockeytown.  Igor Grigorenko played on a Russian top line with Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk at the 2003 Worlds and all indications were that TC the following fall was just a formality.  Until a car accident set everything back.

According to Matthew Wuest at Redwingscentral.com, Grigorenko’s holding steady at “85-90” percent and the Wings feel next fall is the time to finally bring him over.

“We’ve talked to him and his agent, and he knows it’s time for him to get over,” said Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill. “We’re going to bring him over and see how he is. He’s an older player who’s played elite hockey for the last seven years. His mindset and our mindset is for him to come over and make the Detroit Red Wings and that’s what it should be.”

According to the report, Grigorenko’s leg has never fully healed...and may not.  But to this point he hasn’t been exposed to state-side orthopedic experts (which is amazing...why not?).  Wing master scout Hakan Andersson said he feels that one more operation could very well return the forward’s pre-accident speed.  But even without it, he still has a chance to become an elite NHL player.

Grigorenko’s game has always been based on power, balance and terrific offensive ability. He is dangerous down low and on the power play, and he works well along the boards. His intensity is unmatched.

Re-united with Datsyuk, or a second-tier replacement for him?

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Comments

I really hope this kid can make it. I’ve been hearing about him for the last 5 years. However...i read between the lines and see, Igor is getting older (yes, he’s just a kid) and stale in his league. If he has any chance to make it to the NHL, it has to be next season. Else he will continue to just go stale. His numbers aren’t that great the last 2 seasons, but yeah, he is “coming back from injury”. One more operation? forget it - he’d be toast. As much as the Wings have “invested” in him, they better give him the shot. I doubt he’s gonna be another Ovechkin or Malkin, but maybe more like Alexandre Semin - an enigmatic type of player.

Posted by TheFreak on 01/23/07 at 03:18 PM ET

Grigorenko was taken to one of Moscow’s premier hospitals (the one they used to send government officials to for orthopedic issues) after he pulled through the embolism he suffered, but even Moscow’s best aren’t anything close to North American in standards or level of care.  He had rods in both his femur and tibia, and I believe he had some hardware inserted in his foot as well. 

They left the rod in his tibia for what the Wings felt was a very long time, but Grigorenko insisted upon having it removed (and his foot operated on for a second time) in Russia.  I’m not sure why the Wings OK’ed the procedures.  He will definitely need some work done when he comes over to the States.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 01/24/07 at 06:05 AM ET

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