no work ethic, if that’s the case, is inexcusable.

Can anyone say “Lang?” I doubt the team will excuse no work ethic, either.  Maybe it’s a different story if his lack of condition is due to ignorance.  But if that’s the case how does he correct it in the short time he has?  Work ethic.  We likely won’t know until later if he’s showing enough.  I’d guess the team already has more insight into this than we do.

Posted by BobTheZee on 09/21/07 at 01:17 PM ET

he’s on it...."like a hobo on a ham sandwich”

You’re welcome…

Posted by Herringbone from Seattle on 09/21/07 at 01:42 PM ET

Uncle Mike stating:  “Datsyuk’s going to be next to (Igor) Grigorenko if Grigorenko can find a way” to make the team.”

Kind of reminds me about the comments he made reagding playing time for Huddles in last years post-season, something to the effect that his daughter was wondering why Huddles wasn’t getting more ice time.  Don’t seem to recall Huddles getting any more ice time.

Don’t think I am going to read too much into Uncle Mike’s comments now either.  Psych major that he is.  To me he seems fond of the hieroglyphic comment.  Neither Bruce nor any of the diggers seem to have much good comment on Igor’s play thus far.  Maybe Mike is suggesting what everyone thought going into camp; that the spot was Igor’s to lose.  Uncle Mike might be trying to reinforce that sentiment.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 09/21/07 at 01:53 PM ET

Cut the kid some slack.  From the sound of it, he is a bit wide-eyed about the whole process of coming to the NHL and the US.  Further on in the article, Bowman is quoted as saying he has made significant improvements since his first day.  Georgeums had a lengthy post on a previous story about the challenges Russians and other non-native speakers face when the come into the league, which I think we should keep in mind. Of course, I’m leaning toward optimism with Grigorenko, because I really want him to do well, so maybe I’m willing to overlook 10 pounds of extra weight.  Either way, we’ll see.

Posted by PDXWing from Portland, OR on 09/21/07 at 02:01 PM ET

PDX,
it’s so rare that I’m wrong that I don’t even know how to phrase this, but I’m going to try.

You’re right.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 09/21/07 at 02:05 PM ET

It is inexcusable for a grown man who’s played pro hockey for 5 years to not be in NHL shape when he came over.  He was outplayed by 18yr old kids, and didn’t seem to show any of the grit that was thought he had by driving to the net and being aggressive.  Not to mention at least learning some catch phrases in english.  He made millions tax free, he couldn’t afford to pick up some lessons to make his adjustent a bit more smooth?  Two words for Grigs apologists...Pavel Datsyuk!  I don’t rememeber him reporting to camp out of shape, or complaining to his agent about his linemates and icetime.  If he can’t hack it, he doesn’t belong here

Posted by bababooey on 09/21/07 at 02:14 PM ET

Regarding Grigs being overweight, I saw him in Traverse City in his UnderArmour, and there is no fat.  He is just built like a Sherman tank.  He is definitely slow, but in game situations, he goes to where the puck will be, and he makes good plays with it.  No, he is not ready for prime time.  But if he will do a year in Grand Rapids and a summer in Goldman’s gym, by next year he could be a top 6 forward.

So the question is, can Holland and Datsyuk convince him to stay?
I think, from reading his comments, he wants it bad enough to stay.

Posted by w2j2 on 09/21/07 at 02:54 PM ET

There is absolutely no excuse for Grigs to be out of shape. He’s 24 years old and he’s played in the top Russian league for at least 2 seasons. He should know how to get in shape.

Besides, look at the recent Russian imports that have made their way across the pond that had no issues when it came to fitness (Malkin, A.O., Zherdev to name a few).

If you want to say that he’s having problems adjusting to a smaller rink or the North American lifestyle, that’s one thing.
But I’ve never heard of a guy coming into camp 20 pounds over weight and sucking wind after a 30 second shift because he can’t figure out online banking, or Domino’s Pizza.

Posted by Hank from Kingsville, ONT on 09/21/07 at 03:52 PM ET

Gimme a break, Hank.  When was the last time you moved to a new culture where you didn’t speak the language and were under media scrutiny?  All I want to say is to put yourself in his shoes for a bit and try and understand how many challenges he’s facing.  If you want to say boo-hoo, fine.  But, the fact remains that people adjust at their own rate and making absolute statements are a luxury for people who don’t have any experience with what they’re talking about.  Let the guy adjust and see what happens.

Posted by PDXWing from Portland, OR on 09/21/07 at 06:19 PM ET

Certainly any one who shatters their leg and almost dies, then recovers and plays well enough in the russian super league (with plates in his leg?) to earn serious consideration as a top line forward for one of the top teams in the NHL is a “fat-ass with no work ethic” amirite?

Posted by GS on 09/21/07 at 06:38 PM ET

Certainly any one who shatters their leg and almost dies, then recovers and plays well enough in the russian super league (with plates in his leg?) to earn serious consideration as a top line forward for one of the top teams in the NHL is a “fat-ass with no work ethic” amirite?

Whoa, whoa.  I took a very mature step in admitting to RBX that I was a little strong in my assessment there GS.

But for the record, I’ve shattered a limb, recovered, and I’m STILL a fat ass with no work ethic, so…

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 09/21/07 at 07:29 PM ET

But for the record, I’ve shattered a limb, recovered, and I’m STILL a fat ass with no work ethic, so…

Huh.  Figures in the Navy (or so my Dad would tell me).  I kid, I kid…

I’d like to see Grigorenko make it because it would be a good story if he does.  It probably would have been easy for him to stay home and be a big fish in a smaller pond, so I have to give him credit for taking the shot, however it works out.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 09/21/07 at 10:34 PM ET

Hey, PDX, you have a good point.  I’ve posted this before, too… I think it must be monumentally difficult to leave your home, your culture, and your language behind to seek your fortune elsewhere.  How can adjusting to all that not effect how you perform in your profession?

I’d like to see Grigorenko do well, too.  I’d like to see him do better than well.  I always have soft spot for the new kids… even though he is more new than he is a kid.

That said, Hank has a good point also.  It’s not as if Grigorenko came over here and, because of his difficulty adjusting to the challenges, suddenly fell out of shape.  He apparently arrived here out of shape.  I think that raises legitimate questions about his work ethic.  I can’t say that means he doesn’t have any… I can raise my eyebrows about it but, like you, I can really only say “we’ll see what happens” and hope for a happy ending.

Posted by BobTheZee on 09/22/07 at 12:11 AM ET

Reading the original of the article I couldn’t find anywhere that Grigorenko decided to stay in the US of A no matter whether he makes the Team or not. I doubt he will settle for $70K in Grand Rapids while he can make about $1.5M (tax free) in Russia. I don’t blame him for being wide eyed about the local realities though (been there done that 10 years ago). But if a guy is serious about it making it here, he should have talked to the Russians who play in the NHL already.  They would have told him what the differences are! And learn the language, dammit! He was drafted a long time ago, and apparently he was toying with the idea of coming here for a couple of years, so not knowing enough language to explain himself is simply ridiculous. My guess is he’ll be back to Mother Russia by Christmas.

Posted by Mike from Appleton, Wisconsin on 09/22/07 at 06:27 AM ET

PDXWing-

Grigorenko has known for 5 years he was going to come to Detroit at some point, he couldn’t learn a bit of english during that time?  Try to learn a bit about the culture so it isn’t such a shock?  If he was just drafted and came over ala Sergei Fedorov, I’d agree with you, but he came to Traverse City 2 years ago, he could at least get some idea what he was in for, no?  Stop makng excuses for the guy, he’s an adult that knew for years he wanted to play in the NHL, and in his big moment he flops...so far.

Posted by bababooey on 09/22/07 at 03:41 PM ET