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Mikhail Grigorenko Scouting Report

by on May 17, 2012 in Entry Draft - 298 Comments

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Photo: RDS

As the draft continues to draw nearer, the Mikhail Grigorenko story becomes more and more interesting. A player once believed to be a lock for the 2nd or 3rd spot in the draft is beginning to slide down the rankings, and is currently pegged anywhere from 4th to 20th. This opens up a scenario where a supremely talented, albeit inconsistent, 6’3 centre is on the board for the Maple Leafs at the fifth selection. What to do… What to do…

The Basics: An elite offensive-minded centre, a high risk/reward type prospect; 40 goals and 45 assits for 85 points in 59 games played for the Quebec Remparts

Strengths: Grigorenko possesses sublime offensive ability highlighted by wonderful hands, excellent vision, strong playmaking skills and a goal scorer’s instincts. He uses his size well and can be an absolute handful along the boards in the offensive zone. He possesses a good shot and is an offensive threat every time he steps on the ice. What is impressive for a young European player adjusting to the North American game is that Mikhail has shown the ability to absorb plenty of physical contact to make a play. The upside is sky high.

Weaknesses: Grigorenko is going to get the classic “inconsistent Russian player” label attached to him for the next coulpe of seasons until he is able to harness that natural ability and absolutely dominate a game. He received heavy criticism for disappearing toward the tail end of the Remparts’ series vs. the Mooseheads. His effort has been questioned at times, particularly on the defensive side of the ice. The skating ability is still choppy and may hinder some of his effetiveness on the rush.

Draft Day Outlook: I like Grigorenko and I think barring disatrous results at the draft combine, he is a top 5 player on draft day. In a draft lacking in top end talent, it’s tough to justify passing up on this kind of upside. Granted, it would not be unreasonable for Grigorenko to experience a Kopitar circa 2005 scenario, where the #5 ranked player fell to the #11 selection due to consistency concerns. This is a potential all-star calibre centre.

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  • http://www.hockey-nerd.com Cameron

    I doubt he’d spend that long in junior though. He looks like the kind of player who can make the jump much sooner. Really, the biggest thing that has held Kadri back is his own lack of physical maturity. Grigorenko is a beast.

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  • Gilbert

    Where did everyone go?

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  • http://www.hockey-nerd.com Cameron

    Good example would be Burmistrov. He told Dudley and company at the combine that he thought the KHL was a league for washed up has-beens, and that if he ever went there, it would be when he was 35+. Sold.

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  • http://www.hockey-nerd.com Cameron

    And to his credit, he’s been a fantastic community guy here. Goes out to the rinks and plays shinny with the neighborhood kids. He’s ten times the ambassador of the game that Evander ‘Team Canada’ Kane is…

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  • Dangle_My_Berries

    THE MEULLLL!!!!!! GREAT PRESSURE BOYS, sick play by Deshamps

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  • leafmealone

    Sarcasm font not included. ;)

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  • http://www.hockey-nerd.com Cameron

    Kabanov’s problems have nothing to do with being Russian though. He’s actually insane.
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    We’ll see what happens with Tarasenko. He wants an NHL roster spot is all. Isn’t that what Kulemin wanted as well?

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  • Burtonboy

    marlies score first…. Mueller

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  • Gilbert

    Awesome

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  • Burtonboy

    anyone get a working stream yet ?

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  • leafmealone

    But that’s exactly the nature of the conversation taking place. Without a guaranteed roster spot, players will just jet off to Russia. None of them want to earn their playing time, they want to just be given it.

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  • leafmealone

    Cue PentHouse coming on to tell us all how he’s been pumping Mueller’s tires since the start of the year.

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  • http://www.hockey-nerd.com Cameron

    He’s earning it in a different league. Just like Malkin, Datsyuk and Kulemin. You can’t like it when some players do it and hate it when others do it. You can’t fault them for wanting to live in their home country.

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  • leafmealone

    Sorry, I didn’t know I was doing any of those things. I was discussing the fact that although these players all express their desire to play in the best league in the entire world, if the ice time in said league isn’t just handed to them, they leave. Or if they’re asked to play defense, or put in time on the third line, or it’s requested that they put in more work off-ice to improve their skills or conditioning.

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  • Dangle_My_Berries

    scrivens playing sharp just owned paararvi

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  • http://www.hockey-nerd.com Cameron

    Oh, you know for a fact that someone left because they got put on the 3rd line or to play defensively? Come on. That’s ridiculous. That is pure speculation based on our wildly anti-Russian, biased media reports. You need look no further than Alexander Semin. Everyone has an opinion, but the only guy with a clue (his coach, Boudreau), says it’s all crap….

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  • Burtonboy

    There is anew blog up folks

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  • newkb

    But that’s when there is the guessing game on when they are coming over…..or even if. I’d rather have the sure thing with regards to my asset, and I suspect most GM’s now do too – hence the hesitancy to draft Russian’s high.

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  • leafmealone

    First off. Semin didn’t leave. And there’s no point in cherry-picking examples that fit your argument if you don’t allow the other person to do the same. And no one on here is saying that EVERY Russian player is guilty of these actions. There is simply a discussion taking place about what factors play a role in players defecting to the KHL. And as some players have done this, or are about to, those examples are being referenced rather than examples of players who haven’t. And the initial point of discussion was how these instances of defection have coloured teams’ thinking in choosing Russian born players in the draft, and whether or not that might factor into Burke’s thinking. Especially as the player initially referenced has already started to get reports written about him that would seem to put him in a high-risk category for similar behaviour.

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  • leafmealone

    Another player I don’t want on the Leafs. Don’t think he ever fulfills the expectation created by his promising rookie year. And another player who Oilers bloggers/commenters seem to think the Leafs are going to give up Gardiner/Franson/Schenn + at least a 1st for. Drives me a little nuts (obviously).

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  • long_suffering_leaf_fan

    fuck I wish this fucken mickey mouse channel would show replays

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  • http://twitter.com/leafshotstove Alec Brownscombe

    New thread morons.

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  • dan

    If Grigorenko is available at #5 you TAKE him for sure. I think Montreal will take him #3. Yakupov and Murray will go #1 and #2 in whatever order…
    .
    That should leave Forsberg or Galchenyuk for the Leafs, which would be amazing for us. But if all four teams above us pass on Grigorenko it should be a NO brainer….. high ceiling upside is what we need….. the “lazy russian” label won’t matter

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