Buffalo Sabres: Former Sabres to watch at the 2018 Winter Olympics
By Nick McAdam
Mikhail Grigorenko – Team Russia
The former Buffalo Sabres prospect seems to be doing better for himself in the KHL.
From the age of 18 to 20, Grigorenko couldn’t really get it going for the Sabres. The Russian only totaled six goals and eight assists in the 68 games he played for Buffalo. Whether there was a lack of confidence, being over-confident or just a wrong fit altogether, many will be wondering what could have been.
Girgorenko would later served time with the Colorado Avalanche, where he looked to improve with 16 goals and over 30 assists with the club.
Now in the KHL with Moscow, the 23-year-old has 10 goals and 13 assists in 46 games which is still nowhere close to the production he had in the QMJHL where he had 40 goals and 85 overall points as a rookie. Injuries were also a factor, with the Russian never playing more than 75 games in the NHL.
It’s nice to see him get rewarded with a spot on the national team. Grigorenko will play alongside the likes of Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk.