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Grigorenko

Sabres Assign Grigorenko to Quebec



Greg Bauch & Paul Hamilton

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550)  -- With Tyler Ennis and Ville Leino both healthy enough to play, the Sabres needed to clear a spot on their roster. They did so on Friday by assigning rookie Mikhail Grigorenko to his junior team in Quebec, the Quebec Remparts.

Grigorenko has picked up 5 points in 22 games in his first NHL action, including one goal.

Darcy Regier did not view this as a setback to Grigorenko, “No, I view this as an opportunity for him to keep growing, building on his experience here, building on the start in the Quebec League. He had a terrific World Junior Tournament and he surprised all of us by being here for the length of time he had been here and depending on how far they go in the playoffs, he will return here after the season.”

When Grigorenko made the team they thought he would play more. Regier said, “First playing, we wanted to give him an opportunity to see whether or not he could get his minutes up to a level where he could continue the development. What drove the decision was we were really using him in a fourth line type roll where we were hoping to get him in to create some offense, but his minutes topped out at 10 minutes and in the end, he’s got an opportunity go back to Quebec, be the go to guy, play 20-22 minutes.”

Many think having the kid here was a waste. Regier is not one of them, “There’s benefits for him, we got to know his game, he got to know us, he’s got a very good understanding of what he needs to do and he gets to go back and have the opportunity to practice that.”

As far as if he thought Grigorenko was more NHL ready Regier said, “I wasn’t sure. You can’t be sure until you get them in the environment. “

Many fans felt Grigorenko should’ve been thrown out there with the Sabres best players and put on the power play, even though it was obvious he wasn’t ready. Regier said, “The bind you get into is it’s a team game, it’s a team sport and you can only go so far to give the individual something at the expense of the rest of the team. A teammate recognizes whether someone is gratuitously given something or has earned it and you need to keep the team concept  in place.”
Regier said this would’ve happened even if they didn’t have to make a roster move.

Leino hasn't played yet this season as he has suffered through a hip injury. Ennis missed a game after being checked into the boards but, he did not suffer a concussion on the play.

The Sabres host Ottawa on Saturday afternoon at 3. The WGR 550 pregame will begin at 2.

Filed Under :  
Locations : Quebec
03/15/2013 3:29PM
Sabres Assign Grigorenko to Quebec
Please enter your comments below.
03/15/2013 3:32PM
Well That's Stupid
.....
03/15/2013 3:38PM
are you kidding???????????????
what a chickens-t organization!
03/15/2013 3:39PM
Good Move
It was overdue. I agreed with bringing him here for 1/2 a season, he got a good taste and now it's time to go. The ideal place for him is the AHL, but that's not an option. He needs to have some success before his confidence gets shattered. He'll be back next year in a 2nd or 3rd line role.
03/15/2013 3:41PM
thats the definition of a joke
if this move doesnt get darcy fired i dont know what will....how can the brass keep justifying keeping jochen hecht on this roster????????????
03/15/2013 3:46PM
what?
You have to be kidding me. What do the Sabres have to lose if they play him and develop him in the NHL. The season is a lost already anyway. Send TJ Brennan down and who cares if he doesn't clear waivers.
03/15/2013 3:49PM
What can we say about the Sabres management???
Once again the Sabres brass have reminded us why the Sabres are at, or near the bottom of the NHL!!! Way to go Darcy! YOU STINK!!!
03/15/2013 3:50PM
huh?
Well the kid has had a bumpy start to the year. With all the non sense it might be better to get him back with a real coach like Roy. Lieno is garbage but was hoping to see him play with grigo. Well whatever when we get injuries let the older guys in theAHL like.. LUKE ADAM get thier wack at it again! Keep your head up #25 see ya next year.
03/15/2013 3:50PM
Goodbye
I seriously hope Darcy gets fired right after the season. This is by far the dumbest move since they had kept him. Why would you do that? you already burned a year of the contract. he was lighting it up there. hopefully this seals Darcy's fate.
03/15/2013 3:50PM
Moron GM
Regier has bungled this whole process since day one. He has wasted a year of his entr level contract. With his team in 28th place out of 30 teams, he refuses to give Grigorenko ice time which would help him in the future. Instead he continues to keep over the hill clowns like Hecht, Leino, and Stafford in the starting lineup. Mr. Pegula has made a terrible mistake in keeping this poor excuse for a GM. He has no vision for the future. Until Pegula gets rid of this clown GM, especially with the realignment, the Sabres will never again be in the playoffs.
03/15/2013 3:52PM
waste
what a waste of a year... nice job darcy
03/15/2013 3:53PM
A Small Move in a Lost Season
At least he will get some development and get away from this "diseased" team. Just sitting and waiting for the implosion!
03/15/2013 3:56PM
Here's The Problem ...
Everyone wants to sell the farm and blow up the team ... Trade Miller, Vanek and Pominville for 1st round draft picks. Well, here's the thing ... If we trade these players away for picks, even if they are for 1st round picks, they will be late in the 1st round. The buyers willing to take our players are trying to make a run for the Stanley Cup, so they are going to be teams with pretty good records. Grigorenko was selected 12th overall, and although he may be a good player in the future, he is far from a superstar. The problem with the NHL draft is that after the first 5 picks, the talent level decreases dramatically. The Sabres are better off pooping the bed and trying to draft as high as possible in the draft this year ... even trade up if necessary. It's time to get our superstar ... Sorry folks, but it's not going to be Armia, Grigorenko or Girgensons. Nathan MacKinnon is the next Sidney Crosby, and we can have him on our roster next year and win the Cup. This team is only a few pieces away. Ted Black is a genius because he was a part of a team that sucked for a long time, then drafted Malkin, then won the draft lottery and got Crosby. Yes, it's that simple ... Please hire me GM for a day. I have the recipe for a Stanley Cup, but it calls for 1 part superstar !!!! Go Sabres !!!
03/15/2013 3:57PM
typical ineptitude
just fire darcy now, thats the ONLY way losers like hecht, stafford, and our weakest captain ever pominville will ever be shown the door, and our mighty mites ennis and gerbe get replaced by bigger guys who wont get blasted out of their skates. this poor kid, our FUTURE at center, was set up to fail playing 6 minutes a game with john scott joking hecht and or drucilla stafford. ted black if you cant see this for what it is then you should step down. is this how pittsburgh built a winner????
03/15/2013 3:59PM
Embarressment
This goes to show why we are an embarressment of an NHL franchise this year. Darcy should be fired on the spot for this move. What business to Hecht (should've retired two years ago), and Brennan (a career AHL player and always will be) have being on this team or even in the NHL?
03/15/2013 3:59PM
really?
thats the guy your going to move.
03/15/2013 4:00PM
Never was ready
Struggled mightedly with speed and physical nature of this game. Leave him here and hw would turn into another of Darcy's light weight penny loafer types requiring others to carry his bags.
03/15/2013 4:01PM
CWA move
the team is going nowhere fast this year so why make this move? the team should be giving him more playing time and instead they send him down. this tells me that Darcy is scared of losing his job and is not going to sell off pieces in the next couple weeks. he is going to hang in there instead and try to make that "heroic" move into 8th place, which we all know is never going to happen.
03/15/2013 4:03PM
Effing Joke
Yeah, I guess keeping Hecht around makes more sense eh Darcy? Once again Darcy proves his LOVE for his core guys. With the exception of Vanek any of them should be shipped out of here starting with Hech. Pomminville, Stafford, Miller, Sekera, Leopold,Myer, the list goes on. I am sick and tired of this team and could care less if they lose every remaining game. Steve Otts gotta be wondering what he did to deserve this team.
03/15/2013 4:03PM
What a Joke Hockey Heaven has become
This GM is so clueless. He has know we have had to many players for months. Doesn't do a thing, doesn't move a defensemen a forward nothing. Then we waste a year of this kids contract not mention kill his confidence. Terry GET THIS GUY OUTTA HERE I BEG OF YOU!!! P.S. Thanks for washing the hard earned money I spent on seasons down the drain and putting GARBAGE out there!!
03/15/2013 4:05PM
Trade bait
I hope they are shopping the vets. Grigs never got a chance to actually play from either coach.
03/15/2013 4:10PM
Inexcusable
This is an inexcusible mismanagement of a great young prospect and a year on a contract. He was given no real chance to succeed and now we're sending a great young prospect away with someone like Hecht still on the roster.
03/15/2013 4:18PM
Stupid Move
This is a Stupid Move. Grigorenko if given a fair chance would be better for the Sabres as He could learn from playing here. But we waste this time by having him play on the 4th line with John Scott, The way the Sabres treated him is Like having Gil Perrault and putting him on the 4th line and playing 5 mins a game, and Having Rico and Rene watching from the press box, Now We send him back to juniors, We probably wrecked this player. Is it too late to Send Ron Rolston Back to Rochester, So he can wreck the rest of the talent we have in the AHL, Just look, Lindy gone from the Sabres & Ron gone from Rochester and now Luke Adam is showing his talent again.
03/15/2013 4:19PM
A roster spot for Hecht?????
Oh, thank goodness they didnt risk exposing Jochen Hecht to waivers. Good plan: stunt the development of a talented youngster at the expense of holding on to a pedestrian, 3rd party observing disguised as a hockey player. I knew this team was doomed the moment they resigned Jochen and inserted him into the line up. Apparently, he possesses those valuable intangibles an observer just wouldnt recognize. Only true professionals such as the Coach and GM would pick up on those skill sets...
03/15/2013 4:20PM
Grigorenko over Hecht????
Grigorenko over Hecht!!!!????? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - Jesus Mary and Joseph!!! Will Someone SMACK the Sabres into listening to EVERY SINGLE PERSON in WNY and Every Hockey Expert and Opinion on this matter??? Christ Almighty!!!! UGH - Poop on them!
03/15/2013 4:26PM
Won't be sellers
If anything this move signals that this garbage outfit won't be sellers like they should be. When you are unwilling to give a young player, time to play and develop on an NHL level and instead favor heartless, low talent veterans with the false hope that you can make some sort of a half a** run you can correctly be labeled a garbage outfit. Pegula is starting to look like a terrible, disconnected, indifferent, out of touch owner with each passing day that Darcy Regier is the GM. It's said that Ken Sawyer believes Regier is a hockey mastermind. Someone needs to kidnap Sawyer, throw him in the trunk of a Lincoln Town Car and ship him far, far, faaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrr away from the Buffalo Sabres as an organization. This Sawyer sounds like a Larry Quinn clone. If Regier is going to be kept and this is how it is going to be for the foreseeable future...I am very sorry Pegula bought this team. I would rather have had Golisano sell the team to an out of town owner and had them sent packing. I'd rather not have a team at all than continue to watch this toxic bile of a hockey product!!!!
03/15/2013 4:28PM
WHY???
Why send him away and keep an aging vet who won't or shouldn't be on the team next year, (JH). He will dominate in the QJMHL and learn what he already knows! Give him the minutes wasted on JH and let him learn in real time. The scoring is a wash and a team going no where should invest in the future not keep somebodys pet employed!
03/15/2013 4:31PM
Please Fire Regier
You wasted a year on this kid's contract for nothing and also probably destroyed his confidence by playing him with 3rd or 4th line players for the most part. Seriously question this organization that is valuing Flynn, Porter, Scott, Hecht, and Brennan above Grigorenko and not willing to waive any of them.
03/15/2013 4:35PM
absolute joke.
I can honestly say that the Sabres are a worse run operation than the Bills. How do you do that to a young player ? I bet he is glad to get out of town. Who is in charge of this train wreck ? This management team would make a great Seinfeld episode !Serenity Now !
03/15/2013 4:37PM
Bad choice
Grigorenko needs to be in Buffalo to learn the game and be with the trainers and coaches to prepare for next year. The Sabres should have waived Hecht.
03/15/2013 4:39PM
Who is running this team?
And Why did they wait so long to do this? This season is already burned, play the kid some serious minutes with some decent forwards and you'll see production. I just don't get it, there is more dead weight on this team that could've went before this kid. Your telling me that Brian Flynn is better for this club than Grigorenko??? Kevin Porter? Jochen Hecht? John Scott? Drew Stafford? See the problem is we can't give away any of this garbage for a bag of pucks. If I was Grigs, I'd be happy to be back playing for Patrick Roy instead of being in this mess in Buffalo. Ted Black needs to clean house. "Hockey Heaven" where players go to retire with fat paychecks!
03/15/2013 4:40PM
GOT A TASTE
THIS IS GOOD...BRING HIM BACK NEXT YEAR WITH A NEW COACH AND GM
03/15/2013 4:40PM
But?
Where is Jeremy White with his "Grogorenko is a superstar". HAHA! White is a joke!
03/15/2013 4:42PM
It will do him good....
Despite all the crying from much of the media for the Sabres to keep him up, he clearly wasnt ready. Let a real coach like Patrick Roy keep grooming him. Would have been nice if Jochen Hecht was waived too.
03/15/2013 4:45PM
No suprise
Please send Darcy to the minors!
03/15/2013 4:59PM
joe smuck
absooooolutly stupid
03/15/2013 5:01PM
what a joke
this organization is a joke. from owner on down, the Sabres have made every bad move possible in the last 2 yrs possible
03/15/2013 5:03PM
Cowardly move
Put Hecht on waivers where he belongs and play the kid so he can get experience. This is typical of why the Sabres are bad. This is no backbone in management. We need a dynamic GM. This is all based on a roster move, who are they kidding.
03/15/2013 5:14PM
No issue with it
He didn't impress me in the World Cup so I was surprised when we initially learned that he was going to stay up with the club. I'm fine with him developing more in Juniors, building his confidence, and getting lots of ice time.
03/15/2013 5:22PM
Keep him away from.....
...loozer habits, mentalities and the other loozer traits he might acquire playing with such a losing core in Buffalo.
03/15/2013 5:27PM
Way to go!!!
Totally wasted a year of his entry level contract. Why is Regier still here?
03/15/2013 5:38PM
Fed Up
Unbelievable ... just when you thought there might be a tiny spark of hope in this abysmal season the geniuses at the top drop yet another turd. I for one will take this trade off of a potential future star of this league [Grigorenko] for the lame one himself [Leino] as the final sign there there is no hope left for this train wreck. Thank you Sabres for freeing up valuable time I used to waste watching your games. If they truly wanted to do the kid a favor then trade him to a team that might know how to utilize his skills.
03/15/2013 5:41PM
Regier
Does Grigorenko really have this great talent? I tend to believe that Regier once again missed on a player and that the 10 other GM's who passed on him were right. There are several first rounders contributing this year and each of them plays fast, hard, and with an edge. All things that if you look back at the scouting report on Grigs said he lacks. Nobody denies the hands, but the guy won't engage and won't skate with the puck. Sending him back to play against kids won't help. Maybe he fell for a reason.......and maybe the other pick Gergensons was a big reach like the experts said. Darcy has no benefit of the doubt.
03/15/2013 6:04PM
Just another poor decision and reason....
....in a list of many over the years - to FIRE DARCY!!! This team needs a new architect...please Pegula...right this ship!
03/15/2013 6:14PM
No problem with this move......
the kid is just not ready to play everyday in the NHL. They never should have kept him up in the first place. Let him regain his confidence in Quebec. He will return as a better player.
03/15/2013 6:50PM
good-bye darcy
this should be the final nail in the coffin.you put this kid on a line with two players that have zero points.thats right;zero.once in awhile stafford is with him and he has two goals ;one of which was set up by grigorenko.you mean to tell me on a team that has the worst pp in the league,he was not worthy of at least a look on that unit?darcy is a terrible gm plain and simple and he needs to go.
03/15/2013 6:59PM
Not suprised
Never really was sure what everyone else saw when they decided to keep him here in the first place. Maybe he played well in the beginning but he did not play great and certainly not good enough to warrant burning a year of his contract. Ruff and Regier knew that that thier jobs were on the line and were hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. We can only hope that this is Regier's last mistake.
03/15/2013 7:11PM
Great Decision as always
Ridiculous. One of the best juniors in the world and Sabres management is intent on destroying him by having him conform to the mammy-pammy type of player the Sabes are noted for. They stick him with the dregs of an already lousy team and expect him to lift those turkeys. To top it off, they are even trying to change his skating style as if what we need is more skaters of the kind that populate this once proud and skilled team. I'm sure Darcey the Dolt would have sent Gilbert Perreault back to Victoriaville to keep Jochen Hecht on an expansion team.
03/15/2013 7:20PM
What a Joke!!!
And Jochen Hecht and the shrimps Waterbug and Weeble remain. FIRE REGEIR IMMEDIATELY!!!
03/15/2013 7:29PM
I hate this organization
Do I need to say more???
03/15/2013 7:57PM
Another Strategic Blunder
It was apparent early on that Grigorenko wasn't NHL ready but a team in desperate need of a center and clinging to the hope (against reason) that he would bloom quickly went against all conventional wisdom and kept him here stunting his development and burning a year of his entry level contract. He'll now hit free agency eligibility a year earlier than he would have otherwise. He will also go back with his tail between his legs and return with no confidence he can compete at this level. He will likely still be a fine player some day but it will likely take much longer to see it as opposed to if they would have returned him after his initial 10 game tryout. Add it to a ever lengthening list of poorly thought out moves by Darcy and another solid reason he should be dumped right after the final horn in late April. The center problem should have surely been addressed if not over the summer in the days leading up to the opening faceoff on this shortened season when there were free agents moves still to be made. Instead he was clearly over his head early, misused for much of the time from then on and finally generally ignored and lost in the shuffle once Ruff was canned. A lost young Sabre in a season of lost causes. Just once wouldn't you like to see Darcy take at least a share of the blame instead of pawning it off on the situation or the player himself?
03/15/2013 8:28PM
pegula
worst owner in buffalo sports.. huge disappointment..
03/15/2013 8:29PM
Great Job Darcy
Once again the development of our young, talented players gets stumped because of Regier's love for the below average players on our roster. I am sick about this move and even more upset by the trade of TJ Brennan to the Panthers for a 5th round pick. If the Sabres do not get rid of this clueless GM soon, I will find a team in the west to support. Enough is enough!
03/15/2013 10:06PM
another mistake by regier
darcy make another mistake with the kid this is why the young players a not able to develop.im tire of him playing stupid game with the press.we fire the wrong guy it's very sad every people said that lindy wass the problem. hire trevor timmins from montreal.look at is pick from the draft
03/15/2013 10:18PM
How much worse could we be
Hey Darcy, take a look at the standings. I don't think Grigorenko's 5 minutes a game put Buffalo at the bottom of the NHL standings. Way to put faith in the coach you named, he couldn't coach him better, than a coach that isn't coaching in the NHL. yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
03/15/2013 11:54PM
Hecht instead of Grigorenko
There was no plan when they decided to keep him up to get him ice time. For an offensively challenged team, taking an offensive player and burying him on the 4th line and never getting out on a pathetic PP to see what he can add is a joke. This team has regressed and needs someone to give it a new direction, i.e. New GM
03/16/2013 12:14AM
Agree
There's nothing wrong with Darcy's logic here. Smart move to send him down.
03/16/2013 12:16AM
who cares
leino has proven to be useless. in fact a hindrance to the team. my boycott continues. never again a penny to the nhl
03/16/2013 12:27AM
Yes Darcy, tell us about your team concept, and the players who "earn" ice time!
And, while you are at it, tell us about "gratuitously giving players who haven't earned it, more ice time. Maybe like Sekera or Hecht, or any of the other 10 players who stick, regardless of very poor results. Then, Darcy, you and Terry and Teddy can go visit the Wizard of Oz, after our usual early exit from contention. Like we have anything to lose by keeping Grigorenko up here gaining experience. Nice job, no playoffs again. Don't cry Terry, it always gets worse in Hockey Heaven.
03/16/2013 12:30AM
Run Mikael, run, run, run from this disaster, while you still have a future
Could this management possibly handle their players worse?
03/16/2013 2:43AM
Overated Draft Pick!
What has anyone seen in this kid that makes him a future NHL player?? I have not seen anything, nothing.
03/16/2013 7:55AM
the state of saber nation....................??
to be ratified as a state, the constituants must be in the majority!! it says something like that in our constitution! it really does!!pegula and regier, both of you are so decrepit. disrespectful of your product! your ignoring the team is so unshowing yourselves to the team,no public trust, no acknowledegment, completely disillusiong to us fans. shame, embarrassment, unrealistic expectations, all lead to non-support. is this what you want? show us you truly without a doubt have the true desire to win a cup!! do the right thing. hiding is a cowardly act, stop it!!
03/16/2013 9:29AM
Long overdue
Maybe it was the timing of Leino's return, but this should have been done long ago. I would rather have him getting top line minutes in the Q, than seeing him getting splinters here. With this team going no where fast, he should have been playingon one of the top lines here. I wonder what this season has done for his confidence. Maybe it will make him hungrier to stay!
03/16/2013 11:07AM
This confirms my belief.....
After reading these posts I am now 100% convinced that Buffalo not only has the worst fans in the NHL but the dumbest. If you people cannot understand the logic behind a move like this especially after Darcy spells it out in such a fashion any 3rd gradercould understand ........you are hopeless
03/16/2013 2:04PM
it had to be done
if he played one more game he would have been available as a ufa 1 year earlier. he could only play 23 games here. i think the plan was to send him back all along unless he was playing great which he wasnt. he is too timid and needs more compete. however that is the sabres style non competitive and timid. we do need a new gm more than anything. but this was the right move 4 A CHANGE! would like to see new gm over summer move everyone he can except ott kaleta and vanek. maybe keep flynn foligno and ennis and porter too. wouldnt have a problem move myers or erhoff but not both.
03/16/2013 2:58PM
i wanna be traded
can fans be traded? please send me to a winning organIzation
03/16/2013 4:02PM
Thank God!
Now Jochen Hecht and Drew Stafford, the 2 biggest underachievers on the team, aside from Tyler Myers, can get more minutes. This teams going NOWHERE this year and probably NOWHERE NEXT year, let the kid play and learn instead of welding his a$$ to the bench and letting dolts like Hecht and Stafford play. Darcy Regier is a major idiot but Terry Pegula is just a clueless wonder, plain and simple who has NO idea how to own a major sports team.
03/16/2013 4:08PM
Terry Pegula is Out to lunch...again!
Maybe this Pegula guy isnt all hes cracked up to be and actually Im starting to think is a FARCE. The guy surrounds himself with idiots who want to continue the status quo which in the end amounts to mediocrity. The BEST thing that could happen would be for the team to LOSE ALL of their remaining games, have the fans boo their a$$e$ off at the games and maybe just maybe little Terry will wake up from his dreams of "hockey heaven" (my a$$!) and make the BIG move that needed to be done years ago - FIRE DARCY REGIER! Until then...little Terry is just the same fan-atical man he was years ago only now hes stealing the fans $ for a sorry excuse for a team w/a snazzy new lockerroom. Whoop de doo little Terry.
03/16/2013 4:53PM
DARCY,S WALMART DRAFTS THE WRONG KID...
AGAIN!!! FORUS FORIAL FOREM FORIUM FOREVERN FOREEVER FORE EXTENDIUM REGERIUM FOREVER4. WALMART = "LAFFin"!!! WHO'S "LAFFing" NOW, EH!!????
03/17/2013 7:17AM
To Mr. Ted Black
I'm originally from Buff. Been in LA for 7 years and watch every Sabres game. When I moved here in 06 we had Drury and Briere. Thanks Darcy. I wish so bad I had it in my heart to jump on the Kings bandwagon. Why does LA have good hockey and Buffalo doesn't? Just pathetic. Buffalo is HOCKEY HELL. I have less faith in Darcy than I do in Buddy NiX!! Seriously, at least Buddy drafted CJ...and didn't bench him for not fitting on a garbage roster. Regier was lucky enough to come out of the 04-05 lockout with an under payed and stacked offensive team (ex. Vanek, Pominville, Drury, and Briere still) under new rules that accommidated the team he had in place perfectly and he flushed it down the toilet without even a cup appearance. And we're finally seeing just how bad he really is when push comes to shove and we are lower on talent and much younger. Garbage. You can't be good all the time obviously and are gonna have down years to rebuild and what not but Darcy has been around for going on 17 years!! Stop paying this guy please Ted.
03/17/2013 9:04AM
Good Move
watching him float around the ice was a slap in the face to every player down in rochester working their butts off
03/18/2013 9:55AM
Need to verify
I've heard that if he played one more game it would have counted as the first year towards unrestricted free agency. Sending him down will allow the team the ability to keep as restricted for one extra contract (if he ends up where they expect in a 1st or 2nd line role). In that scenario the "demotion" makes perfect sense.
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