Posted by Matt Schwartz

03:51PM - Monday, October 22, 2007

Faced with the propect of losing forward Igor Grigorenko to Russia because of an out clause in his contract, the Red Wings opted to call up the struggling forward Monday. He will practice with the team today.

Grigorenko, who has no points through five games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, has struggled to keep up with the pace of the North American game. Things started off rocky for the stocky Russian when visa problems prevented him from joining the Red Wings' prospect camp back in July, then the forward showed up out of shape at training camp last month.

Grigorenko's puck skills, however, are undeniable -- which is a big reason the Red Wings are willing to swallow most of his $858,800 one-year contract as he sits on the roster as the club's 15th forward for the time being.

"Based on what we've seen so far, he probably needs a lot more time in Grand Rapids, but he's not prepared for that commitment, for, among other things, major financial reasons,'' Holland said of Grigorenko, who would make only $70,000 as a member of the Griffins. "We'll bring him here and take it a day at a time. I can't tell you where we're going to be with Igor one month from now.

"There's no guarantees," Holland told Booth Newspapers. "I'm not promising anybody a roster spot or minutes. It's all to be earned."

Grigorenko's contract included an escape clause that allowed him to return to Russia -- where he would earn upwards of $1-million USD tax-free in the Russian Super League -- if he remained on an AHL roster by November 1st.