Grigs out of shape

[Spongewingredpants 75]

yes its true, we did bash no. 19, i remember now!

Go Grigs!!!!

[Spongewingredpants 75]

Babcock quote: "It appears hockey sense-wise, he's very good."

he also passed his physical

Calder Trophy!!!!!

[Guest jaytan]

AHL!!!

[Mickeyisms Rule! 0]

AHL!!!

Heh, living in Grand Rapids, I love it when good players get sent here so I can see them play for $17 2 rows off the ice.

Send Lidstrom down! Send Zetterburg and Datsyuk while you're at it!

Go Griffins!

[Spongewingredpants 75]

All this talk of Igor "sucking" made me want to post what I found on the Forecaster.ca website:

http://www.forecaster.ca/detnews/hockey/ex...gi?fantasy-spin

Them's my two cents

sleeping giant!!!

i love it

[Sting 11 0]

Bruce MacLeod continues to unload on Grigorenko.

from MacLeod's blog:

Bringing in a fighter -- and one like Downey, who probably won't cost much more than $500,000 -- wouldn't make the Red Wings a tough team, but it would push them slightly towards mediocre on the toughness scale.

Downey's play in camp has been adequate. On Saturday, he was irritable (challenging Tomas Kopecky after one whistle and Brad Ference after another) and that's what the Red Wings want.

Downey's roster competition comes from his training camp linemate, Russian Igor Grigorenko, who won't fight, but is supposed to be able to put the puck in the net. The problem is Grigorenko hasn't shown offensive flash in training camp. He came in out of shape and he has been outplayed by Evan McGrath, who had a hard time getting playing time in Grand Rapids last season.

If the decision had to be made now, Grigorenko's chances of staying with the team are slight.

The best thing that Grigorenko has going for him at the moment is that the Red Wings will lose him if they send him to Grand Rapids for more than three weeks. An out clause in his contract allows Grigorenko to return to Russia … in fact, he told a Russian newspaper before he left that he would return if he didn't make the Detroit roster. He and his agent are already talking about how Igor will shine … if given good linemates. That's not a good sign.

The Red Wings would prefer to send Grigorenko to the American Hockey League to get more acclimated to North America and hockey on this side of the Atlantic. But the team might opt to keep him with the Red Wings to protect its investment. Let Grigorenko learn in Detroit and see if he develops there.

[doublejack 0]

Grigorenko weighed in officially at 220 lbs, and Ansar Khan joined the growing list of reporters slagging him.

You don't want to overreact after only two scrimmages in the main camp -- and I won't -- but Igor Grigorenko has not been impressive at all. He's slow, gets winded fast, doesn't seem to play with urgency and even got knocked around a few times.

Grigorenko is probably carrying around 20+ pounds of pure fat. Very disappointing

[Hank 0]

AHL!!!

LOL!

And bashing a guy for not being a 'winner' is subjective. Everyone has different guidelines as to what makes a champion.

You can't fool a scale and it sounds like at least 2 people watched him huffing and puffing as he tried to get up and down the ice.

Showing up to a pro camp regardless of how old or experienced you are is inexcusable. Tkatchuk was bashed to no end by the hockey world and this is a guy who's already established himself as an elite player. Imagine showing up in piss poor shape as a 24 year old rookie desperately trying to make a team?

Grigs and everyone else who would be in his situation should deserved to be bashed if they showed up with a beer gut and a box of donuts.

I and everyone else here would be saying the exact same things if this was Patrick Kane, Jonathon Toews or an 18 year old Yzerman coming to camp in poor shape.

Edited September 17, 2007 by Hank

[Guest jaytan]

Based on what I'm hearing, it sounds like this guy could have attitude problems on top of everything else! He shows up to camp out of shape when he knows that he has to prove himself now, he doesn't put forth much effort on the ice, and he's basically threatening to go home to Russia if he's not put on the roster?

Come on! This is the NHL, kid, and you have to earn your spot. He should be grateful for the opportunity to go out to Grand Rapids and develop his skills. I can't stand when these guys throw fits (whether it's because they aren't getting paid the money they think they deserve or not getting the ice time they think they deserve or whatever) and go back to Europe rather than putting in the work we require.

[Hank 0]

Based on what I'm hearing, it sounds like this guy could have attitude problems on top of everything else! He shows up to camp out of shape when he knows that he has to prove himself now, he doesn't put forth much effort on the ice, and he's basically threatening to go home to Russia if he's not put on the roster?

Come on! This is the NHL, kid, and you have to earn your spot. He should be grateful for the opportunity to go out to Grand Rapids and develop his skills. I can't stand when these guys throw fits (whether it's because they aren't getting paid the money they think they deserve or not getting the ice time they think they deserve or whatever) and go back to Europe rather than putting in the work we require.

I agree. I hope this is just a case of Grigs thought he was in "NHL" shape and didn't prepare properly. I hope he can get up to speed and show some good hands and possibly make the top 6 forwards.

But if he can't crack the top 2 lines, then he should go to the Griffins. We have enough competent bottom 6 forwards.

But like you said Jaytan, it sounds as if he's already made up his mind "Oh well, if I can't make it here, I'll just go back to Russia where it's safe and comfortable and where I will make more than playing in the NHL (and less games to 82 compared to 40)".

I don't know if that's his attitude but if it is, so long Igor!

[zzz 0]

Based on what I'm hearing, it sounds like this guy could have attitude problems on top of everything else! He shows up to camp out of shape when he knows that he has to prove himself now, he doesn't put forth much effort on the ice, and he's basically threatening to go home to Russia if he's not put on the roster?

Come on! This is the NHL, kid, and you have to earn your spot. He should be grateful for the opportunity to go out to Grand Rapids and develop his skills. I can't stand when these guys throw fits (whether it's because they aren't getting paid the money they think they deserve or not getting the ice time they think they deserve or whatever) and go back to Europe rather than putting in the work we require.

Who's thrown a fit? I doubt he's said very much to anyone about anything given that the only ones who seem to be able to communicate with him are Datsyuk and his agent. On the contrary he's been very open with his plans, and I can't say I blame him. I'd rather play for more money in my own country than in a second-rate league where I don't know the language. He doesn't owe the Wings or us fans anything; he's not in camp because the team is trying to be nice to him - he has something they want (or at least they thought he did). If he doesn't have what the Wings need, fine.

[omnipotent_hudler 0]

He and his agent are basically saying " The reason I suck is because of my line mates". I'm sorry, but that is and attitude problem when you have never played in the worlds top league and have yet to prove anything. Grigs can go back to Russia for all I care at this point, we have plenty of motivated young prospects who understand that they have to actually work to make it on to this team.

[Izzy24 44]

Who's thrown a fit? I doubt he's said very much to anyone about anything given that the only ones who seem to be able to communicate with him are Datsyuk and his agent. On the contrary he's been very open with his plans, and I can't say I blame him. I'd rather play for more money in my own country than in a second-rate league where I don't know the language. He doesn't owe the Wings or us fans anything; he's not in camp because the team is trying to be nice to him - he has something they want (or at least they thought he did). If he doesn't have what the Wings need, fine.

The NHL is a second-rate league?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

At this point I'd like to formally distance myself from the overreaction-filled, melodramatic turn this thread has taken.

[Guest jaytan]

The NHL is a second-rate league?

I believe he was referring to the AHL. Still, that argument doesn't hold water for me. For a prospect, playing in the AHL is often a necessary part of the process it takes to become an NHL-calibre player. How can we expect this kid to ever fulfill whatever potential he has if he doesn't have the patience or even the humility to play for our minor-league affiliate?

[Zata fan 40 6]

Based on what I'm hearing, it sounds like this guy could have attitude problems on top of everything else! He shows up to camp out of shape when he knows that he has to prove himself now, he doesn't put forth much effort on the ice, and he's basically threatening to go home to Russia if he's not put on the roster?

Come on! This is the NHL, kid, and you have to earn your spot. He should be grateful for the opportunity to go out to Grand Rapids and develop his skills. I can't stand when these guys throw fits (whether it's because they aren't getting paid the money they think they deserve or not getting the ice time they think they deserve or whatever) and go back to Europe rather than putting in the work we require.

He was working hard....was he a little slow? Yeah, but the effort was there....there was certainly some confusion for him on the ice due to communication problems, not because of a lack of effort. He wouldn't be here if didn't want to play in the NHL. I haven't seen any signs of an attitude problem over the weekend. I think once he sees what it really takes to be a NHLer he will adjust to it just fine. Don't forget in the RSL they actually use the training camp to get into shape for the season. It's different way of getting ready to play here as opposed to Russia.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I'm kinda surprised by these allegations that Grigs is out of shape and is giving a lack-luster performance. All his scouting reports say hes known for his hard work ethic and (prior to the accident) his ability to function exquisitely at fast paces, including taking and receiving passes, and shooting. He averaged a point per game in the prospects mini series, and i believe he has two points in three scrimmages now.

Maybe he is out of shape and isn't giving it his all, I really don't know. I haven't been at the camp, and I'm not the type to make excuses for other people, but I'm kinda under the impression that this blogger may have a bit of a bias for whatever reason.

Edited September 17, 2007 by Echolalia

[zzz 0]

I believe he was referring to the AHL. Still, that argument doesn't hold water for me. For a prospect, playing in the AHL is often a necessary part of the process it takes to become an NHL-calibre player. How can we expect this kid to ever fulfill whatever potential he has if he doesn't have the patience or even the humility to play for our minor-league affiliate?

What I meant, and I didn't express this very well, was that we have no idea what his attitude regarding all this is. He hasn't said a word that hasn't been filtered through his agent, who of course is going to put a PR-spin on things, i.e., it's not him, it's his line mates. Plus, a lot of things get lost/distorted in translation. As to his play, if he brings it he does, if he doesn't, bye-bye. It's not a personal insult to us, and I don't understand why people are judging his character based on a couple of blog entries. Perhaps he didn't understand what kind of effort was required. It'll take more than a few scrimmages to turn that around -- if he comes to camp again next year and is out of shape, then yeah, not NHL material.

[redwashington2000 42]

I believe he was referring to the AHL. Still, that argument doesn't hold water for me. For a prospect, playing in the AHL is often a necessary part of the process it takes to become an NHL-calibre player. How can we expect this kid to ever fulfill whatever potential he has if he doesn't have the patience or even the humility to play for our minor-league affiliate?

This kid have kids back in Russia from 3 or 4 wives.

[Hank 0]

I'm kinda surprised by these allegations that Grigs is out of shape and is giving a lack-luster performance. All his scouting reports say hes known for his hard work ethic and (prior to the accident) his ability to function exquisitely at fast paces, including taking and receiving passes, and shooting. He averaged a point per game in the prospects mini series, and i believe he has two points in three scrimmages now.

Maybe he is out of shape and isn't giving it his all, I really don't know. I haven't been at the camp, and I'm not the type to make excuses for other people, but I'm kinda under the impression that this blogger may have a bit of a bias for whatever reason.

Maybe. But some guy from the Detroit News (or Free Press - can't remember) has been saying the same thing.

[Hank 0]

Maybe. But some guy from the Detroit News (or Free Press - can't remember) has been saying the same thing.

Just to add to my point, here's a quote from MLIVE.com

View from the bench: A team that's been widely criticized for being too old for years displayed a lot of promising, young talent in camp, with players such as Howard, defensemen Ericsson, Jakub Kindl, Kyle Quincey and Derek Meech and forwards Evan McGrath, Jan Mursak, Cory Emmerton and Johan Ryno. That's in addition to the young players already on their NHL roster. It bodes well for the future.

No mention of 24-year old Grigs at all.

I remember watching the 2002 world juniors where this kid ruled. He was being compared to Kovalchuk and other promising young players.

We all know about the accident, but it's still kind of disappointing when you hear how comes in out of shape.

He can always get into game shape but my greatest fear is that he came over with the attitude "I'll give it my best shot and if I don't make it, oh well. I'll just go back to Russia and make $1M US to play 50 games a year".