Maki re-tells Grigorenko's odyssey

[Louisville 112]

I never knew the actual story of Grigger's accident, very interesting. Hopefully he can regain some of that "explosiveness."

Mlive:

In case you forgot that it's a near-miracle that Igor Grigorenko is able to attend the Detroit Red Wings training camp, Al Maki re-tells the tale this morning:

September 13, Globe and Mail: Grigorenko's story took a nasty turn when he lost control of his BMW four years ago and crashed into a billboard stand. The impact broke his left thigh bone and left his tibia with two fractures.

While he recovered in a Russian hospital, Grigorenko suffered a life-threatening fat embolism in his left lung and was rushed onto a ventilator. Mark Lapush, Grigorenko's agent, later said the doctors gave the young forward "a 10-percent chance to be alive."

Grigorenko spent almost a month in bed before being allowed to return home. He missed the entire 2003-2004 season. He needed follow-up surgery to correct pain in his toes and have the metal rod removed from his femur.

All along he kept telling his agent, "Mark, trust me, I'm going to play hockey. I'm going to play for Detroit," said Lapush.

...

The early buzz is that he doesn't have the same explosiveness but his hands are good and, at 24, has been seasoned by playing in the Russian Super League. He will get every opportunity to make the Red Wings roster. Have made it this far, he's already put on quite a show.

Most of his month-long hospital stay occurred after he was airlifted by helicopter from Togliatti to Moscow, some 500 miles west.

Edited September 13, 2007 by Louisville

[Curban915 0]

WOW

[Drake_Marcus 890]

That's one tough dude. I wish Vlady could've had the same miraculous recovery, but at least Vlady is still surrounded by strong and supportive friends and love ones.

Hopefully Grigs can be the player in Detroit that everyone whats him to be.