Axelsson goes rogue - heading to Sweden

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Can't say I didn't see this coming. I'd heard that he had attitude and work ethic problems all the while. You look at a guy like Axelsson, then a guy like Tatar; I don't think you can attribute age to Axelsson's actions. Just look at Tatar wanting to shop, learn to live here, etc. He's a guy who's got the hunger to be an NHL player and is only 19.

It looks to me like Dick is living up to his name.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Way to blow his post completely out of proportion while being a D-bag at the same time by wishing a near fatal accident on him.

How this could be interpreted as a shot at Grigs' accident is beyond me. I simply see it as what it is, a jab at his work ethic in relation to Axelsson's. If you do remember, Wings' management had the same impression and were quoted numerous times that Grig's had the skill but not the desire. I suppose they weren't giving him a fair shot either because of his accident?

Have you ever considered the very real possiblity that Grigs simply prefered playing in a league that was not the NHL and a team that was not the DRW, all the while making more money, being close to his family, and playing in a slower league that is easier on his allready damaged body? Yes, he did not want to spend a year or two in the AHL, but would you knowing you could get five times the money in your native country? Have you ever stopped and wondered whether or not his family needed as much income as possible asap (they did btw, his family was in excessive debt due to his health bills).

Grigs did not want to pay his dues, but you have to question whether the paid dues were worth the payoff. In his situation it didn't seem as if they were. It's a personal choice, Grigs did not force us to draft him, and every player has the right to quit when he is not legally under contract. The Wing's spent very little time developing him, as he played very little in NA. He legally and morally owed the Wing's NOTHING. Drafts our crapshoots, and situations change. To us playing in the NHL would be a good goal, but for him staying near to his family in his homeland after recently seeing his life pass before his eyes must have looked like a better one.

[Jake Ryan 1]

I'd have left, too. Detroit is like a retirement home for old players with declining value today. Holland and Babcock hold onto guys like Draper, Holmstrom, and Maltby until they die. I don't mind letting a hall of famer like Yzerman play one or two years too long, because he's a fricking legend. But these other guys have to go and make room for the kids. Otherwise, this kind of stuff should be expected. I wouldn't want to waste away in the Red Wings ORGANIZATION when I could play for the New York Islanders or Florida Panthers or some team that embraces youth.

[Bannedforlife 403]

We could've gotten Steve Mason instead. Drag

[Guest Lidstromboli]

yeah having steve mason this year would've been a drag

[SweWings 45]

The screwed up thing - that this guy doesn't seem to realize - is that this kind of instability isn't going to help his development in any way. He should've stayed with Färjestad and played there for a full season; he had a spot, he was very much contributing and he probably felt at home. Considering his history this was sensational.

I'm not saying this excuses what's going on - I'm saying that this situation is not surprising and that his prior behaviour should have been taken into consideration before deciding where he would have played this season. Flatly telling him not to leave is not going to help the situation. However, given all these things, he really does need to explode if he comes back to Sweden. But I'd prefer he stay with the Griffins, as much I personally love to do so, cutting and running rarely helps in these kind of circumstances.

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

I really hope you go through a near lethal car accident that makes you practically immobile for several months, and then even attempt to do anything remotely physical two years later. I'll be the guy laughing at you.

you hope that someone gets in a near lethal car accident? wow....its hockey....a game. its a hockey forum. don't wish this on anyone.its not worth the bad karma.

Edited December 15, 2009 by hillbillywingsfan

[Opie 308]

Grigs had a poor work ethic and lack the heart to come to the US and compete before the accident, his work ethic was never his biggest attribute.

I said nothing about his accident, but before and after the accident there was much said about the Wings desire for him to play in NA and him only playing in NA for Detroit, and about his lack of effort.

Watch out for that ledge there is another conclusion at the end of that one too!

[mjlegend 155]

I wouldn't want to waste away in the Red Wings ORGANIZATION when I could play for the New York Islanders or Florida Panthers or some team that embraces youth.

You're right, this organization should do everything it can to emulate the Islanders and Panthers' way of dealing with players. Shame on the Red Wings!

Oh wait, I woke up and suddenly I'm not retarded anymore. Yay me!!1!!!!

Playing with a winning organization isn't you're God-given right once you've been drafted. If you can't take a couple of years in the AHL like Hudler, Howard, Ericsson, Helm and others, then you look like a crybaby. Good luck finding another organization because I'd like to think Kenny won't move him unless he absolutely has to.

[lomekian 201]

With Axelsson it does seem to be part of an ongoing maturity issue, which he may or may not grow out of, though it seems of a different nature than Ryno who left despite doing better in the AHL than he ever did in sweden (odd!).

With Grigorenko its much much more complicated. Before his crash he was nailed on as a top 6 prospect and had played on the same line as Dats and Kovalchuk...by the time he made it over here, he was battling to be an NHL 3rd liner at best, was struggling with his conditioning, and couldn't crack the team. I imagine the big carrot of the tax free money back home was a major one, but also it seems as though something in him died emotionally or physically, because even after the crash his stats in Russia before coming over were so much better than when he went back home. Its almost as if his huge post crash recovery effort was to make it to the NHL, but when he couldn't make the team he kind of lost all his motivation...sad really.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

you hope that someone gets in a near lethal car accident? wow....its hockey....a game. its a hockey forum. don't wish this on anyone.its not worth the bad karma.

I understand a lot gets lost in just pure text based forms of comunication, but I really doubt anyone would honestly think I was serious. I was making a point.

Grigs had a poor work ethic and lack the heart to come to the US and compete before the accident, his work ethic was never his biggest attribute.

I said nothing about his accident, but before and after the accident there was much said about the Wings desire for him to play in NA and him only playing in NA for Detroit, and about his lack of effort.

Watch out for that ledge there is another conclusion at the end of that one too!

1) Bolded part= Wing's desire... not Grigs. He owed the Wing's virtually nothing. They did not help with his devlopment and he did not ask them to draft him. Is it unfortunate how things worked out? Yes, but he is a man in his young 20s who already has had to face extreme adversity, and has too feed a struggling family. His family was in poverty, would you want to spend a few years away from them making 80k a year before making it big?

[Shady Ultima 40]

I understand a lot gets lost in just pure text based forms of comunication, but I really doubt anyone would honestly think I was serious. I was making a point.

1) Bolded part= Wing's desire... not Grigs. He owed the Wing's virtually nothing. They did not help with his devlopment and he did not ask them to draft him. Is it unfortunate how things worked out? Yes, but he is a man in his young 20s who already has had to face extreme adversity, and has too feed a struggling family. His family was in poverty, would you want to spend a few years away from them making 80k a year before making it big?

Considering that 80k is a decent pay in America, and even 40k US is over 4 million Kronners, I think that the 80k would be enough to suffice.

[dropkickshanahans 463]

Considering that 80k is a decent pay in America, and even 40k US is over 4 million Kronners, I think that the 80k would be enough to suffice.

Decent pay? I would kill to make 80k a year!

[uk_redwing 495]

Take Leino with you. Please.

We can only pray!

[SweWings 45]

Considering that 80k is a decent pay in America, and even 40k US is over 4 million Kronners, I think that the 80k would be enough to suffice.

While 80k USD is indeed more than decent pay, 40k USD is NOT 4 million SEK. It's not even 300k SEK

[Opie 308]

I understand a lot gets lost in just pure text based forms of comunication, but I really doubt anyone would honestly think I was serious. I was making a point.

1) Bolded part= Wing's desire... not Grigs. He owed the Wing's virtually nothing. They did not help with his devlopment and he did not ask them to draft him. Is it unfortunate how things worked out? Yes, but he is a man in his young 20s who already has had to face extreme adversity, and has too feed a struggling family. His family was in poverty, would you want to spend a few years away from them making 80k a year before making it big?

So let me get this straight, if you were presented with the opportunity to play hockey in the NHL for one of the original, and best teams, and playing for them would mean you would have to work to earn it, you would rather stay where you are comfortable.

There are two ways to achieve your goals, have them handed to you and work for them!

If his lifelong dream was to play in Russia then why sign with Detroit. (Edit:) Iif he needed to stay there he should have not signed the contract, contrary to what you think once he signed the contract he did in deed owe something to Detroit!

Sorry I offended you Grigs, won't let it happen again! (I know you are not him, I am being sarcastic!)

Edited December 16, 2009 by Opie

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Another prima donna who didn't want to have to work to earn his way in the NHL. Good riddance.

[Shady Ultima 40]

While 80k USD is indeed more than decent pay, 40k USD is NOT 4 million SEK. It's not even 300k SEK

I'll take your word on that, but is 300k/year not decent money over there?

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I'll take your word on that, but is 300k/year not decent money over there?

In today's economy with what the US Dollar has sunk to.... no.

[daniel1 32]

I'm sure its not just the AHL which is causing his issues. Maybe he's having a hard time adjusting to life in the USA away from Sweden. Hopefully he gets his head straightened out.

Or maybe he misses his mommy, his teddy bear and his rubber ducky. Give me a F'ing break! He's not a 12 yr old at summer camp, he has a chance to make millions if he perseveres and shows a little backbone and determination. If he's that much of a ***** that he has to run home to mamma when he faces a little adversity then he can join Ryno in the soup kitchen line. I sure wouldn't make excuses for him though - suck it up buttercup, life is hard, wear a helmet.

[evilmrt 636]

I'd have left, too. Detroit is like a retirement home for old players with declining value today. Holland and Babcock hold onto guys like Draper, Holmstrom, and Maltby until they die. I don't mind letting a hall of famer like Yzerman play one or two years too long, because he's a fricking legend. But these other guys have to go and make room for the kids. Otherwise, this kind of stuff should be expected. I wouldn't want to waste away in the Red Wings ORGANIZATION when I could play for the New York Islanders or Florida Panthers or some team that embraces youth.

On one hand, I agree with you here. Maltby should have been gone in the last off-season, and Drapes should be gone after this season....but its not going to work out like that. Had Maltby (and maybe Drapes?) retired, could we have kept Hudler? I'd like to think so.

Anyhow, this is all pointless when talking about Axelsson. He has no backbone, no maturity, and wouldn't have stayed even if the Wings got rid of the geezers. The guy has a history of acting like a spoiled little kid, and this is just a continuation of that. Good riddance. Maybe the Wings' scouting team should take character into account more often, though.

[eva unit zero 271]

Say hi grigs for me on the chump side!

Did Axelsson suffer a near-fatal car crash that caused him to go through extended rehab just to be able to walk again, let alone skate or compete for an NHL job? Grigs did.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Wont take his licks and work, GTFO. I hate these kids who have all the talent to make it, but not the desire.

[AtomicPunk 296]

The road to the NHL is littered with Dicks. I don't feel sorry one bit.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

So let me get this straight, if you were presented with the opportunity to play hockey in the NHL for one of the original, and best teams, and playing for them would mean you would have to work to earn it, you would rather stay where you are comfortable.

There are two ways to achieve your goals, have them handed to you and work for them!

If his lifelong dream was to play in Russia then why sign with Detroit. (Edit:) Iif he needed to stay there he should have not signed the contract, contrary to what you think once he signed the contract he did in deed owe something to Detroit!

Sorry I offended you Grigs, won't let it happen again! (I know you are not him, I am being sarcastic!)

In reply to the first bolded part: Did I ever say I would personally do that? No? Then quit throwing words in my mouth. If you really think that is what I said, or that was my arguement then your reading comprhension skills are on par with my next door neighbor with downs syndrome.

Bolded part two: Nowhere did I say it was his lifelong dream, but unlike your status of being a virgin, things often change. You neglected to mention that at a young age, he almost ******* died, and has to bascially support his entire family. Is it really that unfathomable to choose to stay in a league that helps you in essentially every aspect of life (Pay, Familiarity, close to family, could actually socilize with people rather than wandering around not knowing a lick of english)?

As for his contract, I do not know the details on hand, but I assumed that he did not recieve full payment of his contract. It's essentially as if he quit a job, something that normal people do each and everyday. The Wing's did not spend money to smuggle him like Fedorov, and he played a handfull of games in North America. It is not as if a great deal of resources were used on this guy.

Bolded part three: Indeed is one word.