Import players must be 17 by December 31st of the same year to be drafted in the CHL. Grigorenko will turn 17 in a month. It will be his first year of eligibility.
I highly doubt that under the strong guidance of the CSKA staff (Fetisov, Nemchinov, Kasatonov... so on) that he will be coming to CHL. Perhaps the biggest reason for his success, beyond his skills, is that he plays in a very successful system with Kucherov and co. He would still be good without them, but I don't think it would be even close to what he achieved this season.
Also, considering that he is almost guaranteed to get an opportunity to play in the KHL next season.
Looking ahead to 2012, which players do you foresee pushing to be the No. 1 pick out of next years draft class?
Ross: I can’t get enough of Mikhail Grigorenko. To me he is Joe Thornton’s clone. He might even be a bit better actually. The first round will be loaded with defensemen. Matt Dumba, Morgan Reilly, Griffin Reinhart, the list goes on and on and on. Filip Forsberg and Nail Yakupov also have shots at being a number 1 pick. It is going to be a very strong crop with a lot of potential number 1’s. But right now, none of those players has been as impressive as Grigorenko in my opinion.
Looking ahead to 2012, which players do you foresee pushing to be the No. 1 pick out of next years draft class?
Ross: I can’t get enough of Mikhail Grigorenko. To me he is Joe Thornton’s clone. He might even be a bit better actually. The first round will be loaded with defensemen. Matt Dumba, Morgan Reilly, Griffin Reinhart, the list goes on and on and on. Filip Forsberg and Nail Yakupov also have shots at being a number 1 pick. It is going to be a very strong crop with a lot of potential number 1’s. But right now, none of those players has been as impressive as Grigorenko in my opinion.
From what I've seen of him (not very much ), I really like the Thornton comparsion, he's obviously a better skater, but he likes to slow the game down, to protect the puck with his size and skill, and to wait for the perfect moment for a high quality pass as well as Joe.
and I can see what Czechexpert means, though I wouldn't put it so harshly, but more looking at the chances.
He doesn't force the play with a lot of physical aggressiveness or hard skating but likes to wait for the game to get to him. Before I saw him play, I expected a more shinny player. but over some streches, he looks quite unflashy and ordinary, simply playing the solid system hockey, and not lazy at all, but a bit passiv. Malkin for example played with a lot more energy at this age. he seems to be easy coachable, very mature for his age,not very common for a young russian star.
it's amazing how much scoring he gets, despite his style. it shows even more what a marvellous combination of brain and skill he's possessing. he doesn't need 15 shots, and all-game offensive zone presence to be a successfull scorer. just like Joe again.
Could his style getting him problems when turning pro? it's possible and will depend on his very high hockey I.Q.. will he keep developing it, and so keeping the distance to the competitors,when getting older. or is he a guy who develops and peaks earlier than others in this sector. than he has to raise his intensity level anyway.
But just imagine if any coach can make his gamestyle more activ when away of the puck. he'd be a force in any league. and probably the best C prospect since Stamkos.
so I can see the risk, but this combination of skill, size, brain and solid system play just make him a very intriguing prospect.
I highly doubt that under the strong guidance of the CSKA staff (Fetisov, Nemchinov, Kasatonov... so on) that he will be coming to CHL. Perhaps the biggest reason for his success, beyond his skills, is that he plays in a very successful system with Kucherov and co. He would still be good without them, but I don't think it would be even close to what he achieved this season.
Also, considering that he is almost guaranteed to get an opportunity to play in the KHL next season.
not sure about playing KHL next season, maybe some limit time..
There is a lot of juniors in CSKA system... CSKA can not effort to play only with such a young players in my opinion
G - Gayduchenko (89)
D - Marchenko (born 92), Stepanov (92), Pashnin (89), Ozhiganov (92)
F - Gusev (92), Kulemin (90), Lyubimov (92), Kucherov (93), Prokhorkin (93), Barbashev (92) and Grigorenko
I would like to see line Kucherov-Grigorenko-Gusev
Doesn't mean much for current players. Euro CHL players have been developing great since the lockout. Radulov was CHL developed and hes the best player outside the NHL.
When people bring up the Euro busts, they're almost always from the late 90s early 00's, when there was busts for almost every nationality.
Doesn't mean much for current players. Euro CHL players have been developing great since the lockout. Radulov was CHL developed and hes the best player outside the NHL.When people bring up the Euro busts, they're almost always from the late 90s early 00's, when there was busts for almost every nationality.
Doesn't mean much for current players. Euro CHL players have been developing great since the lockout. Radulov was CHL developed and hes the best player outside the NHL.
When people bring up the Euro busts, they're almost always from the late 90s early 00's, when there was busts for almost every nationality.
Team Russia won junior gold and they had maybe 2 chl players, Bobkov is the only one I can think of, I think Russians are fine in developing their players back home.
Team Russia won junior gold and they had maybe 2 chl players, Bobkov is the only one I can think of, I think Russians are fine in developing their players back home.
not sure about playing KHL next season, maybe some limit time..
There is a lot of juniors in CSKA system... CSKA can not effort to play only with such a young players in my opinion
G - Gayduchenko (89)
D - Marchenko (born 92), Stepanov (92), Pashnin (89), Ozhiganov (92)
F - Gusev (92), Kulemin (90), Lyubimov (92), Kucherov (93), Prokhorkin (93), Barbashev (92) and Grigorenko
I would like to see line Kucherov-Grigorenko-Gusev
Any relation to Nikolai? When is he draft eligible?
There is a reason that players like Kucherov and Grigorenko are not coming out of N.A. It's a different school of hockey that produces different talents. Mixing at this age (16-17) is a dangerous experiment, and quiet frankly I am not a big fan of them changing styles of hockey. Yakupov with all his talent, is only now starting to get used to combination hockey, in the first 3 games he was a 1 man line where he would gun down the wing and take a shot. Impressive, but ineffective on the Russian team. Hence his stats are weaker than Kucherov.
It's a lot like raising a Brazilian footballer in England.
If you as hockey fans want to see more of KLM lines and Ovi's and Kovy's than its in the best interest to keep these talents at home until the time is right.
There is a reason that players like Kucherov and Grigorenko are not coming out of N.A. It's a different school of hockey that produces different talents. Mixing at this age (16-17) is a dangerous experiment, and quiet frankly I am not a big fan of them changing styles of hockey. Yakupov with all his talent, is only now starting to get used to combination hockey, in the first 3 games he was a 1 man line where he would gun down the wing and take a shot. Impressive, but ineffective on the Russian team. Hence his stats are weaker than Kucherov.
It's a lot like raising a Brazilian footballer in England.
If you as hockey fans want to see more of KLM lines and Ovi's and Kovy's than its in the best interest to keep these talents at home until the time is right.
I never looked at it that way, but it does make sense. You can really see the differing styles/skill sets during the high level international tournaments. Great post.
Would be nice if the MHL continues to develop and keep the big Russian prospects at home. Thinking eventually it could lead to some great CHL/MHL games, and make the World Juniors that much more interesting.
