Under league rules, a player under 20 who was drafted out of the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) cannot be sent to the AHL. The Sabres had intended to send him to their affiliate in Rochester, N.Y. on a conditioning assignment. He would have been in the minors for 14 of Rochester's games. However, the league saw otherwise with him.
The Sabres tweeted out earlier today: "The team respects the league's decision."
Grigorenko was drafted 12th overall in 2012 by the Sabres. After the NHL lockout, he was recalled from Quebec. He played 25 games of last season and was returned because the Sabres didn't deem him "NHL-ready."
This season, so far, he has two goals (against my Ducks) and an assist in the 15 games that he has played. Newly hired president of hockey operations Pat LaFontaine is changing the culture and philosophy of the Sabres by sending down guys who aren't ready to play in the NHL as well as ones that he feels need more time and an opportunity to play more games. Nikita Zadorov was sent back to his junior team while Johan Larsson and Rasmus Ristolainen were sent back to the AHL.
But Grigorenko was a surprising attempt, in my opinion, for LaFontaine to make. I mean, he hasn't exactly produced in the games that he has played. But the Sabres are having all kinds of problems on offense and that's not entirely Grigorenko's fault. I don't think he should be sent down to the AHL on conditioning or otherwise. I think he's produced enough to earn his spot and sending him down to the AHL means that it's going to hurt Buffalo in the long run. They can't afford to send everybody down because they can't produce. Grigorenko is one of the few guys who can put together an offensive output. Problem is that he doesn't exactly have the guys to help him. So the Sabres could consider keeping Grigorenko around. Trust me, he helps this Sabres offense.
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