Sabres Introduce Grigorenko
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BUFFALO, N.Y. - The newest Sabre is here. Mikhail Grigorenko has been in town since Sunday, working out at the team facility and getting acquainted with management. That's somewhat rare for draft prospects - the vast majority take a couple years before joining the organization.
But Darcy Regier said that the team intends to sign Grigorenko soon, which would allow him to develop within the organization. The 18-year-old scored 85 points in 59 games with Quebec in QMJHL last year, plus five points at the World Juniors. Publications had the big Russian rated as high as second in this draft - but he slipped to the Sabres at 12.
"I was really happy to be on this team because Alexander Mogilny, who was one of my favorite players, he made a career here," Grigorenko said. "So I am so excited and I can't wait to go on the ice with (the) Sabres."
"The thing that really stood out to us when we started really keying in on him was his vision," said Kevin Devine, Sabres Director of Amateur Scouting. "He sees the ice really well and knows where his teammates are."