Grigorenko Finally Ready

Igor Grigorenko is finally coming to Detroit, six years after being drafted. He will be old for a rookie entering the season (24 years old). There is speculation that he will play with fellow Russian Pavel Datsyuk if Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg get there own lines to center. He is entering the season as an enigma, and I for one can't wait to see what he can do.

Given Igor Grigorenkos age, you would think he would have made the NHL a couple of years ago, or, at the very least, you would think he may have came over to play in the AHL. Grigorenko was born on September 4th, 1983. That makes him a 24 year old rookie (his birthday happens before the season starts).

Grigorenko was Detroit's 2nd choice (62nd Overall) in the 2001 entry draft. After he was drafted, Grigorenko was touted as another European steal by the Wings in the draft after they nabbed Datsyuk and Zetterberg late. Sadly, Grigorenko's career was derailed when he crashed his car on May 16, 2003, suffering a broken left femur and two fractures in his left tibia. It was while in the hospital for those injuries that he had a life-threatening embolism in his lung. The first couple of years were tough for Grigorenko to come back from, but he has worked hard to come back and recorded 14 goals, 13 assists for a total of 27 point for Tolyatti Lada in 2006-07.

The success he had this year got him a one-year, $858,800 contract from the Wings. He will be competing for a roster spot during training camp this fall and he has stated he will likely return to Russia if he is demoted to the minors. Another big reason Grigorenko had yet to come over until this year is his Russian wife and their daughter. Staying in Russia got him more money and freed him from paying any taxes.

Although he is not as fast since the crash, he still can put on the speed when he wants and he is very shifty. He is also very creative with the puck but tends to go with the fancy move over the safe move a little to much. He doesn't possess a cannon of a shot, but he knows when to use it. As his penalty minutes indicate, he is a feisty player but he still needs to bulk up a little this off-season. If he makes the squad, a spot on the top two lines is likely. Also, if Zetterberg and Datsyuk are split up, look for Grigorenko to play with Datsyuk.