Update (9:52 PM): I caught the end of the Wings’ game with Toronto tonight and saw something that restored some of my faith in Grigorenko: his reaction to being bowled over by the Leafs’ Chad Kilger. First Igor slashed Kilger, then he went after Bryan Muir. Toronto’s Jay Harrison took exception to that, so Igor dropped his gloves and absorbed a few hard punches from a guy probably a foot taller than him.
The result? A two-minute interference penalty, a two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, a fighting major, and two game misconducts for the kid. Now, it’s not cool that he lost his temper and would have put his team in a bad situation had the game not practically been over (with the slash). What is cool is that he has an edge and that he has enough of a temper to defend himself. So, kudos for the fight, Igor.
One more thought on the question of where he’ll start the season. Why would the Wings keep him in Detroit if he’s “just going to eat popcorn,” as Mickey Redmond put it so well tonight? The team seems to be satisfied with the 12 forwards pegged to be regulars, so any 13th or 14th forwards will be spectators more often than not. It will do Igor much more good to be playing regularly in the minors than to be sitting in the luxury box with Matt Ellis and Derek Meech every game night. Someone at the Wings’ front office needs to tell him that and to point out that Grand Rapids isn’t really that bad a city.
It looks like we’ll find out his fate tomorrow, as Bruce MacLeod reports that the final cuts will be announced then. - Matt
It looks like Igor Grigorenko might allow himself to be sent down to Grand Rapids to start the season, but only for 1-3 weeks. How generous of him. I love that Grigorenko wants to play in the NHL and wants to play for the Wings. I do. But I hate this attitude of his, where he’s trying to dictate the terms of his North American career to the team.
Is it just me or should he have to pay some dues over here before he takes a roster spot he clearly has not earned? He has not yet shown that his upside outweighs his ego and until he does, I don’t want to see him in the Winged Wheel and I won’t care if he went back to Russia. The Wings ought to send him down to Grand Rapids and if he doesn’t like it, good riddance.
Give me someone who puts forth the effort and doesn’t feel he’s entitled to a spot over Igor Grigorenko any day.
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