His skating is still an issue but the Wings hope to bring him to North America next season.
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After recovering from a terrible car accident on May 16, 2003, Igor Grigorenko [Игорь Григоренко] is struggling to get back in top form. The crash left Grigorenko with a broken left thigh bone and two fractures in left shin bone. In addition, complications arose and he developed a fat embolism in his left lung, which is a potentially fatal condition.
Said his agent, Mark Lapush:
“They gave him a 10-percent chance to be alive, and he made it. He’s feeling good. He said, ‘Mark, trust me, I’m going to play hockey. I’m going to play for Detroit.’”
Grigorenko, 21, was the Wings’ first choice (62nd overall) in the 2001 draft. After a quick recovery and bill of good health, he was able to attend the Wings’ training camp in September 2003. He then joined up with Lada Togliatti and played for their farm team in Russia’s third-tier league. But Grigorenko has had trouble moving up the development ladder in Russia. After going pointless in 11 games at Togliatti’s first-tier, Russian Elite League level, Grigorenko was sent down to the second-tier, Russian High League farm team for Togliatti last week. Players on the first-tier team include Viktor Kozlov, Alexander Semin, Dainius Zubrus, and former Wing Yuri Butsayev. So Grigorenko should be able to hold his own on Togliatti before expecting to make the Wings.
Togliatti coach, Petr Vorobiev, on Grigorenko’s play of late:
“He doesn’t have the necessary conditioning yet and his movements are inferior–the effects of the accident are visible. We sent him down to the farm club, and it influenced him a little, because he thinks that he is already back, normal, but there is nothing normal here.”
Those words are not very encouraging, but at least Grigorenko has a coach who isn’t afraid to say it like it is. In the 2002-2003 season with Togliatti, Grigorenko was poised to make the Wings roster, notching 19 goals and 11 assists through 47 games. But since the May 2003 accident, Grigorenko has yet to establish himself on the first-tier, Russian Elite League level, much less excel there.
The Wings felt that Grigorenko should stay in Russia during the lockout this season, and make it a goal to play in North America during the 2005-2006 season. Hopefully Grigorenko can get back at the level he was at before the accident, so we can see a Grigorenko/Zetterberg/Datsyuk line during the 2005-2006 season.
The Wings have decided to keep top prospect Igor Grigorenko in Russia for another year. The decision was made in light of the likely coming work stoppage/lockout which has a high probability of causing a large part of the season to go unplayed. The Wings think it’s better to have Igor playing in Russia than just sitting around over here waiting for the NHL to start up again. That’s very safe reasoning but it doesn’t make it any less disappointing for Wings fans who already have waited a year for the next Datsyuk/Zetterberg-like prospect. The fact that he has another year remaining on his contract with his team in Russia sure didn’t make the decision any harder for the Wings.
Apparently, he is fully recovered from the terrible car accident he had over a year ago which kept him from coming to the NHL last season (thank goodness the reason is more benign this time around). His agent said “There are no problems health-wise. I saw him two months ago. He’s bigger, strong like a bull.” Considering the guy almost died from complications involving a fat embolism aside from breaking a hip bone and his legs, it’s amazing he’s doing anything, let alone playing hockey at a high level with a very good chance at being a star in the NHL.
His agent thinks it would be better for Igor to develop for another year in Russia rather than come over to North America and play in the AHL for that time. I agree with him, as much as I want that kid to be in the Winged Wheel right now. Good luck, Igor2 (that’s not a typo, that’s my nickname for him). From what I hear, you’ll be well worth the wait.
Wings Update
Igor Grigorenko appears to no longer be in danger of dying from his injuries, according to the Free Press. The story builds on the news from yesterday and says that Igor’s leg injuries should not keep him from playing in the NHL but there still could be other damage that would prevent him from playing again. His lungs and brain might have permanent damage from the fat embolism and from the coma. Right now he’s heavily sedated and the doctors have to wait until he is off the ventilator, talking and moving around before they can tell just how much damage was done. He’s been doing things like sticking his toungue out when the doctors ask him so he is able to understand what’s going on. Keep it up, Igor!
Playoff Update
Once again, the Devils are going to the Finals. Thanks to a defensive screw up from Wade Redden and Karel Rachunek, Jeff Friesen scored the game winner with 2:14 left in the game, just when it looked like the Sens would overwhelm the Devils. There was sort of a two-on-one break into the Senators zone and Redden went to close down on Grant Marshall and pin him to the boards. Rachunek, coming from behind, also went over to pin Marshall. That left Friesen wide open in the middle and after a pass through Redden’s legs by Marshall, Friesen beat Lalime, who had no chance. Redden broke his stick on the glass. I’d put the blame more on Rachunek but I wonder if something along the lines of what Shanahan said last year (after he missed all those chances in Game 3) was going through Wade’s head: “If I’d had a knife, I would have cut my throat” (paraphrase). The Senators had been keeping everyone out of their seats for the previous 5 minutes or so and looked like they would finally break the Devils down before Friesen scored. After that, they never got anything really dangerous going. Hossa had a couple of awesome chances and may have arguably lost the series when he froze and didn’t shoot on one of those chances at the side of the net. He might have been waiting for Brodeur to drop (wishful thinking Marian) but he should have shot the puck. Anyway, my hatred for the Devils is now undying. I’m not sure what normally happens but to me, wearing your Conference Championship hats when going through the hand-shaking line is a little unsportsmanlike. And then posing with the Prince of Wales Trophy? I’m sorry if I’m having a selective memory here but that just made me sick. Go Ducks Go Ducks GO Ducks! I want to see another sweep by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Giguere, this is where you show how good you really are. Hardline hockey fans, get ready for the Stanley Trap Finals because there sure won’t be anyone else watching the games except die hards. I feel bad for the Sens fans. So many years of frustration. At least they have the class to cheer their team as they left the ice, unlike some “fans.” (*cough * Avs fans *cough*)
Igor Grigorenko underwent surgery today, they operated on his leg and hip. Holland said he talked to Igor’s agent who told him Grigorenko will be recovering in the hospital for 3 to 4 weeks. Apparently, the prospects for his return to the ice are unclear.
Wings Update
Not a great day for Wings fans. First, Holland has made no progress in signing the major free agents. That is not good news.
Second, Red Wings prospect Igor Grigorenko is in serious condition after he crashed his car today. His team’s spokesman said “He broke his left leg in two places, above and below the knee, and also suffered a concussion.” He also said Igor will be out of action for at least three to four months. The Wings were going to be bringing him up next season, hopefully he can recover well enough to play. If anyone’s wondering if Grigorenko was drunk, his spokesman said: “Doctors will have to determine if Grigorenko was drinking before the crash, but I doubt that because as far as I know he doesn’t drink.”
Playoff Update
Another reason this day isn’t a great one for Wings fans is the Devils won again. I don’t know of many Wings fans who want the Devils to win (they swept us in the 95 Finals) and I sure don’t. The Senators got lucky that New Jersey’s second goal did not count because the refs were too blind to see it go in. Even so, Ottawa couldn’t score the 1 goal needed to tie the game and lost 1-0. The Sens worked hard for this game and the only reason they lost is Martin Brodeur. I haven’t seen so many tape-to-tape passes since the Wings were on. If the Devils make the Finals (we all know the Ducks will), then it’s going to be an amazing goalie duel and some of the most boring hockey ever at the same time.
Tonight’s Games
Minnesota @ Anaheim, 10:30 ET, Ducks lead series 3-0, Wild have not yet scored a goal (I doubt they will……)
