NHL Draft 2012

[YardRat]

I certainly don't follow the NHL as much as the NFL (actually, very very little) but 8 out of the first 10 picks defensemen, seven in a row? The Sabres should have their pick of centermen.

[YardRat]

And the pick at 12 is...

...C Mikhail Grigorenko

[YardRat]

Russian center Mikhail Grigorenko figures to be one of the first prospects off the board in this weekend's NHL Draft, which kicks off Friday night at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. NHL.com ranks (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectbrowse.htm?cat=1) him third among North American skaters (he plays for the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL), behind Nail Yakupov and Ryan Murray, and SB Nation's mock draft has him going at No. 3 overall (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/6/11/3078469/nhl-mock-draft-2012-sb-nation) to the Montreal Canadiens (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/montreal-canadiens). However, there isn't much agreement about his status, and his stock appears to be slipping a bit. Sports Illustrated's latest mock (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/allan_muir/06/14/nhl.mock.draft/index.html) has Grigorenko falling all the way to the Flames (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/calgary-flames) at No. 14.

There's a lot to like about him, including his size, scoring ability, speed, creativity, so why the drop? When you find a scout willing to offer up a comparable player, they name guys like Alexei Yashin and Olli Jokinen (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54608/olli-jokinen): good players, the kind that put up some solid numbers but aren't thought of as guys you win with. Add in concerns (fair or not) that Grigorenko might pull a Nikita Filatov (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/54930/nikita-filatov) and bolt to the KHL if things get rough, and you can see why he drops.

http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2012/6/22/3110434/mikhail-grigorenko-nhl-draft-2012-prospects

[YardRat]

http://eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=42435

A big and strong player with impressive puck skills and playmaking ability. Furthermore, he has excellent vision and an elite shot. Not the fastest player around, but skates well and is very hard to knock the puck off. Long reach and strong puck protection abilities. Defensive play needs improvement

[casdhf]

So Vanek II?

[SabreEleven]

and they trade up to 14....at least they are being aggressive

[YardRat]

C Zemgus Girgensons

A well-rounded two-way center, Girgensons has size and can skate really well. Has nice hands and can play a gritty game, too. Good leader and plenty of intensity. (EP 2012)

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=59843

[Skooby]

Center was our biggest need, so this is 2 shots at help.

[jamze132]

Me likey!

[bigbub2352]

solid

we have to stay the course and grab another big forward in rd 2
another goalie prospect and maybe another center a checkling line prospect one that can actually hit and fight

[ParanoidAndroid]

solid

we have to stay the course and grab another big forward in rd 2
another goalie prospect and maybe another center a checking line prospect one that can actually hit and fight

You got it....and he has the mullet to prove it.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=10310

[ParanoidAndroid]

Ha! The Grig and Girg Show!