via mynhldraft.com
Mikhail Grigorenko
Ht/Wt: 6′ 3″/200 lbs
Position: C/RW
Team: Quebec (QMJHL)
Mikhael Grigorenko’s Player Profile
Mikhail Grigorenko is yet another Russian player looking to be selected in the top three. He is an extremely talented center with great hands, amazing IQ, superb vision and tons of offensive upside. He is a mainstay on Russia’s junior national team as their top center, and was voted Player of the Tournament at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge. The knock on him is mostly “the Russian Factor” however it is widely considered that Grigorenko will come over to play for the Quebec Remparts in 2011-12.
Submitted by: Bek Aliev
via thescoutingreport.org
Let’s be clear about it, there’s not a lot separating Grigorenko and Yakupov right now – so much so you could even call them 1A and 1B in either order. Grigorenko won out our top spot due to his size and the extra value we feel he brings as a center. Skill-wise, Grigorenko and Yakupov are different players, with Grigorenko being more of a playmaking pivot who is more methodical and uses his on-ice vision to create opportunities. Thus far, Grigorenko has played very well in the QMJHL and acquitted himself fairly well in the World Juniors as well. It looks to be a 2-horse race with Yakupov down the stretch as Alex Galchenyuk still battles back from injury, and in the end, it likely comes down to preference when picking between Grigorenko and Yakupov.