Colorado Avalanche Offense: 5 Questions for the Upcoming Season

Sep 21, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko (25) waits for a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Will Mikhail Grigorenko pan out?

Of all the Colorado Avalanche acquisitions, perhaps the most questionable is Mikhail Grigorenko. I don’t mean that negatively — I mean, there are just so many questions surrounding the Avalanche’s new forward.

Grigorenko performed so well at major juniors. Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy was his coach with the QMJHL Quebec Remparts, and that relationship worked out well. Grigorenko scored 92 goals under Roy’s coaching those two years and scored 115 goals with the Remparts overall.

Grigorenko also did well with the AHL Rochester Americans last season, scoring 14 goals and earning 22 assists in 43 games. However, in 25 games with the Buffalo Sabres… not so much (3 goals, 3 assists).

There have been many players who have looked like scoring geniuses at major juniors and the minors yet been unable to transition that to the NHL. It’s just that Grigorenko’s scoring ability looks so exciting. His chemistry with Patrick Roy is so good. The Buffalo Sabres were so bad, and Grigorenko is still so young (21).

Will Mikhail Grigorenko be able to find his scoring touch with the Colorado Avalanche and, perhaps, even spark some scoring on a team that struggled with it last season.

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