Updated:

Nolan said that Grigorenko will return to Buffalo after his conditioning assignment ends in two weeks.



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Photo courtesy, Dan Hickling


Per the Buffalo Sabres:

Mikhail Grigorenko has been assigned to AHL Rochester, along with Rasmus Ristolainen and Johan Larsson. Grigorenko is now an Amerk for the next two weeks on a conditioning assignment.

This two week respite will give Quebec Remparts GM and head coach Phillipe Boucher time to address his "imports".


Who says that Pat LaFontaine isn't qualified to be an NHL GM? Pretty heady move to park Grigorenko in Rochester, Patty!



Well played, sir.


Here's the official press release:

Buffalo Sabres president of hockey operations Pat LaFontaine today announced the team has assigned three players to the Rochester Americans (AHL). Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and forward Johan Larsson will report to the Americans along with forward Mikhail Grigorenko, who has been assigned to Rochester on a conditioning assignment. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov has also been assigned to the London Knights (OHL).

LaFontaine also announced defenseman Mike Weber has been activated from IR. Weber has missed the last 10 games with a hand injury suffered Oct. 25 in Florida.

Ristolainen had one goal and 4 PIMs in 19 games played this season, while Larsson has one assist in 17 games. Grigorenko has collected three points (2+1) in 15 games, with both goals coming in Anaheim on Nov. 8. Zadorov, who missed the first nine games of the season with a hand injury, has scored one goal in seven games with Buffalo.

Ted Nolan said in his post practice presser (via Sabres Hockey Hotline) that the Sabres will be recalling some Amerks players to Buffalo.



Here's my list:

Luke Adam (13 goals in 15 games, plays center/wing)
Brayden McNabb (has 2 goals, 10 assists, 29 PIMs, and hits like a sledge hammer)
Pat Kaleta (1 goal, 2 assists, played well in Rochester the past two weeks)


The recalled players will not play tonight vs. St. Louis. However, will be ready for when Sabres play in Philly on Thursday night.




More to come.....

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The Buffalo youth movement has been interrupted.

Ask any veteran talent evaluator or experienced NHL players. The NHL is the best hockey league in the world. Players have to work their way in to the NHL. They have to work their tails off to stay in the NHL. Ted Nolan said Monday that an organization cannot "force-feed" the NHL experience to their top prospects. 18 and 19 year old struggle to find their game while playing against 32 year old men. Its a fact of life. Confidence is key to succeeding in the NHL. When a young player loses his confidence, it takes him time to regain it.


Having to manage the ups and downs of young roster can be challenging for a head coach and his assistants. It gets all the more difficult when the team has four teenagers playing on a regular basis, along with a couple of twentysomethings.

For these reasons, the Sabres have confirmed that center Johan Larsson and D Rasmus Ristolainen have been sent to AHL Rochester.

Larsoon was a focal point of the trade that sent former captain Jason Pominville to Minnesota in exchange for Matt Hackett, a 2013 first round pick that ended up being Nikita Zadorov, a 2015 2nd round pick and Larsson.

Ristolainen was was the 8th overall pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft. In 19 games, he scored a goal in Buffalo this season. Risto is big, tough and can skate like an F-16. Time in Rochester will do him a lot of good where he will play top 3-4 D minutes.


Furthermore, D Nikita Zadorov tweeted that he was heading back to his OHL club, the London Knights.

Back to London....

— Nikita Zadorov (@zadorov61) November 19, 2013

In 7 games this season, Zadorov scored a goal and landed several NHL style body checks. he's a great prospect who will only get better in London playing upwards of 30 minutes per game.

Center Mikhail Grigorenko didn't take the game day skate and word is that he has been sent back to juniors.

He has a few options available to him.

The Quebec Remparts own Grigo's junior rights, however, already have two "imports" on their roster in Sorensen and Herzog. The Remparts may want to trade one of their two imports to make room for Grigo to play in Quebec City. Or, they may opt to trade his rights to another QMJHL team for a fat compensation package. Grigo also can go to Rochester for a two week conditioning assignment before he goes back to juniors.


More to come....