So now on to tonight's game

No Girgensons he is out with the face injury

Girgorenko centering the 4th ugh means Porter moves up to the 3rd line. I really can't handle the misuse of this kid anymore.

If the Edmonton trade is legit. I'd send Miller Ehrhoff and and 2nd for Yak and a First

That's my dream make up trade
- Stripes77

We might as well just send Grigorenko back to juniors if he is going to be playing with Scott and McCormick. What an effing joke. Rolston is the equivalent to Lindy Ruff.

I love how people think Grigorenko is awful. He is not that bad he just gets screwed thanks to our awful coaching
- Beezer33

This. I understand the point by others that he needs to earn time, but it's impossible to be noticeable when you're playing the role of a 4th line back checker that never gets the puck.

This. I understand the point by others that he needs to earn time, but it's impossible to be noticeable when you're playing the role of a 4th line back checker that never gets the puck.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Kind of like Drew Stafford and the first line minutes he has earned, right?

Kind of like Drew Stafford and the first line minutes he has earned, right?
- ImThatGuy

Stafford needs to be benched permanently.

Kind of like Drew Stafford and the first line minutes he has earned, right?
- ImThatGuy

Another point that I forgot about. What the hell have guys like Porter and Stafford done to earn their time over Grigo? Sure, they may battle more, but that's what their game is. It should be expected from them. You can't expect someone to make an impression when you're forcing them to play a completely different style. That's like putting a player like McCormick/Porter/Scott on the top line, and being disappointed when they're not getting pooploads of points. It's senseless.

We might as well just send Grigorenko back to juniors if he is going to be playing with Scott and McCormick. What an effing joke. Rolston is the equivalent to Lindy Ruff.
- ImThatGuy

Hes just not that good right now. If a coach is telling his players he wants to win then puts Grigorenko on a line over a guy who they all know if more useful then they all know hes full of it. I know Porter is getting those third line minutes and hes already hit his upside but at the moment hes the better player than Grigorenko, and if you want to get any respect from the players then you play the best players in the room.

I want Grigorenko to be good too but maybe just adjusting to the league and getting bigger and stronger now are the best things for him. When hes more ready to compete and contribute to the lineup he gets a bump up in lines. Its really a shame he cant play in Rochester but the rules are the rules.

This. I understand the point by others that he needs to earn time, but it's impossible to be noticeable when you're playing the role of a 4th line back checker that never gets the puck.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

False he shows no hustle, its not like he makes a crisp tape to tape pass where you can say f why is it scott on the other end of that pass

Another point that I forgot about. What the hell have guys like Porter and Stafford done to earn their time over Grigo? Sure, they may battle more, but that's what their game is. It should be expected from them. You can't expect someone to make an impression when you're forcing them to play a completely different style. That's like putting a player like McCormick/Porter/Scott on the top line, and being disappointed when they're not getting pooploads of points. It's senseless.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

stafford has looked real good the last two just saying

Hes just not that good right now. If a coach is telling his players he wants to win then puts Grigorenko on a line over a guy who they all know if more useful then they all know hes full of it. I know Porter is getting those third line minutes and hes already hit his upside but at the moment hes the better player than Grigorenko, and if you want to get any respect from the players then you play the best players in the room.

I want Grigorenko to be good too but maybe just adjusting to the league and getting bigger and stronger now are the best things for him. When hes more ready to compete and contribute to the lineup he gets a bump up in lines. Its really a shame he cant play in Rochester but the rules are the rules.
- Rally_Shots

But it's been well stated this year is about rebuilding. Grigorenko is supposed to play a major part of the rebuild. How is he going to get better if he isn't seeing ice time with players that will help him learn the game. Rolston is this supposed teacher but he isn't doing squat with him. It's a total joke. Having Rolston as the head coach is a fire able offense to me. They are ruining this kid

Hes just not that good right now. If a coach is telling his players he wants to win then puts Grigorenko on a line over a guy who they all know if more useful then they all know hes full of it. I know Porter is getting those third line minutes and hes already hit his upside but at the moment hes the better player than Grigorenko, and if you want to get any respect from the players then you play the best players in the room.

I want Grigorenko to be good too but maybe just adjusting to the league and getting bigger and stronger now are the best things for him. When hes more ready to compete and contribute to the lineup he gets a bump up in lines. Its really a shame he cant play in Rochester but the rules are the rules.
- Rally_Shots

Kevin Porter is not a better hockey player than Mikhail Grigorenko. Grigo has his massively overblown defensive issues, but the only thing Porter had over him is his speed. Grigorenko can backcheck just as well, and is obviously better offensively. Also, if Rolston is focused on getting meaningless Ws, he is completely ignoring the reason we hired him. We made him our head coach because of his developmental abilities, not to go for another meaningless push to 9th like always. If we should be focussing on wins, Darcy wouldn't have traded Pommer at the deadline and cued to rebuild. Rolston, like Darcy, is too proud to admit they we need to suck it up, accept the losses, and garner the high draft picks that we've rarely ever had, and build through the draft.

Stafford needs to be benched permanently.
- jaumiller

Good thinking - Bench him when he is actually playing decent . Folks need to drop the hatred in their comments and think a little more . Stafford actually played like an NHL Player last game. Call me whatever you want but Grigorenko looks like he is gliding no matter who he plays with . Darn shame he cannot go to the AHL to work on his game.

Which is why I always thought they should have taken Murray instead of Yakapov. But that's just me.
- Stripes77

i thought they should have traded down, picked up a dman or two and still got a decent pick

Kevin Porter is not a better hockey player than Mikhail Grigorenko. Grigo has his massively overblown defensive issues, but the only thing Porter had over him is his speed. Grigorenko can backcheck just as well, and is obviously better offensively. Also, if Rolston is focused on getting meaningless Ws, he is completely ignoring the reason we hired him. We made him our head coach because of his developmental abilities, not to go for another meaningless push to 9th like always. If we should be focussing on wins, Darcy wouldn't have traded Pommer at the deadline and cued to rebuild. Rolston, like Darcy, is too proud to admit they we need to suck it up, accept the losses, and garner the high draft picks that we've rarely ever had, and build through the draft.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Porter also has more heart and more hustle

False he shows no hustle, its not like he makes a crisp tape to tape pass where you can say f why is it scott on the other end of that pass
- hubie

He isn't involved in the play half the time cause he is already headed back to the neutral zone. They have him so worried about the defensive side of his game he hasn't even made an attempt at offense

The system is a joke. They make passed to get rid of the puck. Other teams make passes to set up a play. Him being here is a waste. Send him back or give him a real chance to play on a real line

Another point that I forgot about. What the hell have guys like Porter and Stafford done to earn their time over Grigo? Sure, they may battle more, but that's what their game is. It should be expected from them. You can't expect someone to make an impression when you're forcing them to play a completely different style. That's like putting a player like McCormick/Porter/Scott on the top line, and being disappointed when they're not getting pooploads of points. It's senseless.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

they spin their wheels more.. there is a difference between playing hard and being successful. if all we cared about was working hard then send grigs, vanek, stafford and hodge down to the minors and bring up ellis and a few other wheel spinners

i thought they should have traded down, picked up a dman or two and still got a decent pick
- IndianaSabresFan

trade down take galy get another player sounds

Good thinking - Bench him when he is actually playing decent . Folks need to drop the hatred in their comments and think a little more . Stafford actually played like an NHL Player last game. Call me whatever you want but Grigorenko looks like he is gliding no matter who he plays with . Darn shame he cannot go to the AHL to work on his game.
- Maximum Signal

credit where credit is due.. stafford played a very good game the other day..

He isn't involved in the play half the time cause he is already headed back to the neutral zone. They have him so worried about the defensive side of his game he hasn't even made an attempt at offense

The system is a joke. They make passed to get rid of the puck. Other teams make passes to set up a play. Him being here is a waste. Send him back or give him a real chance to play on a real line
- Stripes77

The system is awful true but still even on the lil pp time he gets just no heart in it.

False he shows no hustle, its not like he makes a crisp tape to tape pass where you can say f why is it scott on the other end of that pass
- hubie

He's showing more than last year (other than when he played big minutes), that's for sure. He's engaging on the backcheck, and playing his poopty role how he is supposed to. Not everyone is the prototypical good ol' Canadian boy that goes balls out in aggressiveness like everyone wants. He's a conservative, disciplined, and skilled player. The 4th line is not where he should be, and giving him solid minutes like the latter portion of last year (where he looked great) can do no harm to a team that is the worst in the NHL like ours.

trade down take galy get another player sounds
- hubie

i think they could have easily gotten someone to over pay for that top pick and stil got a top ten pick in that draft to get galy or someone else decent. hell there were a few decent dmen left too if i recall

Good thinking - Bench him when he is actually playing decent . Folks need to drop the hatred in their comments and think a little more . Stafford actually played like an NHL Player last game. Call me whatever you want but Grigorenko looks like he is gliding no matter who he plays with . Darn shame he cannot go to the AHL to work on his game.
- Maximum Signal

Stafford can play after last game he played well I cannot fault him.

Move Ennis down a line or Foligno where Zemgus was and put Grigs in top 6. If after 5 games in the top 6 and he has zero points and shown nothing then I will see the light but sorry Grigorenko is a good hockey player stuck playing behind this years coach's Hecht - Kevin Porter. I like Porter but Rolston picks favorites and Grigs is suffering. The kid has (frank)ing talent. Scott cant catch a pass let alone catch up to the play so how t he (frank) can he showcase anything being on the fourth line. my goodness is everyone blind

He isn't involved in the play half the time cause he is already headed back to the neutral zone. They have him so worried about the defensive side of his game he hasn't even made an attempt at offense

The system is a joke. They make passed to get rid of the puck. Other teams make passes to set up a play. Him being here is a waste. Send him back or give him a real chance to play on a real line
- Stripes77

I am sorry he always seems a step slow . He was invisable when playing Girgensons . Girgensons was all hustle . I want Grigorenko to be a star as much as anyone . But he is showing no drive and desire . That is what the great ones have . Maybe he grows up soon . I think Rolston is trying to show him that.

The system is awful true but still even on the lil pp time he gets just no heart in it.
- hubie

That one shift when he got knocked off the puck and nobody was in the zone with him doesn't help. They haven't given him a real chance to play in this league. He won't have growing pains if he isn't put in a position to succeed

The system is awful true but still even on the lil pp time he gets just no heart in it.
- hubie

i think he lacks heart but i also think it might be a little overblown.. i think the lack of panic is sometimes looked at as lack of heart. there have been times he has had the puck behind the net where you could tell he can be good because he was smooth and didn't panic.

The system is awful true but still even on the lil pp time he gets just no heart in it.
- hubie

How the (frank) can you show heart on a power play? Are you kidding me? In the 30 seconds the kid has gotten on the PP all year, all he's been able to do is make passes. He does the job that he is supposed to do, it's not tricky to realize.