NHL draft's 12th pick Mikhail Grigorenko signs a three-year entry-level deal with Buffalo Sabres
Mikhail Grigorenko, who was a 12th pick in the first round of the NHL draft, has been signed by Buffalo Sabres for three-years in an entry-level deal.
Financial terms of this contract were not disclosed by anyone.
Russian centre had become highest ranked pick of Buffalo Sabres since 2003, when Thomas Vanek of Austria was picked no. 5 in the NHL draft. Now he feels that he has completely become a part of organisation and he is really excited about it.
Grigorenko said he was very happy when they drafted him but signing him was the next step which he was looking forward to. Now since that thing has been done, he is looking forward to make his place in to the team, play in the NHL and do well.
The 18-year-old, while talking during a press conference said,
“Now I really can feel that I’m 100 percent a part of the organization. I was so excited yesterday. I was real excited when they drafted me, but after the draft, it was like the next step to sign a contract, and now I signed. Next step is to make the team
and play in the NHL.”
Buffalo Sabres already have some young players in their team as they have recently signed Zemgus Girgensons, 18-year-old Latvian, who was drafted just two places below Mikhail Grigorenko, at 14th in the first round.
General Manager of the Buffalo Sabres, Darcy Regier, thinks the same that Mikhail will have to compete with a lot of young boys and he will have to face strong competition.
54-year-old Sabres’ GM, while talking to the press conference said that,
“We have a number of young players that he will be competing with, but he will have every opportunity [to make the team]”.
Born in Khabarovsk, located in the far east of Russia, Grigorenko was also part of the Russian international ice hockey team that won Silver medal in Canada, in the 2012 World Junior Championships. He also won bronze medal with the Russian team in the 2011
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) world under-18 championships held in Germany.
Tags: