Comments on: Mikhail Grigorenko wants to wear Alex Mogilny’s No. 89 in Buffalo

By: epsilon99

epsilon99 — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 23:21:08 +0000

Hot-and-cold seasons? Are you serious with it? Look at Getzlaf, Perry, Toews, Parise, Nash, Carter, Lecavallier, Spezza, Backstrom, Sedins, Thornton, Kessel etc etc Their stats and play is all over the place. Meanwhile Ovechkin still yet to be outproduced by any of his Swedish or Canadian teammates. Semin is probably the only unpredictable Russian but he is weak and injury prone.

By: chrisr9040

chrisr9040 — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:39:46 +0000

Vanek is definitely Austrian, not Russian…

By: braddavery

braddavery — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:16:00 +0000

Maybe go back and see how many Russian players have been on Stanley Cup winning teams to see that it really is just a misconception. You can’t take the play of a few and say “Hey, look, they are ALL like that!”

By: govtminion

govtminion — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:11:34 +0000

Or someone who’s watched him the past two seasons.

By: elemeno89

elemeno89 — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:35:04 +0000

i think that the “russian factor” is segregated from player to player. i can think of a few players being “lazy”, one being Vanek when his career was first starting. it varies from payer to palyer and i think its unfair that Grigs (100% sure that’ll be the team nickname for him, haha) is facing these claims before he’s has even stepped on the ice for a game in the show.

with that said, his attitude so far has been excellent. he sounds like a palyer that’s ready to begin the next step, ready to work for it, and ready to do whatever it takes to amke the team that selected him proud to have done so. very few times do you hear a player ready to commit right out of the gate and i’m ready to see what this kid has to offer. if upper management wants to retire mogilny’s number then that is set in stone, but if they aren’t then i would not have any problem letting this kid sport the sweater. Mogilny was one of the greats in Buffalo’s history, and paying hommage to a fellow Russian shows that Grigs is ready to try and become the next name associated with that number.

for a good reason i hope.

By: zaksyuk

zaksyuk — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:24:26 +0000

I am so sick of hearing about the KHL. That’s why i love datsyuk so much the guy isnt russian i swear lol. I just dont understand why there is an everlasting cold war between our 2 respective leagues. If these teams are so worried about it why dont they stop drafting russian players, GOD.

By: babykaby

babykaby — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:18:18 +0000

Only someone completely oblivious would include Ovechkin on the “not caring” list.

By: lostpuppysyndrome

lostpuppysyndrome — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 02:44:10 +0000

You know, while I understand a lot of Russian players unfairly get the “Russian player” stigma, can you blame folks? It seems that Russian players seem to have the most severe hot-and-cold seasons or do well doing the regular season and disappear in the playoffs, particularly those who’ve had high expectations placed on them. I’m curious to know why that pattern seems to follow them more than Canadian, American, Swedish, Finnish, or any other country that’s represented in the NHL. “Not caring” can’t be the only answer, but when you see Ovechkin, Semin, and most recently Radulov seemingly or obviously exhibit a lack of effort, it makes you wonder, especially when the answers appear vague, if they’re given at all.

By: kantnockdahustle89

kantnockdahustle89 — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 01:42:39 +0000

If Alexander is cool with it Id say do it. It isnt retired although his career in the NHL was an amazing one and with extreme circumstances. Mogilny risked his life to play for the Sabres…maybe they should retire his number?