Mikhail Grigorenko has returned to the NHL. The former 2012 first-round pick signed a one-year deal worth $1.2 million with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The talent was always there, but it seems Grigorenko could never piece things together and even when got traded from Buffalo to Colorado, the problems continued. With a lack of production and commitment from the team, Grigorenko decided to take his talents to his homeland of Russia and signed a three-year deal with CSKA Moscow.
Grigorenko spent six years in North America before heading to the KHL back in 2017. After heading home in the offseason, Grigorenko spent three seasons overseas in Moscow. In 147 games, he scored 46 goals and 70 assists for 116 points.
He was one of the more sought out KHL free agents coming into the 2020 offseason along with teammate Konstantin Okulov who resigned with CSKA Moscow and Alexander Barabanov who played for SKA St. Petersburg and signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This is a very low risk deal for Columbus. They are adding a player with a relatively high ceiling who can also add scoring to their top-nine as well. Given the contract he signed, the centreman brings almost no problems to Columbus. They hope that this deal pans out the way Valeri Nichushkin did with the Colorado Avalanche. On a $850K contract, Nichushkin scored 13 goals and 14 assists in 65 games played. This made for 27 points while signed to a contract worth $850K.
The real work will come with coach John Torterella who is known for being tough and strict with his players and has criticized his own skilled players in the past. This will be a good test for both Grigorenko and coach Torterella.