Mikhail Grigorenko is coming back to the NHL!

We have some very interesting news to report in what has been a rather quiet time for the National Hockey League. 

Early on Monday morning Sportsnet's National Hockey League insider Chris Johnston reported that none other than former NHL forward Mikhail Grigorenko is set to make his return to the NHL after spending several years out of the league. According to Johnston the now 25 year old center has signed a brand new contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets and would presumably be leaving Russia in short order were it not for the current global situation making that transition a little more complicated. 

Grigorenko is of course well known to fans in the National Hockey League and was once considered a very promising player in the league. The Russian forward was selected in the first round (12th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres but never truly lived up to the expectations that the Sabres organization, and others, had for him. He would eventually join the ranks of the Colorado Avalanche where he got the majority of his NHL experience, appearing in 149 games over the course of two seasons, before departing for the Kontinental Hockey League. 

Since leaving the NHL the center has played for arguably the KHL's most influential team in CSKA Moscow and has had himself some relatively productive seasons with that organization. In 2018 - 2019 Grigorenko appeared in 55 games recording 17 goals and adding 35 assists for a total of 52 points and in his most recent campaign he appeared in 47 games in which he recorded 19 goals and 22 assists for a combined 41 points on the season. It seems unlikely that he would be able to maintain the same pace at the NHL level, however he is entering the prime of his career at 25 years of age so this could bode very well for a Columbus Blue Jackets team that could use more firepower. 

I must admit given all the uncertainty that we have going on with the possible completion of the NHL season I don't know whether or not Grigorenko would be allowed to suit up for the Blue Jackets in what could be the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.